mér líkar

Liking (Mér Líkar)

Level 2

Mér líkar means I like: Mér líkar þetta ekki (I don't like this). The person is in the dative.

How It Works

The forms. The person is in the dative and the verb stays líkar:

  • mér líkar (I like)
  • þér líkar (you like)
  • honum / henni líkar (he / she likes)
  • okkur líkar (we like)
  • ykkur líkar (you all like)
  • þeim líkar (they like)

These are the dative pronouns. The past tense is líkaði: Okkur líkaði maturinn (We liked the food).

The thing you like. It is in the nominative, and it is often followed by vel (well) or illa (badly): Henni líkar vinnan vel (She likes her job). Mér líkar þetta ekki (I don't like this). With a plural thing, you will sometimes see a plural verb: see nominative objects.

Liking a person. Use líka vel við or líka illa við + the accusative: Mér líkar vel við hann (I like him). Henni líkar illa við þá (She doesn't like them).

Liking a place. Ask Hvernig líkar þér á Íslandi? (How do you like it in Iceland?) or Hvernig líkar þér í vinnunni? (How do you like your job?).

líka or finnast? For food, drink and taste, Icelanders very often use mér finnst: Mér finnst kaffi gott (I like coffee). líka is common for how you like a job, a place, a person or a new thing.

Two words spelled líka. The adverb líka means also: Ég kem líka (I'm coming too). The verb líka always has a dative person with it.

Examples (5)

  1. Mér líkar vel við hann.

    I like him.

    Word by Word: To-me pleases well with him.

  2. Mér líkar þetta ekki.

    I don't like this.

    Word by Word: To-me pleases this not.

  3. Hvernig líkar þér á Íslandi?

    How do you like it in Iceland?

    Word by Word: How pleases to-you in Iceland?

  4. Henni líkar vinnan vel.

    She likes her job.

    Word by Word: To-her pleases the-job well.

    vinnan, the thing she likes, is in the nominative.

  5. Okkur líkaði maturinn.

    We liked the food.

    Word by Word: To-us pleased the-food.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a nominative subject, as in English "I like".

    Ég líka vel við hann.
    Mér líkar vel við hann.

    The person who likes is in the dative with líka, and the verb stays líkar.

  • Using the accusative mig instead of the dative mér.

    Mig líkar þetta ekki.
    Mér líkar þetta ekki.

    líka takes a dative person: mér, þér, henni. It is mig langar and mig vantar, but mér líkar.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

mér líkarLevel 2Liking (Mér Líkar)

Learn This First

mér líkar builds on oblique subjects.

Words in This Pattern

líkamérillaviðhenni