As we have studied in class, the verb gustar is used to express that something is pleasant or enjoyable to us. It is the verb we use to say “I like” in Spanish, but it follows a grammatical structure that is very different from its English equivalent, “to like”.
How the Verb Gustar Works
Gustar is a regular -ar verb, but there is one important difference compared to other verbs: the subject is the thing that is liked, not the person who likes it. The person is expressed with an indirect object pronoun.
So, Me gusta el libro literally means “The book is pleasing to me”. The subject is el libro, and the verb agrees with it.
| (Optional) | Indirect Object Pronoun | Verb | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| A mí / A ti / A él… | me / te / le / nos / os / les | gusta (singular) gustan (plural) |
Noun / Infinitive |
Indirect Object Pronouns with Gustar
The pronoun changes depending on the person who likes something. The part in brackets (a mí, a ti…) is optional: we use it to add emphasis or to make clear who we are talking about, especially with le and les.
| Person | Optional | Pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| I | (a mí) | me |
| You (singular, informal) | (a ti) | te |
| He / she / you (formal) | (a él / a ella / a usted) | le |
| We | (a nosotros / a nosotras) | nos |
| You all (informal, Spain) | (a vosotros / a vosotras) | os |
| They / you all (formal) | (a ellos / a ellas / a ustedes) | les |
Me Gusta or Me Gustan?
The verb does not change with the person who likes something. It changes with the number of the subject, that is, with the thing that is liked:
Singular noun → gusta: Me gusta el libro (I like the book)
Plural noun → gustan: Me gustan los libros (I like the books)
Infinitive → gusta: Me gusta bailar (I like dancing). Also with several infinitives: Me gusta bailar y cantar.
Complete Conjugation Chart
| Pronoun | Singular subject | Plural subject |
|---|---|---|
| (A mí) me | Me gusta el café | Me gustan los perros |
| (A ti) te | ¿Te gusta el cine? | ¿Te gustan las series? |
| (A él / ella / usted) le | Le gusta bailar | Le gustan los deportes |
| (A nosotros/as) nos | Nos gusta Madrid | Nos gustan las películas |
| (A vosotros/as) os | ¿Os gusta la música? | ¿Os gustan estos zapatos? |
| (A ellos / ellas / ustedes) les | Les gusta viajar | Les gustan los conciertos |
To make a sentence negative, put no before the pronoun: No me gusta el café (I don’t like coffee).
Me Gustas: When the Subject Is a Person
Because the subject of gustar is the thing (or person) that is liked, the verb can also be conjugated in other persons. When we like a person, the verb agrees with that person:
Me gustas (I like you; literally, “you are pleasing to me”)
Le gustas (He / she likes you)
Nos gustáis (We like you all)
Be careful: me gustas usually means you find someone attractive. To say you like someone as a friend, Spanish speakers often say Me caes bien.
The Verb Encantar
Encantar works exactly like gustar, but it expresses a stronger preference (to love):
Me encanta este parque (I love this park)
Nos encantan las fiestas (We love parties)
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Gustar or Encantar
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of gustar or encantar and the correct pronoun:
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 mí _______ la naturaleza.
See the answers
1. te gusta / me gusta
2. te gusta / me encantan
3. le encanta (or le gusta)
4. nos encanta (or nos gusta)
Exercise 2: Complete with the Pronoun and Gustar
Complete the sentences with the correct pronoun and form of gustar:
1. (A mí) ______ ______ el fútbol. (I like soccer.)
2. (A ellos) ______ ______ las películas de terror. (They like horror movies.)
3. (A él) ______ ______ tú. (He likes you.)
4. (A nosotros) ______ ______ los programas de radio de actualidad. (We like current affairs radio programmes.)
5. (A nosotros) ______ ______ la tarta de queso. (We like cheesecake.)
6. (A vosotras) ______ ______ las ciudades grandes. (You all like big cities.)
7. (A mí) ______ ______ las tapas de ese bar. (I like the tapas from that bar.)
8. (A ellos) ______ ______ la cerveza muy fría. (They like very cold beer.)
See the answers
1. me gusta / 2. les gustan / 3. le gustas / 4. nos gustan / 5. nos gusta / 6. os gustan / 7. me gustan / 8. les gusta
