Gustar – to be pleasing to

Gustar – to be pleasing to Me gustan las películas. Movies please me. A Pablo le gustan los libros. Books please Pablo. ¿Te gusta el carro? Does the car please you?

Since English speakers do not really say things like, “Movies please me” or “Books please Pablo,” the verb gustar is typically loosely translated to mean, “to like.” Translating gustar as “to like” seems more natural to English speakers, but has its risks. Doing so makes it more difficult to remember which word is the subject and which is the indirect object. See the next slide for examples.

Thinking of gustar as “to like.” The following sentences have the same meaning, but different sentence structures. Which matches the Spanish structure? I like tigers. Me gustan los tigres. Tigers please me. Me gustan los tigres. verb subject object

Thinking of gustar as “to like” Again, even though the meaning is essentially the same, the sentences have different subjects. I like tigers. Tigers please me. When thinking of gustar as “to like,” it is important not to confuse the subject and the object. subject

When using gustar… If you are starting with an English sentence that uses the verb “to like,” start by rewriting the sentence to use “to please” instead. I like cars.  Cars please me. He likes motorcycles.  We like to study. 

When using gustar… I like cars.  Cars please me. He likes motorcycles.  Motorcycles please him. We like to study.  To study pleases us.

Thinking of gustar as “to like” Rewrite this sentence in Spanish using the verb gustar. I like movies. (The word for movies is películas. Unlike English, in Spanish you must use an article for the subject of the sentence.) Step 1: Rewrite using “to please” Step 2: Rewrite new sentence in Spanish.

I like movies. Step 1: Rewrite using “to please” Movies please me I like movies. Step 1: Rewrite using “to please” Movies please me. Step 2: Rewrite new sentence in Spanish. Las películas me gustan or Me gustan las películas.

To like doing things To talk about liking activities (verbs), gustar is used in the same way, but followed by a verb in the infinitive form. Look at the following examples. I like swimming. Me gusta nadar. They like dancing. Les gusta bailar. He likes reading. Le gusta leer. You like to cook. Te gusta cocinar. Notice that gustar is singular in this situation.

Watch your agreement! Me gustan las películas. Me gusta ver las películas. Questions?