2. Gustar and Similar Verbs

3. Even though we usually translate the verb gustar as “to like,” it literally means “to please.”

4. Gustar and Similar Verbs So when you say: Me gustan los programas deportivos, you’re actually saying, “Sports programs are pleasing to me.”

5. Gustar and Similar Verbs Programas deportivos is the subject of the sentence, and me is the indirect object. Here’s the pattern:

6. Gustar and Similar Verbs Indirect object + form of gustar + subject Me (yo)Nos (nosotros) Te (tú) Le (él, ella, ud.)Les (ellos, ellas, uds.) The subject in a sentence with gustar usually follows the verb.

7. Gustar and Similar Verbs You need to know if the subject is singular or plural to know which form of gustar to use.

8. Gustar and Similar Verbs If the subject is singular, use gusta. If it’s plural, use gustan. If it’s an infinitive, use gusta.

9. Gustar and Similar Verbs Me gusta el actor en la telenovela pero no me gustan las actrices. I like the actor in the soap opera, but I don’t like the actresses.

10. Gustar and Similar Verbs A mis amigos les gusta ver películas. My friends like to see movies.

11. Gustar and Similar Verbs To emphasize or clarify who is pleased, you can use an additional a + pronoun:

12. Gustar and Similar Verbs A mí me gustan los dibujos animados, pero a él no le gustan. (For me) I like cartoons, but (for him) he doesn’t. Here are the other verbs you know that are similar to gustar:

13. Gustar and Similar Verbs Aburrir = To bore A mi me aburren las películas románticas. (For me) Romantic movies bore me.

14. Gustar and Similar Verbs Doler (o>ue) = To hurt A Fernando le duelen los pies. Fernando’s feet hurt him.

15. Gustar and Similar Verbs Encantar = To be really pleasing, love A mis padres les encanta el teatro. The theater is really pleasing for my parents.

16. Gustar and Similar Verbs Faltar = To be missing Me faltan un cuchillo y un tenedor. I am missing a knife and a fork.

17. Gustar and Similar Verbs Interesar = To interest Nos interesan mucho los programas musicales. Musical programs interest us a lot.

18. Gustar and Similar Verbs Quedar = to fit ¿Te queda bien el vestido? Does the dress fit you well?