Gustar and Similar Verbs
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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Even though we usually
translate the verb gustar as
“to like,” it literally means
“to please.”
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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So when you say:
• Me gustan los programas
deportivos, you’re actually saying,
“Sports programs are pleasing
to me.”
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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Programas deportivos is the
subject of the sentence, and
me is the indirect object.
Here’s the pattern:
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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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.
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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You need to know if the
subject is singular or plural
to know which form of
gustar to use.
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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If the subject is singular, use
gusta.
If it’s plural, use gustan.
If it’s an infinitive, use gusta.
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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Me gusta el actor en la
telenovela pero no me gustan
las actrices.
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I like the actor in the soap opera,
but I don’t like the actresses.
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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A mis amigos les gusta ver
películas.
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My friends like to see movies.
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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To emphasize or clarify who
is pleased, you can use an
additional a + pronoun:
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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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:
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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Aburrir = To bore
A mi me aburren las
películas románticas.
(For me) Romantic movies bore
me.
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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Doler (o>ue) = To hurt
A Fernando le duelen los
pies.
Fernando’s feet hurt him.
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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Encantar = To be really pleasing,
love
A mis padres les encanta el teatro.
The theater is really pleasing for
my parents.
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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Faltar = To be missing
Me faltan un cuchillo y un
tenedor.
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I am missing a knife and a fork.
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Gustar and Similar Verbs
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Interesar = To interest
Nos interesan mucho los
programas musicales.
Musical programs interest us a
lot.
Gustar and Similar Verbs
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Quedar = to fit
¿Te queda bien el vestido?
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Does the dress fit you well?
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