GUSTAR and similar verbs
● How do we properly use these verbs to
communicate likes, interests, dislikes, etc?
● How does their usage differ from “regular”
verbs?
Some information for this presentation taken from: http://www.drlemon.
com/Grammar/Gustar.html
GUSTAR-type verbs vs. other verbs
Let’s review how regular verbs work.
● Example: querer (to want) (e-ie)
● Yo quiero el libro.
● In this sentence, “yo” is the subject and “el
libro” is the object (the thing that is wanted).
GUSTAR-type verbs vs. other verbs
● Gustar (and all other verbs like it) don’t work that
way.
● Gustar loosely translated means “to like” but
literally means “to be pleasing”.
● You can’t say “Yo gusto el libro” for I like the
book.
● With gustar, the subject is the person or thing that
is pleasing to you. You are the object.
● The correct sentence is “Me gusta el libro” meaning
The book is pleasing to me.
GUSTAR - we typically only use two forms
● There are only two forms of the verb gustar that are commonly
used. Imagine there are only two forms.
○ él/ella form
○ ellos/ellas form
gusta (singular things, infinitive verbs)
gustan (plural things)
Examples:
Me gusta el chocolate. (singular thing)
Me gusta ir al parque. (infinitive verb, an activity)
Me gustan las películas de ciencia ficción. (plural things)
No matter how many verbs you say you like, you will ALWAYS use
me gusta.
Me gusta jugar el fútbol, estar con mis amigos, y leer libros.
Pausa...
Answer these questions:
1. What does gustar mean literally and loosely
translated?
2. Why can’t we use gustar like other kinds of verbs?
3. What is the difference between me gusta and me
gustan?
4. In the sentence Me gusta la escuela, what is the
subject and what is the object?
GUSTAR - Used with indirect object pronouns
When using gustar, it must be preceded by an indirect
object pronoun. These will come before the conjugated
verb.
me gusta - I like
me
nos
te
os
le
les
te gusta - you like
le gusta - he, she, you, likes
nos gusta - we like
os gusta - you all like
les gusta - they, you all like
These pronouns will refer to who is doing the liking,
or literally, to whom the subject is pleasing.
Example: Te gusta la clase. You like the class.
GUSTAR - Using clarifiers with le gusta and les gusta
It is important to use a clarifier when saying le gusta and les
gusta because you could be referring to any number of different
people.
Le gusta could refer to:
● él, ella, usted, mi amigo, tu papá, etc.
Les gusta could refer to:
● ellos, ellas, ustedes, Juan y José, mis hermanos, etc.
A Carlos le gusta el restaurante.
A mis hijos les gusta ir a Disneylandia.
You can use clarifiers with me, te, etc., but they are not
necessary. Me only refers to me, te only refers to you, and so on.
Double verb rule with verbs like GUSTAR
Any verb that follows me
gusta… will not be conjugated
because of the double verb rule.
Don’t say: Me gusta como la
comida mexicana.
Say: Me gusta comer la comida
mexicana.
Pausa...
Answer these questions:
1. What do me, te, le, etc., refer to?
2. How does the double-verb rule
apply to using gustar-type verbs?
3. What forms do you not need a
clarifier for and why?
You try it...
1. I like to take naps at 2:00.
2. María likes her classes.
3. We like to watch TV and
listen to music.
4. The students like to wake
up early.
Other verbs like GUSTAR
Your vocab list has many verbs that function in
the same way as gustar. Refer to that list as you
translate these sentences.
5. My sister bothers me.
6. I love to travel.
7. You dislike reading boring books.
8. Ramon is interested in painting and drawing.
9. Traveling fascinates them. (mis hermanos)
10. The situation appears difficult to us.
11. The students like (don’t use gustar) the
principal.