How far along are you with your German language learning, and have you had a chance to practice with one of Europe’s hundred million German speakers? German is the language spoken by the largest number of Europeans and remains a much sought-after foreign language by employers here in the UK, especially in the City of London.
Gern or gerne
During a conversation in German, you may hear people use the short word gern(e) in a sentence or in response to something you have done or said. The word gern is often used by German speakers with the suffix – e, making it gerne, which is only a regional preference, albeit perhaps more formal or courteous.
When to use this little word?
Expressing in German that we like doing something requires using the adverb gern(e). An adverb is a descriptive word for an activity, as opposed to an adjective describing a noun. In a simple sentence, the conjugated verb retains the second position and is often followed by gern(e) unless a temporal context is mentioned first. I am sure you remember in your German course being introduced to TeKaMoLo, thereby, in simplest terms, being taught German syntax, which usually has an adverb of time (wann), followed by causal (warum), modal (wie) and local (wo/wohin) adverbials.
Consider this: Ich lerne Deutsch. That is a neutral or objective statement. Whereas – Ich lerne gerne Deutsch. – is a subjective statement. Ich lerne jetzt gerne Deutsch. Here, we introduced a temporal adverb, which precedes gern(e).
Using the transitive verb mögen when describing an activity would be erroneous, though you may still be understood.
Consider this: Ich mag Fußball. versus Ich spiele gern Fußball.
The word lieber is the comparative of gern and am liebsten is its superlative form.
Consider this: Ich lerne gerne Spanish, aber ich lerne lieber Französisch und Deutsch lerne ich am liebsten.
Other uses of gern
Gern(e) is also used in response to you thanking someone and means as much as you are welcome, but it is effectively the same use as above, with everything else in your answer being omitted, apart from gerne. [Das habe ich] gerne [gemacht]. = Gerne.
Möchtest du gerne Deutsch lernen oder gerne dein Deutsch verbessern? Would you like to learn or improve your German and utilise the one hundred million practice opportunities? If you are in London, do get in touch!