Verbs Like Gustar

By adding a prepositional phrase, we remove the ambiguity of the "le" form. You can also use a prepositional phrase to add emphasis, even if there is no ambiguity.

1. A Juan le gusta el café. John likes coffee. 2. A mí me gusta el té. I like tea.

The second thing to notice is that in English, the subject of the sentence is the person (I, we) while in Spanish the subject of the sentence is the object (room, books).

The room is pleasing to me. Subject: The room I like the room. Subject: I

For purposes of clarification, the sentence will often begin with a prepositional phrase that clarifies just who the IO pronoun refers to.

A ÉL le gusta la silla. HE likes the chair. A JUAN le gusta la silla. JOHN likes the chair. A ELLA le gusta la silla. SHE likes the chair. A MARÍA le gusta la silla. MARY likes the chair. A USTED le gusta la silla. YOU (formal) like the chair.

In English, it is correct to construct a sentence that has the subject "liking" a direct object. In Spanish, this never occurs. In Spanish, a different construction is used.

English: I like the room. Spanish: The room is pleasing to me. English: We like the books. Spanish: The books are pleasing to us.

Examine the same sentences more closely:

I like the room. I = subject of sentence like = verb the room = direct object We like the books. We = subject of sentence like = verb the books = direct object

The first thing you need to notice is that both versions really mean the same thing. They are merely different expressions of the same idea.

Idea: My feelings with regard to the book are positive. English Way: I like the book. Spanish Way: The book is pleasing to me.

Look more closely at one example: Le gusta la silla.

It is impossible to tell whether this means: He likes the chair. She likes the chair. You (usted) like the chair.

In the first example, "a Juan" clarifies the ambiguous pronoun "le." In the second example, there is no ambiguity. "Me gusta el té" can only mean "I like tea." In this case, "a mí" adds emphasis, drawing attention to the fact that tea is what I like (as contrasted with what Juan likes). Another way to look at it:

John likes coffee. Me, I like tea. A Juan le gusta el café. A mí me gusta el té.

She's lacking four chairs.

Le faltan cuatro sillas. (subject: cuatro sillas)

using the verb "gustar" requires use of the IO pronouns

ME gusta el cuarto. I like the room. NOS gustan los libros. We like the books.

I like the food

Me GUSTA la comida

I like the books

Me GUSTAN los libros

I'm lacking the money to buy the ring

Me falta el dinero para comprar el anillo.

Notice that the conjugation of gustar changes to "gusta" when the subject of the sentence is singular.

Me gusta el libro. I like the book. Te gusta el libro. You like the book. Nos gusta el libro. We like the book. Me gustan los libros. I like the books. Te gustan los libros. You like the books. Nos gustan los libros. We like the books.

We're lacking the money to buy the tickets

Nos falta el dinero para comprar los boletos.

Remember, the IO pronoun is not the subject of the sentence!

Nos gustamos ... incorrect! Te gustas ... incorrect!

Me gustan los libros.

Remember, the verb is conjugated to agree with the subject of the sentence. The subject of the sentence is "los libros"

Me gusta el libro.

Since the subject of the sentence must be either singular (book) or plural (books), the only forms of gustar you will use are "gusta" and "gustan." This is true regardless of what IO pronoun appears in the sentence.

Here are some examples of the correct use of gustar. Notice that the only forms of gustar that appear are gusta and gustan, even though each of the IO pronouns is used.

Singular Subject Plural Subject Me gusta la casa. Me gustan las casas. Te gusta el cuarto. Te gustan los cuartos. Le gusta la silla. Le gustan las sillas. Nos gusta el hotel. Nos gustan los hoteles. Os gusta la comida. Os gustan las comidas. Les gusta el reloj. Les gustan los relojes.

Remember, gustar becomes either gusta or gustan, depending upon whether the subject of the sentence is singular or plural. It has nothing to do with which IO pronoun is used.

Subject is singular - use gusta Me gusta el libro. Te gusta el libro. Subject is plural - use gustan Me gustan los libros. Te gustan los libros.

You like the paintings

Te gustan las pinturas.

Finally notice that while the English sentence has a direct object, the Spanish sentence has an indirect object.

The room is pleasing to me. me = Indirect Object I like the room. room = Direct Object

Now that you know how to correctly use the verb gustar, here is a list of verbs that operate in the same manner:

aburrir to bore fascinar to be fascinating bastar to be sufficient importar to be important to caer bien (mal) to (not) suit interesar to be interesting to dar asco to be loathsome molestar to be a bother disgustar to hate something parecer to appear to be doler (o:ue) to be painful picar to itch encantar to "love" something quedar to be left over, remain faltar to be lacking something volver (o:ue) loco to be crazy about