The verb piacere

And indirect objects

Grammar of piacere The verb piacere is used to express like and

dislike. You are already familiar with this verb from

expressions such as “ti piace” and “non mi piace.”

Literally, piacere does not mean “to like.” The literal meaning is “to be pleasing to.”

Example: Mi piace il gelato.

To me is pleasing ice cream.subject

verbindirect object

Indirect Objects Piacere is always used with an indirect object. This is to

say that something (the subject) is pleasing to somebody (an indirect object).

The indirect object can be either a noun or a pronoun. If the indirect object is a noun, it will be preceded by

the Italian preposition a (meaning “to”). Example:

A Giovanna piace l’inverno. To Giovnna winter is pleasing.

A mio fratello piace il calcio. To my brother soccer is pleasing.Al bambino piace dormire.* To the child, to sleep is pleasing.

*Notice that an infinitive verb can act as the subject of piacere.

Indirect Object Pronouns

mi (to me)

ti (to you, sing. inf.)

gli (to him)

le (to her)

Le (to you, sing. form.)

ci (to us)

vi (to you, pl.)

gli (to them)

*loro (to them)

Present tense, singular and plural The present tense singular is piace. The present tense plural is piacciono. Remember that whatever is pleasing is the subject of

piacere. The subject determines whether the verb is singular or plural.

Example:Mi piace questo libro. I like this book.Mi piacciono questi libri. I like these books.

A Giovanna piace l’azzurro. Giovanna likes light-blue.A Giovanna piacciono tutti i colori. Giovanna likes all colors.

Passato prossimo tense, singular and plural

In the passato prossimo, piacere is an “essere” verb. It agrees in number and gender with the subject, the thing that is liked.

The passato prossimo tense singular is è piaciuto/a. The passato prossimo tense plural is sono

piacciuti/e. Example:

Mi è piaciuto il film. I liked the movie.Mi sono piaciute le fragole. I liked the strawberries.

A Paolo è piaciuta la musica. Paolo liked the music.A Paolo sono piaciuti i tortellini. Paolo liked the tortellini.

Imperfetto tense, singluar and plural

The imperfect tense singular is piaceva. The imperfect tense plural is piacevano. Remember that whatever is pleasing is the subject of

piacere. The subject determines whether the verb is singular or plural.

Example:Quando io ero piccolo, mi piaceva l’inverno.

When I was little, I liked the winter. (singular) A Giovanna piacevano le fragole.

Giovanna used to like strawberries. (plural)

Review of piacere in the presente, passato prossimo, and imperfetto tenses

Present

piacepiacciono

Passato Prossimo

è piaciuto/asono piaciuti/e

Imperfetto

piacevapiacevano

The negativeNormally, sentences are made negative by adding

“non” before the form of the verb piacere: A Giovanna non piace l’inverno. A mio fratello non piace il calcio. Al bambino non piace dormire.In the case of an indirect object pronoun,

sentences are made negative by adding “non” before the indirect object pronoun:

Non mi piace il gelato. Non ti piace ballare?

FINE