German Phrase
Ich liebe es, Pasta zu kochen.
Meaning
The sentence means 'I love cooking pasta.' It conveys a personal passion for the activity rather than just liking pasta itself. The placeholder 'es' stands in for the infinitive clause that follows.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to talk about your cooking hobby, share your enthusiasm for making pasta, or respond to a question about what you enjoy doing in the kitchen.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ichliebees,Pastazukochen.
Verb + es + infinitive
When expressing enjoyment of an activity, German often uses the construction 'verb + es + zu + infinitive' (e.g., 'Ich liebe es, zu kochen').
Infinitive with zu
The infinitive clause is introduced by 'zu' and placed after the placeholder 'es'.
Word order
In main clauses, the finite verb ('liebe') occupies the second position; the infinitive clause follows the comma.
Noun capitalization
All nouns in German are capitalized, so 'Pasta' stays with an initial capital letter.
🗨In Conversation
Ich liebe es, Pasta zu kochen.
I love cooking pasta.
Das klingt lecker! Was ist dein Lieblingsrezept?
That sounds delicious! What's your favorite recipe?
✕Common Mistakes
Ich liebe zu kochen Pasta.
The verb 'lieben' does not take a direct infinitive; you need the 'es, zu' construction.
Pasta zu kochen, ich liebe es.
German main clause word order requires the finite verb in second position.
Ich liebe Pasta zu kochen.
The placeholder 'es' is required before the infinitive clause.
↔Alternatives
Ich koche gern Pasta.
I like to cook pasta.
Ich habe eine Leidenschaft für das Kochen von Pasta.
I have a passion for cooking pasta.
Pasta zu kochen macht mir Spaß.
Cooking pasta is fun for me.
Cultural Tip
Pasta is a popular dish in Germany, often served with a variety of sauces ranging from classic tomato to creamy mushroom. While 'Pasta' is an Italian loanword, Germans usually pronounce it with a German accent. In informal conversation you can drop the placeholder 'es' and simply say 'Ich koche gern Pasta.'