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
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•
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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
• Te
• Le
nos
os
les
format
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•
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•
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•
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
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•
•
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4. Do you like to draw?
¿___ ________ dibujar?
5. My friends like to go shopping.
A Mis amigos ____ ___________ ir de
compras.