Eu gostei da conversa de hoje.

I liked the conversation today.

Breakdown of Eu gostei da conversa de hoje.

• eu: I
• gostar de: to like
• hoje: today
• de: of
• a conversa: the conversation

Questions & Answers about Eu gostei da conversa de hoje.

Why do we say gostei da conversa and not gostei a conversa, like in English "I liked the conversation"?

In Portuguese, the verb gostar normally takes the preposition de before the thing you like.

• Pattern: gostar de + noun / pronoun / verb
  • Eu gosto de chocolate. – I like chocolate.
  • Eu gostei da conversa. – I liked the conversation.

So you cannot say gostei a conversa or gostei conversa. You must keep de (often combined with the article, as in da).

What exactly does da mean in da conversa?

Da is a contraction of the preposition de + the feminine singular definite article a:

• de + a = da

Since conversa is a feminine singular noun (a conversa = the conversation), you get:

• de + a conversa → da conversa

Literally: gostei da conversa = “I liked of the conversation” (which corresponds to English “I liked the conversation”).

What tense is gostei, and how is it different from gosto?

Gostei is the preterite (simple past) of gostar, first person singular.

• Eu gosto = I like (present; a general or habitual preference).
• Eu gostei = I liked (past; a specific event, finished in the past).

In this sentence, Eu gostei da conversa de hoje refers to today’s conversation as a completed event that already happened.

Can I omit Eu and just say Gostei da conversa de hoje?

Yes. Portuguese is a pro‑drop language: subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows the person.

• Gostei da conversa de hoje. – Completely natural.
• Eu gostei da conversa de hoje. – Also correct; Eu can add emphasis or clarity.

You might keep Eu:

• for emphasis (contrasting with others): Eu gostei, mas ele não.
• when the context is unclear and you want to stress who did the action.

Why do we say conversa and not conversação or diálogo?

All three exist, but they’re used differently:

• conversa

  • The most common, everyday word for a chat/conversation.
  • Neutral and very natural in this sentence.
  • Gostei da conversa de hoje.

• conversação

  • More formal or technical, used in expressions like aula de conversação (conversation class).
  • Saying Gostei da conversação de hoje sounds unusual or overly formal in daily speech.

• diálogo

  • Often implies a two-way, sometimes more structured exchange, or “dialogue” in texts, plays, politics, etc.
  • Gostei do diálogo de hoje would usually feel more specific, like talking about a particular type of exchange (e.g. in a meeting, therapy, or a script).

Why is it de hoje after conversa? Could I say Eu gostei da conversa hoje instead?

Both are possible, but they don’t work exactly the same way.

1. Eu gostei da conversa de hoje.

   • de hoje behaves like “today’s” in English: today’s conversation.
   • It identifies which conversation you mean (the one that happened today).
   • Literally: “I liked the conversation of today.”

2. Eu gostei da conversa hoje.

   • Here, hoje is an adverb modifying the verb gostei, not a descriptor of conversa.
   • It’s more like: “Today, I liked the conversation.” (With a little more focus on today as the time you liked it.)

For “I liked today’s conversation” in the natural, default way, Eu gostei da conversa de hoje is the best choice.

Why is it Eu gostei, not Eu gostou?

Because gostar must be conjugated to match the subject.

In the preterite (simple past):

• eu gostei – I liked
• você / ele / ela gostou – you / he / she liked
• nós gostamos – we liked
• vocês / eles / elas gostaram – you (pl.) / they liked

So:

• Eu gostei da conversa de hoje. – correct
• Eu gostou da conversa de hoje. – wrong (mixing 1st person subject with 3rd person verb form)

Is Eu gostei da conversa de hoje formal, informal, or neutral? Are there more natural alternatives?

The sentence is neutral and works in almost any context: casual, polite, even somewhat formal.

Some very natural alternatives Brazilians might use:

• Gostei muito da nossa conversa de hoje. – I really liked our conversation today.
• Adorei nossa conversa de hoje. – I loved our conversation today. (stronger than gostei)
• Foi muito boa a nossa conversa hoje. – Our conversation today was very good.
• Curti nossa conversa de hoje. – I enjoyed / dug our conversation today. (informal/colloquial)

How do I say “I really liked today’s conversation” in Portuguese?

The most straightforward options:

• Eu gostei muito da conversa de hoje.
• Gostei muito da conversa de hoje. (without Eu, also very common)

Notes:

• muito after gostei = “really / very much”
• Don’t say gostei muito a conversa; you still need de:
  • gostei muito da conversa ✅

Can I use gostei with people, like Eu gostei de você?

Yes, but the nuance is important.

• Eu gostei de você.
  
  • Literally “I liked you.”
  • Often implies a personal or emotional reaction.
  • In many contexts it can sound a bit romantic or like you’re expressing a strong positive impression.

More neutral or less “charged” ways to say you liked someone or their company:

• Gostei de te conhecer. – I liked meeting you.
• Gostei muito de conversar com você. – I really enjoyed talking with you.
• Você é uma pessoa muito legal. – You’re a really nice person.

Is de hoje only for time expressions, or can this pattern be used more generally?

The pattern de + time word to describe a noun is very common and extends beyond just hoje:

• o filme de ontem – yesterday’s movie
• a reunião de amanhã – tomorrow’s meeting
• a aula de hoje – today’s class

It’s also used with other kinds of descriptors:

• o livro de matemática – the math book / the book of math
• a música de Natal – the Christmas song

So a conversa de hoje fits a very general and productive pattern in Portuguese.