How to use the Spanish verb ''gustar''
In this lesson you will learn how to use the verb 'gustar' in Spanish. The verb “Gustar” is a bit different from the verbs you use in English. When you like something, in Spanish it’s as if that something was pleasing to you. In other words, the thing is the subject of the sentence.For example, instead of saying “I like ice cream”, you would say “Ice cream is pleasing to me”. Do you see? It’s a little strange at first, but you'll get used to it.
Another important thing is that “gustar” changes its form depending on whether the thing you like is singular or plural. If it’s singular, like “ice cream”, you use “gusta”, (Me gusta el helado). But if there are several things, like “cars”, you use “gustan”, ( Me gustan las uvas.)
Me gusta Pedro
When you say: ''Me gusta Pedro'' it is as if you were saying ''Pedro is pleasing me'', in fact, Pedro is the one who does the action in the Spanish language, Pedro with his charm and personality makes you feel in love. Using first person you can say : "Me gusta Pedro", ( I like Pedro) using third person you can say: " Le gusta Pedro" (she likes Pedro).
Me gusta Pedro
1. Indirect Object Pronouns:
"Gustar" always needs an indirect object pronoun to show who is being pleased or affected by the thing they like. These are the most common ones:
Me: to me
Te: to you (informal)
Le: to him/her/you (formal)
Nos: to us
Les: to them/you all
The Verb "Gustar"
"Gustar" is usually used in the third person singular (gusta) or plural (gustan) depending on the subject of the sentence.
Plural: Use "gustan" when you like more than one thing.
Me gustan las manzanas. (I like apples.)
Singular: Use "gusta" when you like one thing.
Me gusta el chocolate. (I like chocolate.) Me gusta la leche. ( I like milk) In Spanish literally: I like the milk. Me gusta el cafe. ( I like coffe )
When you say, "me gusta el café," the one doing the action is the coffee, this is acceptable in the Spanish language. Practically coffee is ''pleasing'' you with its aroma and flavor.
Me gusta el helado
Alternatives to "Pleasing":
The "pleasing" analogy is a good starting point, but let's explore some other verbs and phrasing that might resonate better with you. Here are some alternatives to "pleasing" and different ways to frame the concept:
Appealing: "Ice cream is appealing to me." (This emphasizes the attractiveness or desirability of the subject.)
Enjoyable: "Ice cream is enjoyable to me." (This focuses on the experience of liking something.)
Agreeable: "Ice cream is agreeable to me." (This suggests that the subject aligns with one's preferences.)
Satisfying: "Ice cream is satisfying to me." (This highlights the fulfillment aspect of liking something.)
Delightful: "Ice cream is delightful to me." (This adds a sense of joy and pleasure.)
To my liking: "Ice cream is to my liking." (This is a more direct and common English idiom.)
Different Phrasing and Explanations:
Focus on the Indirect Object:
"Think of 'gustar' as showing what is liked by someone, rather than what someone likes. So, 'Me gusta el helado' means 'Ice cream is liked by me.'"
"Instead of 'I like...', consider 'It is liked by me...'. The 'me' is the person who experiences the liking, and 'el helado' is what is being liked."
The Reverse Structure:
"Spanish flips the sentence around. Where we say 'I like,' they say 'It pleases me.' It's a reverse structure."
"The subject of the spanish sentence is the thing that is liked. The person who likes the thing is the indirect object."
Use the Idea of "Being Fond Of":
"You can think of 'gustar' as expressing being fond of something. 'Me gusta el helado' is like saying 'I am fond of ice cream'."
Use the idea of "To be a fan of":
"Me gusta el helado" is like saying "I am a fan of ice cream"
Use the idea of "To be interested in":
Depending on context, gustar can be similar to "to be interested in". "Me gustan los libros" can be seen as "I am interested in books"
Think like these:
"Think of 'gustar' as if the thing you like is the star of the sentence. It's the one doing the 'pleasing' or 'appealing.' You're just the one who's receiving that feeling."
"Imagine that the thing you like is sending out good vibes, and you're the one who's catching them. That's kind of how 'gustar' works."
"It's like saying that the thing brings you pleasure, rather than you actively liking it. The thing is what causes the pleasure."
The Subject of the Sentence
The thing you like is actually the subject of the sentence in Spanish. This is the opposite of English!
English: I like the movie.
Spanish: Me gusta la película. (The movie is pleasing to me.)
Example Sentences:
Me gusta bailar. (I like to dance.)
Te gustan los videojuegos. (You like video games.)
Le gusta la música clásica. (He/She likes classical music.)
Nos gusta viajar. (We like to travel.)
Les gustan los animales. (They like animals.)
Putting it all Together:
To form a sentence with "gustar", remember this structure:
Indirect Object Pronoun + gustar (gusta/gustan) + subject
Multiple Choice Exercise:
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
A él ____ las películas de acción.
a) me gusta
b) le gustan
c) le gusta
d) te gustan
Answer: b) le gustan
Easy way to use the verb "gustar"
If the previous information is confusing to you, you can use the verb "gustar" the way you use any other verb in English. Just learn the next conjugation:
Note: This is not standard Spanish, but it works well while you learn the standard way explained above, people will understand what you mean.
Yo gusto - I like
Tu gustas- You like
El/Ella gusta - He/She likes
Nosotros gustamos - We like
Ustedes gustan - You like
Ellos gustan - They like
As you can see the previous conjugation is equivalent to the conjugation of the verb "like" in English.With this conjugation you don't use "me", "te", "se", "le" "nos"
Note: Spanish people say "vosotros gustais" but most latin people say " "ustedes gustan".
Examples using the previous conjugation
Yo gusto la manzana- I like apple
Tú gustas el carro - You like the car.
Yo gusto la leche. I like milk.
This adaptation can serve as a "bridge" while you grasp the logic of standard Spanish. Saying "yo gusto la leche" is a non-standard phrase but perfectly understandable to any Spanish speaker. Even though it’s not grammatically correct according to standard Spanish rules, the message gets across clearly. It's a great practical strategy to help you build confidence as you learn and get familiar with more complex structures like "me gusta la leche."
It's a helpful way for you to experiment with the language without fear of making mistakes. Plus, it might even be fun for you to realize how your skills evolve as you integrate the standard rules.
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