Gustar and Similar Verbs

Master "gustar" and similar verbs that use reverse construction - the thing liked is the subject.

How Gustar Works

Unlike English, the construction is backwards:

• The thing liked/disliked is the subject
• The person who likes it receives the action (indirect object)

Me gusta el café. (I like coffee.) Literally: "Coffee is pleasing to me."

Gustar Conjugation Pattern

Use with indirect object pronouns:

• me (to me)
• te (to you - informal)
• le (to him/her/you - formal)
• nos (to us)
• os (to you all - Spain)
• les (to them/you all)

Only two verb forms used:

• gusta - singular subject or infinitive
• gustan - plural subject

Examples

Me gusta la música. (I like music.) - singular subject Me gustan las películas. (I like movies.) - plural subject Me gusta bailar. (I like to dance.) - infinitive = singular

Te gusta el chocolate. (You like chocolate.) Nos gustan los libros. (We like books.) Les gusta viajar. (They like to travel.)

Clarifying the Person

Add "a + person" for emphasis or clarity:

A mí me gusta... (I like... - emphasis) A ti te gusta... (You like...) A él/ella le gusta... (He/she likes...) A nosotros nos gusta... (We like...) A ellos/ellas les gusta... (They like...)

A María le gusta el té. (María likes tea.)

Similar Verbs - Same Pattern

encantar (to love, to delight): Me encanta este libro. (I love this book.) Me encantan las flores. (I love flowers.)

molestar (to bother): Me molesta el ruido. (The noise bothers me.) Me molestan las mentiras. (Lies bother me.)

interesar (to interest): Me interesa la historia. (History interests me.) Me interesan las ciencias. (Sciences interest me.)

importar (to matter): No me importa. (It doesn't matter to me.) Me importan mis amigos. (My friends matter to me.)

faltar (to lack, to be missing): Me falta dinero. (I lack money / Money is missing for me.) Me faltan dos libros. (I'm missing two books.)

quedar (to remain, to have left): Me queda un día. (I have one day left.) Me quedan dos euros. (I have two euros left.)

doler (to hurt): Me duele la cabeza. (My head hurts.) Me duelen los pies. (My feet hurt.)

caer bien/mal (to like/dislike someone): Me cae bien Juan. (I like Juan - he's nice.) Me caen mal esas personas. (I dislike those people.)

parecer (to seem): Me parece interesante. (It seems interesting to me.) Me parecen difíciles. (They seem difficult to me.)

hacer falta (to need): Me hace falta un descanso. (I need a rest.) Me hacen falta vacaciones. (I need a vacation.)

Negative Forms

No me gusta el café. (I don't like coffee.) No me gustan las manzanas. (I don't like apples.) No me gusta nada. (I don't like it at all.)

Different People

A Juan le gusta María. (Juan likes María.) A mis padres les gusta viajar. (My parents like to travel.) ¿A ti te gusta cocinar? (Do you like to cook?)

Common Mistakes

❌ Yo gusto café. → ✓ Me gusta el café. ❌ Me gusto el libro. → ✓ Me gusta el libro. ❌ Me gusta los perros. → ✓ Me gustan los perros. (plural)

Emphasis and Contrast

A mí me gusta el té, pero a ti te gusta el café. (I like tea, but you like coffee.)

Multiple Things

Me gustan las películas y la música. (I like movies and music.)

Use plural "gustan" when listing multiple nouns.

With Infinitives

Always use singular "gusta" with verbs: Me gusta leer y escribir. (I like to read and write.)

Practice