2.2 Grammar - The Verb Gustar
Completion requirements
Spanish Language and Culture 10-3Y
2.2 The Verb Gustar
The verb gustar is commonly used in Spanish to express likes and dislikes. The literal translation of gustar is to be pleasing, but in English we just say to like. The verb gustar is used with the indirect object pronouns me and te to say I like (me gusta) and you like (te gusta). You will learn more about indirect object pronouns later. For now, just remember that me gusta means I like and te gusta means you like.
The phrases me gusta and te gusta change to me gustan and te gustan when you are talking about something plural. Look at the chart and the examples below.
The phrases me gusta and te gusta change to me gustan and te gustan when you are talking about something plural. Look at the chart and the examples below.
| Singular | Plural | |
| I like |
me gusta |
me gustan |
| You like |
te gusta |
te gustan |
Me gusta
Me gusta el libro.
Me gusta la clase de historia.
Te gusta
Te gusta la maestra.
¿Te gusta la clase de inglés?
Me gusta el libro.
Me gusta la clase de historia.
Te gusta
Te gusta la maestra.
¿Te gusta la clase de inglés?
Me gustan
Me gustan los libros.
Me gustan las clases de historia.
Te gustan
Te gustan las maestras.
¿Te gustan las clases de inglés?
Me gustan los libros.
Me gustan las clases de historia.
Te gustan
Te gustan las maestras.
¿Te gustan las clases de inglés?
The Pattern:
- Me/Te gusta + a singular thing
- Me/Te gustan + plural things
NOTE:
Normally we don't use "Gustar" to talk about people. Instead, we use the verb "Caer" to say that we like someone (as in we get along well, you appreciate that person.)
Caer has a similar structure to "gustar" it either ends in e or en depending on singular/plural. You use the pronouns, me, te, le, nos, os, and les, the same way.
If you want to say that you like someone you add "bien" to "caer". For example:
- Me cae bien Julia. I like Julia. (No romantic connotation.)
- ¿Te caen bien mis amigos? Do you like my friends?
- A ella le cae bien el chico. She likes the boy.
- Me cae mal tu amigo. I do not like your friend.
- ¿Te cae mal mi hermano? You do not like my brother?
- A ella le cae mal el chico. She does not like the boy.
Exception:
You can use "gustar" when referring to public personalities such as politicians, artists, movie stars, singers, etc. Eg: Me gusta mucho Vladimir Guerrero Jr. de los Blue Jays.