Portuguese Phrase
Gosto de cuidar do jardim.
Meaning
The sentence means “I like to take care of the garden.” It uses the structure "gostar de + infinitive" to talk about personal preferences, and the noun "jardim" is preceded by the definite article because it refers to a specific garden.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to talk about a hobby, a regular activity, or something you enjoy doing in your free time, especially in conversations about weekend plans, home life, or environmental interests.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Gostodecuidardojardim
Gostar + de + infinitivo
The verb "gostar" is always followed by the preposition "de" and then an infinitive verb to express likes.
Infinitive verb
"cuidar" is an infinitive meaning "to take care of"; it does not change for person or number.
Contraction "do"
"do" is the contraction of the preposition "de" + the masculine singular article "o".
Definite article with nouns
"jardim" (garden) is a masculine noun, so it takes the article "o" in the phrase "do jardim".
🗨In Conversation
O que você costuma fazer nos fins de semana?
What do you usually do on weekends?
Gosto de cuidar do jardim.
I like to take care of the garden.
✕Common Mistakes
Gosto cuidar do jardim.
The verb "gostar" must be followed by the preposition "de" before an infinitive.
Gosto de cuidar jardim.
The infinitive needs the preposition "de" and the definite article "o" before "jardim".
Gosto de cuidar da jardim.
If you mistakenly use "da" (feminine) with "jardim" (masculine), it creates a gender error.
↔Alternatives
Adoro cuidar do jardim.
I love taking care of the garden.
Tenho prazer em cuidar do jardim.
I enjoy taking care of the garden.
Gosto de cuidar da horta.
I like to take care of the vegetable garden.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, gardening is a popular pastime that ranges from maintaining a backyard garden to caring for indoor plants. When you talk about a specific garden, use the definite article ("o jardim"). If you refer to a garden in a more general sense, you can drop the article: "Gosto de cuidar de jardim" (less common, more abstract). Also, "cuidar" can be used metaphorically for taking care of relationships or projects, so context matters.