How to use and conjugate the verb gustar in Spanish

Conjugation of gustar

The verb gustar means "to like" in Spanish, but it is used differently than in English. Instead of saying "I like something," Spanish speakers say "Something is pleasing to me." This construction makes gustar function as a verb that agrees with the thing being liked (the subject) and not the person liking it (the indirect object).

Key notes:

1. Gustar is usually conjugated in the 3rd person singular or plural depending on whether the subject (the thing being liked) is singular or plural.

   • Singular: Me gusta el libro. (I like the book.)
   • Plural: Me gustan los libros. (I like the books.)

2. The person who likes something is indicated with an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les).

3. Common sentence structure:
   [Indirect object pronoun] + gusta/gustan + [subject]
   Example: Me gusta el chocolate. (I like chocolate.)

Since gustar almost always appears in the 3rd person, focus is on gusta (singular) and gustan (plural).

Examples

1. Me gusta el cine. (I like the cinema.)
   • El cine is singular, so gusta is used.
2. Te gustan los deportes. (You like sports.)
   • Los deportes is plural, so gustan is used.
3. A él le gusta la música clásica. (He likes classical music.)
   • Note the additional a él for emphasis.
4. Nos gustan las montañas. (We like the mountains.)
   • The plural subject las montañas determines the use of gustan.
5. A ellos les gusta viajar. (They like to travel.)
   • An infinitive verb (viajar) is treated as singular, so gusta is used.

Tips

1. Use a + pronoun/name for clarity or emphasis:

   • A mí me gusta el café. (I like coffee.)
   • A Juan le gustan las películas. (Juan likes movies.)

2. Gustar is often paired with infinitives, and in this case, it is always conjugated in the singular:

   • Me gusta bailar. (I like to dance.)
   • Nos gusta cantar y bailar. (We like to sing and dance.)

3. Use the correct indirect object pronoun:

   • Me (to me), te (to you), le (to him/her/you), nos (to us), os (to you all), les (to them/you all).

By understanding this structure, you'll be able to use gustar fluently in conversations!