⇒ Verbs like gustar are famously hard to get right in Spanish, especially when you're just starting out.
⇒ However, with a little bit of explaining and a lot of practice, you'll be a pro at using these verbs in no time.
⇒ The most recognizable verb in this category of verbs like gustar is obviously gustar itself, which is often translated as to like, though it literally means to be pleasing to.
⇒ With gustar and verbs like it, the subject of the sentence is the thing being liked, while the thing doing the liking is expressed via an indirect object.
| Spanish | Literal English Translation | Everyday English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Me gustan las manzanas. | Apples are pleasing to me. | I like apples. |
⇒ In the above Spanish sentence, manzanas (apples) is the subject, so gustar is conjugated in the third person plural to match the plural word manzanas.
⇒ The indirect object me is used to show to whom the apples are pleasing.
⇒ Verbs like gustar all use indirect object pronouns.
| Te gustan los monos.You like monkeys. |
| Nos gusta la película.We like the movie. |
⇒ Gustar-like verbs are always conjugated to match the subject noun (the thing being liked). For example:
| Me gusta el libro.I like the book. |
| Me gustan los libros.I like books |
⇒ If a sentence with a verb like gustar begins with the subject, more focus is given to the thing being liked (the subject) than the liker (the indirect object.). For example:
| Me gustan los frijoles.I like beans. |
| No me gusta el arroz, pero los frijoles me gustan.I don't like rice, but I do like beans. |
⇒ Sentences with verbs like gustar may include the preposition a, plus a pronoun or noun that matches the indirect object. This is usually included to draw attention to or make explicit whatever is doing the liking. For example:
| Me agrada su visita.I am pleased by your visit. |
| Me agrada su visita a mí.I am pleased by your visit. |
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| aburrir | to bore | faltar | to be lacking |
| agradar | to please | fascinar | to fascinate |
| alegrar | to gladden | fastidiar | to annoy |
| apasionar | to love | gustar | to please |
| apetecer | to feel like | hacer falta | to be missed |
| atraer | to attract | importar | to matter |
| bastar | to be enough | interesar | to interest |
| caber | to fit, to fill | molestar | to bother |
| convenir | to be better for | parecer | to appear to be |
| corresponder | to be responsible for | picar | to itch |
| costar | to cost | preocupar | to worry |
| disgustar | to disgust | quedar | to remain |
| doler | to hurt | repugnar | to disgust |
| encantar | to delight | sobrar | to be left over |
| extrañar | to surprise | tocar | to be responsible for |
⇒ Check out these examples with verbs like gustar:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Les interesaría ir al cine? | Are you interested in going to the movies? |
| A nosotros nos molesta el ruido. | We are bothered by the noise. |
| A muchas mujeres les encantan los cuentos de amor. | Many women really like love stories. |
| Los días fríos me gustan. | I like cold days. |
| Los coches deportivos le atraen. | Sports cars are attractive to her. |
| Lavar la ropa nos corresponde. | Washing the clothes is our responsibility. |
| La política te interesa. | Politics interest you. |