Download Gustar and similar type verbs

Gustar and similar type verbs
Gustar, which means "something is pleasing to me", is different than the other
verbs we have learned so far. Many Spanish verbs work just like English verbs
in a straight forward "Subject-Verb" manner.
For example, let's look at the verb Querer,"to Want or to Like".
To say, "I want my book", we follow the same word order we just used in English "Yo quiero mi
libro."
Yo is the subject that controls the verb, quiero, and mi libro is the direct object [what I want].
But Gustar doesn't work this way.
We cannot say *Yo gusto mi libro. Gustar functions a little differently. With Gustar, the subject
is the thing or person that is pleasing to you. In other words, we say
The book is pleasing to me: Me gusta el libro.
Me (to me) gusta (is pleasing) el libro (The book).
It may seem confusing because the subject, mi libro, comes after the verb. Do not let the word
order influence you! Think of it this way: it is the responsiblility of other things and people to
please you rather than for you to go out actively liking things!
Let's look at another example using Gustar: "I like horseback riding."
•
•
We need to say: Me gusta montar a caballo.
Remember this is not a direct translation. When I say, Me gusta montar a caballo, I'm
really saying "Horseback riding is pleasing to me".
Me is an Indirect Object Pronoun referring to myself - I am whom is being pleased; Montar a
Caballo is the real Subject - it is what is pleasing me. Gusta is the active verb and is singular
because horseback riding is a concept or an action - at any rate, Montar is an infinitive and
infinitives are ALWAYS SINGULAR.
Gustar requires an indirect object pronoun which indicates "to whom" the subject is pleasing:
Me
Te
Le
Nos
Les
(a mí)
(a ti)
(a él, a ella, a
usted)
(a nosotros)
(a ellos/as, a ustedes)
Click here to see the corresponding pronouns in action.
Gustar sentences will always have three components:
#1: an indirect object
pronoun
#2: A form of Gustar
#3: A subject with a definite article
Me
gusta
el café
Nos
gusta
la música
•
If the subject (what is pleasing) is singular, Gustar is conjugated in the 3rd person singular
form (the él, ella, usted form):
Me gusta el vestido.
The dress pleases me, or I like the dress.
Me encanta el vestido nuevo de Julia.
Julia's new dress delights me, or I love Julie's
new dress.
Me interesa el programa.
The program interests me, or I'm interested in
the program.
•
If what is pleasing is plural, (for example, shoes or the Italian shoes) then Gustar is
conjugated in the 3rd person PLURAL form (Ellos, ellas, ustedes form):
Me gustan los zapatos.
Shoes please me, or I like shoes.
Me encantan los zapatos
The Italian shoes please me, or I love
Italian shoes.
italianos.
Me fascinan los caballos.
•
Horses fascinate me, or I am
fascinated by horses.
So Gustar and similar type verbs are conjugated depending on whether the subject is
singular or plural:
Me interesa el libro.
The book interests me [I am interested in the
book]
Me interesan los libros.
The books interest me [I am interested in the
books]
Me molesta la carta.
The letter bothers me.
Me molestan las abejas
Bees bother me -or - Bees are bothering me.
•
But remember, infinitives are always singular, no matter how many you list!
Me gusta montar a caballo y nadar en el
mar.
•
I enjoy horseback riding and swimming in the
ocean.
For now think of Gustar verbs as having only two conjugations, the 3rd person singular and
plural (gusta and gustan)
Avoid the error of *Me gusto - At best this implies you are physically appealing to yourself
which is probably not what you mean to say (at worst it is TMI.)
It is safe to use Gustar when referring to professionals and people when you are using their
professional titles.
Me gustan los profesores de mi universidad
I like the professors at my university.