#kan lide

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In this lesson you will learn how to say what you like and what you dislike. In English you have the verbs “to like” and “to dislike”. In Danish it’s different. Grammatically, liking something in Danish is something you can do (to be able to = at kunne). To show you what I mean I will give you an English translation, but with the Danish grammar applied: “I can like candy”. In Danish the sentence is: “Jeg kan lide slik”. It sounds odd (in English), but it is correct in Danish.

Fun fact: the Danish verb “at lide” means “to suffer”, so it’s important to remember to say “kan lide”!

To like/dislike a thing

If you like/dislike a thing the structure is as follows:

Jeg kan lide [noun] = I like [noun]

Jeg kan ikke lide [noun] = I dislike [noun] / I don’t like [noun]

Example sentences:

Jeg kan lide katte = I like cats

Jeg kan lide sodavand = I like soda

Jeg kan ikke lide lakrids = I dislike/don’t like liquorice

Jeg kan ikke lide musik = I dislike/don’t like music

To like/dislike someone

If you like/dislike someone the structure is as follows:

Jeg kan lide [pronoun/name] = I like [pronoun/name]

Jeg kan ikke lide [pronoun/name] = I dislike/don’t like [pronoun/name]

Example sentences:

Jeg kan lide hende = I like her

Jeg kan lide Mikkel = I like Mikkel

Jeg kan ikke lide dig = I dislike/don’t like you

Jeg kan ikke lide Anna = I dislike/don’t like Anna

To like/dislike an activity

If you like/dislike an activity the structure is as follows:

Jeg kan lide at [activity] = I like to [activity]

Jeg kan ikke lide at [activity] = I dislike/don’t like to [activity]

Example sentences:

Jeg kan lide at danse = I like to dance

Jeg kan lide at spise = I like to eat

Jeg kan ikke lide at synge = I dislike/don’t like to sing

Jeg kan ikke lide at spille fodbold = I dislike/don’t like to play football

To love/hate

If you really like or really dislike something you can, just as in English, say that you love or hate something. The verbs are:

At elske = To love

At hade = To hate

The verb “at elske” (to love) is just a regular verb. Unlike “kan lide” and “kan ikke lide”, you don’t say “kan elske” or “kan hade” unless you specifically talk about being able to love or hate something/someone.

Example sentences:

Jeg elsker sport = I love sport

Jeg elsker min familie = I love my family

Jeg hader dårlig mad = I hate bad food

Jeg hader skumfiduser = I hate marshmallows