Log inSign up

Eu gosto mais de café do que de pão.

Eu gosto mais de café do que de pão.
I like coffee more than bread.
FromLesson 5inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu gosto mais de café do que de pão.

eu
I
gostar de
to like
o café
the coffee
o pão
the bread
mais
more
do que
than

Questions & Answers about Eu gosto mais de café do que de pão.

What is the overall structure of the sentence "Eu gosto mais de café do que de pão"?
The sentence follows the pattern gostar de + noun to express what is liked. In this comparative sentence, mais (“more”) is added after gosto to indicate a greater degree of liking, and do que (“than”) introduces the second element. So, it essentially means “I like coffee more than bread.”
Why does the verb gostar always include the preposition de?
In Portuguese, gostar is a verb that requires the preposition de before its object. This rule applies whether you’re stating a simple liking (e.g., Eu gosto de café) or making a comparison (e.g., Eu gosto mais de café do que de pão). The preposition is indispensable to link the verb with what is being liked.
What role does mais play in this sentence?
The word mais means “more” and is used to indicate a higher degree of preference. In the sentence, it clearly establishes that coffee is liked to a greater extent than bread.
What does the contraction do in do que represent, and why is it used?
The contraction do comes from de + o. In the comparative structure do que, do ensures the correct use of the preposition de that is required by gostar. Essentially, it keeps the grammatical structure consistent by linking the second object of comparison (in this case, pão) back to the verb.
Why are there no articles before café or pão in the sentence?
When referring to things in a general or abstract sense—like coffee or bread in general—Portuguese often omits the definite articles. This construction treats café and pão as general categories rather than specific items, which is acceptable and common in the language.
How does this comparative structure in Portuguese compare to that in English?
The structure is quite similar. In English, you would say “I like coffee more than bread.” Both languages use a comparative element (mais in Portuguese, more in English) along with a word that means “than” (the structure do que in Portuguese functions like “than” in English). However, Portuguese requires the preposition de with gostar, so while the ideas are parallel, the prepositional use is language-specific.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Portuguese grammar?”
Portuguese grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Portuguese

Master Portuguese — from Eu gosto mais de café do que de pão to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Portuguese freeBrowse the full course