In this article, we will explain how rád is used when followed by a verb and what meaning it carries.
This phrase is used when we want to say we like to do an activity. Let's use an example: Rád tancuju. This translates into English as I like to dance. If this sentence is without context, we do not know who likes to dance. Is it a man or a woman? In Czech, the form rád tells us that the speaker is a man. How come?
rád
Rád expresses affection for the activity here. Apart from this, it also expresses the gender of the speaker or gender of the person we are talking about.
We use rád for masculine, ráda for feminine and rádi for plural. See the examples below:
Rád vařím. - I like to cook (said by a man)
Ráda vařím. - I like to cook (said by a woman)
Rádi vaříme. - We like to cook (both man and woman)
verb
Now let's have a look at the verb. You have probably noticed the verb is conjugated (e.g. vařím). By using different conjugated forms, we express who likes to cook. See the examples below:
Ráda vařím. - I like to cook.
Ráda vaříš. - You like to cook.
Ráda vaří. - She likes to cook.
Rádi vaříme. - We like to cook.
Rádi vaříte. - You like to cook.
Rádi vaří. - They like to cook.
Negation
We can also use this to express the fact that we do not like to do an activity. In this case, we use nerad / nerada / neradi (note the a does not have the length mark!).
Nerad vařím. - I do not like to cook. (said by a man)
Nerada vařím. - I do not like to cook. (said by a woman)
Neradi vaříme. - We do not like to cook. (both man and woman)