As we have studied in class, the verb gustar is used to express that something is pleasant or enjoyable to us. This verb follows a unique grammatical structure in Spanish that differs significantly from its English equivalent “to like.”
Grammatical Structure
Unlike most Spanish verbs, gustar uses indirect object pronouns rather than subject pronouns. The complete structure pattern is:
| Indirect Object Pronoun | Verb Conjugation | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Me/Te/Le/Nos/Os/Les | gusta (singular) gustan (plural) | Noun/Infinitive |
Singular vs Plural Subjects
The conjugation changes based on the grammatical number of the subject being liked:
Singular: Me gusta el libro (The book is pleasing to me)
Plural: Me gustan los libros (The books are pleasing to me)
Complete Conjugation Chart
With Singular Subjects
| Pronoun | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A mí | me gusta | Me gusta el café |
| A ti | te gusta | ¿Te gusta el cine? |
| A él/ella | le gusta | Le gusta bailar |
With Plural Subjects
| Pronoun | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A nosotros | nos gustan | Nos gustan las películas |
| A vosotros | os gustan | ¿Os gustan estos zapatos? |
| A ellos | les gustan | Les gustan los conciertos |
The Verb Encantar
Functioning similarly to gustar, encantar expresses strong preference (to love):
Me encanta este parque (I love this park)
Nos encantan las fiestas (We love parties)
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of gustar or encantar:
1. Miguel, ¿ _____ el rock?
Pues no, no _____ mucho. Nunca escucho esa música.
2. ¿Qué animal ______ más?
Sobre todo los gatos, _________.
3. ¿Cuál es la comida preferida de tu padre?
A mi padre _____ la tortilla de patatas.
4. A mi hermano y a mi _______ la naturaleza.
