Gustar & Similar Verbs

1.To say what people like in Spanish, we use the verb gustar. This verb literally means to be pleasing,

So instead of saying, “I like pizza,” you would say “Pizza is pleasing to me.”

2.

Place one of these pronouns

before gustar to say who likes something.

ME gusta(n) I like NOS gusta(n) we like

TE gusta(n) you like OS gusta(n) you all like

LE gusta(n) he/she/you like LES gusta(n) they, you all like

3. Notice the “n” in parenthesis following gusta. This is because if the thing that is being liked is plural you must add an “n”.Me gusta el béisbol. Me gustan los

carros.

Me gusta la pizza. Me gustan los vegetales.

4. When gusta is followed by a verb, the verb must be in the infinitive form. (-ar-er-ir)

Me gusta jugar el béisbol.

Me gusta jugar deportes.

Te gusta nadar.

Te gusta nadar y correr.

NOTE: a plural noun or second verb doesn’t matter when it is preceded by an infinitive.

5. Notice that le can stand for you (usted), he, she, it, and les can stand for you (uds.) or they. To clarify who is being talked about, use A + name or subject pronoun.

A Juan le gusta la pizza.

A él le gusta la pizza.

A Juan y a Sara les gusta la pizza.

A ellos les gusta la pizza.

6. For extra emphasis, you can add the phrases A mí before me gusta or A ti before te gusta.

A mí me gustan las fiestas.

A ti te gustan las películas.

7. Put the word no before the pronoun to say don’t or doesn’t.

No me gusta la tarea.

Or

A mí no me gusta la tarea.

8.Many other verbs function like gustar:

caer bien(mal) to suit aburrir to bore

encantar to really like interesar to interest

fascinar to love quedar to stay; remain

chocar to hate faltar to lack; to miss

moletar to bother interesar to interest