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gustar-type verbs
A2With gustar-type verbs the person is the indirect object and the liked thing is the subject, which controls the verb form (3rd person sg./pl.).
Overview
With gustar-type verbs the person is the indirect object and the liked thing is the subject, which controls the verb form (3rd person sg./pl.).
At a glance
- 1.Indirect object pronoun is obligatory
- 2.Verb agrees with the thing
- 3.a mí, a ti … for emphasis
- 4.Clarify le/les with a + name
- 5.Verbs like gustar
Rules
51Indirect object pronoun is obligatory
Always put me, te, le, nos, os or les before the verb.
- Me gusta el café. — I like coffee.
- Nos gusta la música. — We like the music.
2Verb agrees with the thing
Singular subject: gusta; plural subject: gustan; before an infinitive always singular.
- Me gustan los libros. — I like the books.plural subject
- Me gusta leer. — I like to read.infinitive → gusta
3a mí, a ti … for emphasis
Optional a + stressed pronoun emphasises or contrasts the person but never replaces me/te/le.
- A mí me gusta el té. — I (for my part) like tea.
- A ti te gustan los gatos. — You like cats.
4Clarify le/les with a + name
For he/she/you/them, a + person says who is meant; le/les still stays.
- A Ana le gusta bailar. — Ana likes to dance.
- A mis padres les gusta viajar. — My parents like to travel.
5Verbs like gustar
encantar, interesar, doler, faltar and quedar follow exactly the same pattern.
- Me encanta esta canción. — I love this song.encantar = to love
- Me duelen los pies. — My feet hurt.doler o→ue
- Nos faltan dos sillas. — We are missing two chairs.
Test
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