Special verbs (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Special verbs
Special verbs in Spanish work differently from regular verbs. The most important one to master is gustar (to like), which doesn't follow typical conjugation patterns. Understanding these verbs will help you express preferences, needs, and experiences more naturally in Spanish.
Understanding gustar (to like)
The verb gustar is often called a "backwards" verb because it works differently from English. When you say "I like this book" in Spanish, you're literally saying "this book pleases me" (me gusta este libro).
Understanding the "backwards" concept:
The key difference is that in Spanish, the thing you like becomes the subject of the sentence, while in English, the person doing the liking is the subject. This is why we say gustar is "backwards" - it's the opposite of what English speakers expect.
How gustar works in the present tense
Critical Rule for Gustar:
The key to understanding gustar is remembering that the thing you like becomes the subject of the sentence. This means:
- If you like one thing, use gusta
- If you like multiple things, use gustan
The person doing the liking is shown with pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) that come before the verb.
Conjugation pattern for gustar
| Pronoun | Verb form | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| me | gusta(n) | I like |
| te | gusta(n) | you like |
| le | gusta(n) | he/she/it likes |
| nos | gusta(n) | we like |
| os | gusta(n) | you like |
| les | gusta(n) | they like |
Example sentences with gustar
Worked Example: Using Gustar in Present Tense
Present tense examples:
- Me gusta este libro = I like this book
- Me gustan estos libros = I like these books
- Le encanta la música rock = He loves rock music
- A Ignacio le gusta el deporte = Ignacio likes sport
Note: When talking about someone specific, add "a" + their name before the pronoun for clarity.
Past tense of gustar (preterite)
In the preterite tense, gustar changes form:
- me gusta becomes me gustó
- me gustan becomes me gustaron
The pronouns stay the same as in the present tense.
Worked Example: Gustar in Preterite Tense
Preterite examples:
- Nos gustó la comida china = We liked Chinese food
- Le gustaron las tiendas = He liked the shops
Grammar tip for higher grades: Try using gustar in the preterite to show more advanced language skills and expand your range of expressions in your GCSE exam.
Other verbs that work like gustar
Several other useful verbs follow the same pattern as gustar. They all use the same pronoun system and only appear in third person singular or plural forms.
Useful vocabulary table
| Spanish verb | English translation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| doler | to hurt/ache | Me duele la cabeza (My head aches) |
| importar | to mind/matter | No me importa (I don't mind) |
| interesar | to interest | Me interesa la música (I'm interested in music) |
| hacer falta | to need | Les hace falta un vaso (They need a glass) |
Worked Example: Other Special Verbs
- Me duele la cabeza = My head aches
- ¿Te interesa la música? = Are you interested in music?
- Les hace falta un vaso = They need a glass
Other special verb constructions
Acabar de + infinitive (to have just...)
This construction uses the present tense of acabar + de + infinitive to mean "to have just done something."
Examples of Acabar de:
- Acabo de llegar = I have just arrived
- El tren acaba de salir = The train has just left
Falta + infinitive (it is still to be...)
This construction means something still needs to be done.
Example of Falta:
- Solo falta pintar la puerta = It's just the door that is still to be painted
Llevar + time + present participle (to have been -ing)
This shows how long someone has been doing something continuously.
Example of Llevar + time:
- Llevo tres meses trabajando en Madrid = I've been working in Madrid for three months
Translation practice
Translation Exercise:
Spanish to English:
- Me duele el brazo
- ¿Te gusta el jamón?
English to Spanish: 3. I don't mind the cold 4. They have been living in Barcelona for two months
Answers:
- My arm hurts
- Do you like ham?
- No me importa el frío
- Llevan dos meses viviendo en Barcelona
Pronunciation tips
Pronunciation Guide:
- Gusta is pronounced "GOOS-tah"
- Gustan is pronounced "GOOS-tahn"
- Remember to roll the 'rr' in verbs like interesar
- The stress in importar falls on the final syllable: "im-por-TAR"
Key Points to Remember:
- Gustar literally means "to please" - think of it as "it pleases me" rather than "I like it"
- Only use gusta or gustan forms - never conjugate it like regular verbs
- Several other verbs (doler, importar, interesar, hacer falta) follow the same pattern as gustar
- Special constructions like acabar de, falta, and llevar + time help express different time relationships
- Practice using these verbs in different tenses to show advanced language skills in your GCSE exam