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Unit 16 · Plans and opinionsA2Lesson 2 of 5: Wishes and cravings

Wishes and cravings in European Portuguese

This is lesson 2 of 5 in Unit 16, Plans and opinions (Planos e opiniões), an A2 unit in which you talk about plans and wishes, give your opinion, agree or disagree, and compare things. You will meet 7 new words, such as gostava de (I'd like to), apetece-me (I feel like) and não me apetece (I don't feel like), in 10 short sentences you can listen to. By the end you can say things like Eu gostava de conhecer os Açores (“I'd like to visit the Azores”). The unit’s grammar notes cover “Apetece-me: I feel like” and “Acho que: giving your opinion”.

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Words in this lesson

PortugueseEnglish
gostava dealso eu gostava de
I'd like toThe everyday way to say "I would like to" in Portugal: Eu gostava de viajar mais.
apetece-me
I feel likeLiterally "it appeals to me": Apetece-me um café.
não me apetece
I don't feel likeAfter não, the pronoun comes before the verb.
conhecer
to get to knowFor places and people: Eu gostava de conhecer a Madeira. Conheces o Rui?
descansar
to rest
um dia
one day
o gelado
ice cream

Example sentences

  • Eu gostava de viver em Lisboa.I'd like to live in Lisbon.Gostava de + infinitive = "I would like to".
  • Apetece-me um gelado.I feel like an ice cream.The pronoun me goes after the verb: apetece-me.
  • Hoje não me apetece sair.I don't feel like going out today.After não, the pronoun moves in front of the verb: não me apetece.
  • Apetece-te ir à praia?Do you feel like going to the beach?In a yes/no question the pronoun stays after the verb: apetece-te.
  • Eu gostava de conhecer os Açores.I'd like to visit the Azores.Conhecer a place = to visit it and get to know it.
  • Um dia eu gostava de ter um cão.One day I'd like to have a dog.
  • Este fim de semana só me apetece descansar.This weekend I just feel like resting.Só pulls the pronoun in front of the verb: só me apetece.
  • O que é que te apetece fazer?What do you feel like doing?After a question word, the pronoun goes before the verb: O que te apetece?
  • Tu gostavas de vir connosco?Would you like to come with us?Gostavas de…? = Would you like to…? Vir = to come, and connosco = with us.
  • A Sofia gostava de aprender a dançar.Sofia would like to learn to dance.

Grammar notes

The grammar notes for this lesson are on the page for Unit 16: Plans and opinions:

All lessons in Unit 16: Plans and opinions

Unit 16 overview · See all 16 units