Gustar To like, to please

In English We use the verb “ to like” to talk about the activities, foods or other things we like. I like ice cream We like to run Joe likes cookies They like to read

In Spanish We use the verb gustar which does not really mean to like. Gustar means to please We talk about what pleases us. Me gusta el helado Ice cream is pleasing to me

A little bit of helpful grammar In the sentence I like ice cream. I is the subject, like is the verb and ice cream is the object. In the sentence Ice cream pleases me. Ice cream is the subject, pleases is the verb and me is the object

What determines the form of the verb? The form of the verb is determined by the subject. So when we say Me gusta el helado, the form of the verb gustar is determined by el helado not by me. Remember : Ice cream pleases me

In Spanish El helado is the subject Gustar is the verb Me is the object (to whom the ice cream is pleasing)

Let’s compare He likes cookies. Subject is he. Object is cookies Le gustan las galletas. (Cookies please him) Subject is cookies. Object is him

Another comparison We do not like onions. Subject- We Object-onions No nos gustan las cebollas (Onions do not please us) Subject-Onions Object-us

Indirect object pronouns Me nos Te os Le les

format Indirect object pronoun + gustar+subject Me gustan bananas To talk about what people like to do Use indirect object pronoun+ gustar+ infinitive Me gusta leer Le gusta escribir mensajes de texto

Fill in the blanks 1. I like music _____ ____________la música. 2. She likes to write letters. _____ ________ escribir cartas 3. We like soft drinks. _____ _______ los refrescos

Fill in the blanks 4. Do you like to draw? ¿___ ________ dibujar? 5. My friends like to go shopping. A Mis amigos ____ ___________ ir de compras.