Questions & Answers about Я люблю гулять по парку вечером.
Why is гулять in the infinitive form after я люблю?
In Russian, when you talk about liking to do an activity in general, you usually use любить + infinitive.
- Я люблю гулять. – I like to go for walks / I like walking.
- Я люблю читать. – I like reading.
- Я люблю готовить. – I like cooking.
The infinitive (гулять) expresses the action in a general, abstract way, not at a specific time. So я люблю гуляю would be wrong here; you must use the infinitive: я люблю гулять.
What is the difference between я люблю гулять and мне нравится гулять?
Both can be translated as I like to walk, but there is a nuance:
Я люблю гулять.
- Literally: I love to walk.
- Sounds a bit stronger, more personal, often used when it’s a regular habit or something important to you.
Мне нравится гулять.
- Literally: Walking is pleasing to me.
- Often a bit more neutral, like I enjoy walking / I like walking.
In everyday speech, they often overlap, and both are correct in this sentence. The original Я люблю гулять по парку вечером emphasizes more of a personal fondness for this habit.
What exactly does гулять mean? Is it just “to walk”?