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Eu gosto de andar de metro.

Eu gosto de andar de metro.
I like to ride the subway.
FromLesson 36inHardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Eu gosto de andar de metro.

eu
I
gostar de
to like
o metro
the subway
andar de
to ride

Questions & Answers about Eu gosto de andar de metro.

Why is it gosto de and not just gosto?

In Portuguese, the verb gostar requires the preposition de to introduce what is liked.

  • With a verb, use de + infinitive: Gosto de andar de metro.
  • With a noun, use de (and it contracts with the article when needed): Gosto de café. / Gosto do café desta máquina. (de + o = do)
What does andar mean here? I thought it means “to walk.”

Andar can mean “to walk,” but with a mode of transport it also means “to go/ride by.” So andar de metro = to travel by metro. Compare:

  • andar a pé = to go on foot
  • andar de bicicleta = to ride a bike
Why is it andar de metro and not andar no metro?
  • andar de + transport stresses the means of transport (“by metro”).
  • andar no + vehicle (em + o) stresses being on/in that vehicle (“on the metro”). Both are possible, but they highlight slightly different things:
  • Gosto de andar de metro. (I like that means of transport.)
  • Gosto de andar no metro quando está vazio. (I like being on the metro when it’s empty.)
Why are there two de in a row (gosto de andar de metro)?

Because two different patterns are at play:

  • gostar de
    • [thing/action you like]
  • andar de
    • [means of transport] So you get: gosto de [andar de metro]. Dropping either de is ungrammatical.
Can I drop Eu and just say Gosto de andar de metro?

Yes. Portuguese often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject. Use Eu only for emphasis or contrast:

  • Eu gosto de andar de metro, mas ela prefere autocarro.
Could I also say gosto de ir de metro, gosto de apanhar o metro, or gosto de andar no metro?

All are correct, with nuances:

  • gosto de ir de metro: focuses on going somewhere by metro (very common in planning trips).
  • gosto de andar de metro: focuses on riding the metro as an activity/habit.
  • gosto de andar no metro: focuses on being on the metro (the experience inside).
  • gosto de apanhar o metro: in Portugal, apanhar = to catch/take (a specific metro/bus/train).
Why not gosto a andar?
Because gostar takes de, not a. The preposition a with an infinitive is used for the progressive with estar: Estou a andar de metro (I’m riding the metro now).
Do I need the article with metro? When do I use de metro, no metro, or do metro?
  • Means of transport: no article → de metro (by metro).
  • In/on the metro: article with em → no metro (em + o).
  • Of the metro: article with de → do metro (de + o). Examples:
  • Vou de metro todos os dias.
  • Estou no metro agora.
  • Gosto do metro do Porto.
Can I say Gosto do metro to mean I like riding it?
Gosto do metro means you like the metro system itself (as a thing/service). To say you like riding it, prefer Gosto de andar de metro or Gosto de ir de metro.
How would this be said in Brazilian Portuguese?

In Brazil, it’s metrô. Common options:

  • Eu gosto de andar de metrô.
  • Eu gosto de ir de metrô.
  • Eu gosto de pegar o metrô. (very common in Brazil; in Portugal, use apanhar instead of pegar)
How do I make it negative?

Place não before the verb:

  • Não gosto de andar de metro. Adding Eu is optional: Eu não gosto…
How do I talk about other transport modes (and walking)?
  • de autocarro (by bus), de comboio (by train), de carro (by car), de táxi, de avião, de barco, de bicicleta, de mota.
  • On foot is a pé (not de pé, which means “standing up”). Examples:
  • Gosto de ir a pé.
  • Gosto de ir de autocarro.
Is metro masculine or feminine?
Masculine: o metro. So you say no metro (em + o) and do metro (de + o).
Any quick European Portuguese pronunciation tips for this sentence?
  • Eu: a quick “eh-oo” glide.
  • gosto: roughly “GÓSH-too” (the s often sounds like “sh” before a consonant).
  • de: very short and reduced, like a quick “dɨ.”
  • andar: “ãn-DAR” (first vowel nasalized; final r is a light tap in many accents).
  • metro: “MEH-troo,” with a tapped r.
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