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Questions & Answers about Paulo gosta de comer.
Why is the preposition de used after gostar in Portuguese?
In Portuguese, gostar usually comes with de before the thing or action that is liked. It’s a fixed construction in the language. So you say gostar de algo (like something) or gostar de fazer algo (like doing something).
Can we just say Paulo gosta comer without de?
No. In Portuguese, you need de to connect gostar and the infinitive comer. Saying Paulo gosta comer would be considered incorrect.
Is there a difference between Paulo gosta de comer and Paulo adora comer?
Yes, but it’s mainly a matter of intensity. Gosta de comer means “likes to eat,” while adora comer conveys a stronger feeling: it means “loves to eat.”
How do I talk about something else Paulo likes, like pizza, using gostar?
You would use the same structure: Paulo gosta de pizza. If you want to keep the verb format, you can say Paulo gosta de comer pizza.
How does the preposition de work if I change the sentence to different pronouns or subjects?
The de remains the same. What changes is the conjugation of gostar based on the subject. For example:
• Eu gosto de comer (I like to eat)
• Ela gosta de comer (She likes to eat)
• Nós gostamos de comer (We like to eat)
The formula is always [subject] + gostar (conjugated) + de + [verb in the infinitive].