Gustar and Similar Verbs (AQA A-Level Spanish): Revision Notes
Gustar and Similar Verbs
Overview
The verb gustar is used to express likes and dislikes in Spanish. However, it works very differently from the English verb "to like." Instead of meaning "to like," gustar literally translates as "to be pleasing to". This means that the grammatical structure is reversed compared to English.
In the sentence me gusta la historia (I like history), the literal meaning is "history is pleasing to me." This is important because history (la historia) is the grammatical subject of the sentence, not "me."
Understanding this structure is essential for using gustar correctly and for mastering several other Spanish verbs that work the same way.
Rules and formation
The literal meaning
When you use gustar, think of it as "to be pleasing to" rather than "to like." The thing being liked becomes the subject of the sentence, and the person doing the liking becomes the indirect object.
The thing being liked is the grammatical subject of the sentence, not the person who likes it. This is the opposite of English structure!
The two forms: gusta and gustan
In the present tense, gustar has only two forms that you need to know:
- gusta – used with singular nouns or infinitive verbs
- gustan – used with plural nouns
The form you choose depends on what comes after the verb (what is being liked), not on the person doing the liking.
Examples of agreement:
- Gusta + singular noun/infinitive: Me gusta el fútbol (I like football)
- Gustan + plural noun: Me gustan los perros (I like dogs)
The verb gusta or gustan always agrees with what comes after it.
Using gustar with infinitives
When gustar is followed by another verb, that second verb must be in the infinitive form.
Example: Me gusta aprender idiomas (I like learning languages)
Even if multiple infinitives follow, you still use gusta (singular form) because infinitives are treated as singular.
Indirect object pronouns
The verb gustar must always be preceded by an indirect object pronoun. These pronouns indicate who is doing the liking:
- me – to me
- te – to you (informal singular)
- le – to him/her/you (formal singular)
- nos – to us
- os – to you (informal plural)
- les – to them/you (formal plural)
Adding clarity with "a"
When naming a specific person or clarifying who you're talking about, the name or noun must be preceded by a. This provides extra clarity, especially with le and les, which can refer to multiple people.
Example: A Juan le gusta la música (Juan likes music)
Table of key forms
| Indirect object pronoun | + | gusta/gustan | + | The thing being liked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| me (to me) | + | gusta | + | Singular noun: el irlandés, la historia |
| te (to you) | Infinitive: aprender idiomas, tocar el piano | |||
| le (to him/her/you) | ||||
| nos (to us) | ||||
| os (to you all) | ||||
| les (to them/you all) | + | gustan | + | Plural noun: las ciencias, los idiomas |
Structure formula
Indirect object pronoun + gusta/gustan + what is being liked
Example sentences
Here are several examples showing gustar in context:
Worked Example: Using gustar with plural nouns
Me gustan las películas de terror. – I like horror films.
Here, "películas" (films) is plural, so we use gustan.
-
¿Te gusta el queso? – Do you like cheese?
"Queso" (cheese) is singular, so we use gusta.
-
Nos gusta bailar. – We like dancing.
"Bailar" (to dance) is an infinitive, so we use gusta.
Worked Example: Adding clarity with "a"
A las chicas les gusta jugar al tenis. – The girls like playing tennis.
"Jugar" (to play) is an infinitive. Note the use of "a las chicas" for clarity.
A Lucía le gustan los caballos. – Lucía likes horses.
"Caballos" (horses) is plural, so we use gustan. "A Lucía" clarifies who likes horses.
In each sentence, the verb form (gusta or gustan) agrees with the thing being liked, not with the person.
Similar verbs
Several other Spanish verbs follow exactly the same pattern as gustar. These verbs also use indirect object pronouns and have only two main forms that agree with what follows them.
Doler (to hurt/to have pain)
This verb is used to express pain or discomfort.
Example: Le duelen las orejas. – His ears are sore.
"Orejas" (ears) is plural, so we use duelen.
Encantar (to love)
This verb expresses strong liking or love for something.
Example: Les encanta bailar. – They love dancing.
"Bailar" (to dance) is an infinitive, so we use encanta.
Hacer falta (to need)
This verb means "to be needed" or "to be lacking."
Example: Me hace falta un diccionario. – I need a dictionary.
"Un diccionario" (a dictionary) is singular, so we use hace falta.
Interesar (to be interested in)
This verb expresses interest in something.
Example: ¿Te interesa el golf? – Are you interested in golf?
"Golf" is singular, so we use interesa.
All these verbs work with the same structure: indirect object pronoun + verb form + the thing that hurts/delights/is needed/interests.
Common mistakes and tips
Mistake 1: Using the wrong form based on the person
Students often choose gusta or gustan based on who is doing the liking, rather than what is being liked.
- ❌ Incorrect: Nosotros gustamos las películas
- ✓ Correct: Nos gustan las películas (We like films)
Tip: Always check what comes after gustar – that determines whether you use gusta or gustan.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the indirect object pronoun
Gustar cannot be used without an indirect object pronoun.
- ❌ Incorrect: Gusta el chocolate
- ✓ Correct: Me gusta el chocolate (I like chocolate)
Tip: Every gustar sentence needs me, te, le, nos, os, or les at the start.
Mistake 3: Using the wrong verb form with infinitives
When gustar is followed by verbs, always use gusta (singular form), even with multiple infinitives.
- ❌ Incorrect: Me gustan nadar y correr
- ✓ Correct: Me gusta nadar y correr (I like swimming and running)
Tip: Think of infinitives as singular "things."
Mistake 4: Confusing gustar with "to like" word order
Remember that gustar literally means "to be pleasing to", so the word order is different from English.
- English: I like music → Spanish: Me gusta la música (Music is pleasing to me)
Tip: Train yourself to think "It pleases me" rather than "I like it."
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Gustar literally means "to be pleasing to" – the thing being liked is the grammatical subject.
- Use gusta with singular nouns or infinitives, and gustan with plural nouns.
- Always include an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) before gustar.
- Add "a" before a person's name or noun for clarity: A María le gusta leer.
- Several verbs work like gustar: doler (to hurt), encantar (to love), hacer falta (to need), and interesar (to be interested in).