The verb GUSTAR : to like (to be pleasing) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The verb GUSTAR is different from any verb you have learned so far. How so? It’s made up of 2 pieces instead of just 1 When expressing that someone likes something, the only two endings really used much are the ones associated with box 3 and box 6 of our chart.

The first of the 2 parts needed to state that someone “likes” something is called an indirect object pronoun. The indirect object pronoun tells us WHO the thing liked is pleasing to. Match it up to the person(s) from our blue subject pronoun chart. Yo =menosotros =nos Tú =tevosotros = os élellos ella =leellas =les Ud.Uds.

The second of the 2 parts needed to state that someone “likes” something is the correct form of the main verb GUSTAR. The gustar form used matches up to WHAT the thing liked actually is. This is why the box 3 form (gusta) and the box 6 form (gustan) will be the two forms most commonly chosen. If what is liked is singular noun, use box 3 – gusta If what is liked is a verb, use box 3 – gusta If what is liked is a plural noun, use box 6 - gustan

A little extra note for clarification: If the subject pronoun or person’s name is used in the sentence, insert the word “a” prior to the pronoun (él, nosotros, etc.) or the person’s name (Mario, la Señora Smith). The word “a” in these sentences won’t translate to anything in English, but must be inserted in Spanish, for clarification. *Remember, the verb gustar literally means “to be pleasing” and the a in these sentences represents to word “to.” Something is pleasing to Mario, for example.

Ok, let’s try to put some complete sentences together now. Refer back to the first 4 slides for the necessary parts needed to form the sentence. Marta likes to read. Marta’s name is used, so we must place an “a” in the sentence prior to her name. A Marta … WHAT Marta likes is a verb (to read). Because of this, we use the box 3 form of the main verb gustar. Then, we finish off the sentence. A Marta le gusta leer. WHO it is that likes to read is Marta, so we match up the boxes to get the correct indirect object pronoun that matches to her. A Marta le …

They like art class. A personal pronoun that shares boxes with other pronouns (they) is used, so we must place an “a” in the sentence prior to this pronoun. A ellos … WHAT they like is a singular noun (art class). Because of this, we use the box 3 form of the main verb gustar. Then, we finish off the sentence. A ellos les gusta la clase de arte. WHO it is that likes art class is them (ellos), so we match up the boxes to get the correct indirect object pronoun that matches to them. A ellos les …

We like videogames. A personal pronoun that occupies its own box (we) is used, so we can place an “a” in the sentence prior to this pronoun OR we can omit the pronoun all together. (A nosotros) … WHAT we like is a plural noun (videogames). Because of this, we use the box 6 form of the main verb gustar. Then, we finish off the sentence. (A nosotros) nos gustan los videojuegos. WHO it is that likes videogames is us (nosotros), so we match up the boxes to get the correct indirect object pronoun that matches to us. (A nosotros) nos …

Create a sentence with all its appropriate pieces based on the clues below. Tú Te gusta esquiar. Based on the fact that you are the one WHO likes … Based on the fact that WHAT is liked is a verb …

Vosotros Os gustan los carros. Based on the fact that you (all) are the ones WHO like … Based on the fact that WHAT is liked is a plural noun …

Yo Me gusta la música. Based on the fact that I am the one WHO likes … Based on the fact that WHAT is liked is a singular noun …

What if you want to state that somebody DOESN’T like something? That’s EASY! Simply place the word NO directly in front of the indirect object pronoun! A Roberto y a Marco les gusta la película. (Robert and Marco like the movie) A Roberto y a Marco no les gusta la película. (Robert and Marco don’t like the movie)

Change these two sentences from positive to negative. Me gustan los tacos. No me gustan los tacos. A Ud. le gusta escribir. A Ud. no le gusta escribir.

Create negative sentences from the following clues. Ella A ella no le gusta cantar.

Nosotros (A nosotros) no nos gusta el perro.

Mis hermanos A mis hermanos no les gustan las bicicletas.