I. Conjugation of GUSTAR

In Spanish, we express our tastes with the verb GUSTAR. This verb is translated as “to like” or “to please”.

The verb GUSTAR has a particular conjugation. Indeed, the subject is post-posed to the verb, i.e. it is placed after the latter. 

Example:

Me gustan las frutas ==> The subject is placed after the verb.

If the subject is plural, then the verb will be plural. So we get only 2 different conjugations of the verb gustar :

1. The 3rd person singular : GUSTA
2. The 3rd person plural: GUSTAN

II. Use of the complement pronoun

Given the particular shape of GUSTAR, WE DO NOT SAY: Yo gusto, Tu gustas, El gusta…

The complement pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) is used and varies according to the person who likes the subject:

(A mi) Me gusta/gustan ==> I like
(A ti) Te gusta/gustan ==> You like
(A el/elle/usted) Le gusta/gustan ==> He likes
(A nosotros) Nos gusta/gustan ==> We like
(A Vosotros) Os gusta/gustan ==> You like
(A ellos/ellas/ustedes) Les gusta/gustan ==> They like

* Which Gustar conjugation to use?

A. The subject that follows the verb gustar is in the SINGULAR or it is a verb in the infinitive ==> we use the conjugation GUSTA

Examples :

Te gusta el azúcar ==> You like sugar.
Les gusta dormir ==> They like to sleep.

B. The subject that follows the verb gustar is in the PLURAL ==> We use the conjugation GUSTAN

Examples :

– Le gustan les películas románticas ==> He likes romantic movies.
– Nos gustan las hamburguesas ==> We like hamburgers.

C. Interrogative sentences

In the same way as above, depending on whether the subject attached to GUSTAR is singular or plural, the conjugation GUSTA or GUSTAN is used

Examples:

• – ¿ Que te gusta ? ==> What do you like?
• – ¿ Que le gusta ? ==> What does he like?
• – ¿ Te gustan los aviones ? ==> Do you like airplanes? (Planes = plural, use of GUSTAN)
• – ¿ Te gusta el baile ? ==> Do you like dancing? (Baile = singular, use of GUSTA)

III. Verbs similar to Gustar to express your taste

There are other verbs that work in the same way as Gustar. This is the case of :

• ENCANTAR ==> Me encante, te encanta, le encanta…
• APETECER ==> Me apetece, te apetece, le apetece…
• INTERESAR ==> Me interesa, te interesa, le interesa…
• DISGUSTAR ==> Me disgusta, te disgusta, le disgusta…

These verbs are used with the following structure:

indirect object pronoun + VERB (3rd person singular or plural) + VERB or NOUN

Examples:

• Me encanta volar ==> I love to fly.
• Te disgusta pelear==> You don’t like to fight.

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