2.2 Grammar - Using Gustar
Completion requirements
Spanish Language and Culture 10-3Y
2.2 Using Gustar to Express Likes and Dislikes
¡Me gusta
!, ¿Te gusta? Here are some general rules to help you use the verb gustar correctly. Learning how to use these expressions will immediately expand your ability to communicate your likes and dislikes when asked simple questions. Look carefully at each example provided and pay attention to how the plural forms of gustar differ from the singular forms. Look at the chart again. Select the tabs to read each rule, and then listen to the audio for each example. Repeat what you hear after you listen to each example.
| Singular | Plural | |
| I like |
me gusta |
me gustan |
| You like |
te gusta |
te gustan |
Click on each rule to learn about gustar.
Rule 1
The phrases me gusta and te gusta are used to communicate likes and dislikes. If you put the word no before each phrase it changes to expressing a dislike.
Look at the following examples:
Me gusta la clase de español.
No me gusta la clase de ciencias.
Te gustan las clases de matemáticas. (plural)
No te gustan los estudiantes. (plural)
The phrases me gusta
Look at the following examples:
Me gusta la clase de español.
→ I like Spanish class.
No me gusta la clase de ciencias.
→ I don't like science class.
Te gustan las clases de matemáticas. (plural)
→ You like math classes.
No te gustan los estudiantes. (plural)
→ You don't like the students.
Rule 2
To form a simple question about someone's like or dislike, just add question marks to te gusta. In Spanish we use an upside-down question mark before a question as well as a regular question mark after the question.
Look at the following examples:
¿Te gusta la maestra de español?
¿Te gustan los maestros? (plural)
¿No te gusta la clase de español?
To form a simple question about someone's like or dislike, just add question marks to te gusta. In Spanish we use an upside-down question mark before a question as well as a regular question mark after the question.
Look at the following examples:
¿Te gusta la maestra de español?
→ Do you like the Spanish teacher?
¿Te gustan los maestros? (plural)
→ Do you like the teachers?
¿No te gusta la clase de español?
→ You don't like Spanish class?
Rule 3
Respond to a te gusta question with sà or no and then me gusta depending on your preference.
Respond to a te gusta
¿Te gusta la clase de arte?
→
SÃ, me gusta la clase de arte. (Yes, I like art class.)
or
No, no me gusta la clase de arte. (No, I don't like art class.)
or
No, no me gusta la clase de arte. (No, I don't like art class.)
¿Te gusta el maestro de ciencias?
→
SÃ, me gusta el maestro de ciencias. (Yes, I like the science teacher.)
or
No, no me gusta el maestro de ciencias. (No, I don't like the science teacher.)
or
No, no me gusta el maestro de ciencias. (No, I don't like the science teacher.)
¿Te gustan los libros de historia? (plural)
→
SÃ, me gustan los libros de historia. (Yes, I like history books.)
no
No, no me gustan los libros de historia. (No, I don't like history books.)
no
No, no me gustan los libros de historia. (No, I don't like history books.)
Rule 4
The phrases me gusta and te gusta change to me gustan and te gustan when followed by a plural or compound noun.
For example:
Me gustan el chocolate y el caramelo.
El chocolate and el caramelo are two things that are liked. Therefore we use the plural: Me gustan
The phrases me gusta and te gusta change to me gustan and te gustan when followed by a plural or compound noun.
For example:
Me gustan el chocolate y el caramelo.
El chocolate and el caramelo are two things that are liked. Therefore we use the plural: Me gustan