Special verbs (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Special verbs
Special verbs in Spanish work differently from regular verbs. They often use indirect object pronouns and have unique grammar patterns that you need to master for your GCSE exam.
Present tense of gustar
Gustar means "to like", but it literally translates as "it pleases me". This backwards construction is key to understanding how it works.
The structure follows this pattern: pronoun + gusta/gustan + what is liked
Remember that gustar works backwards from English. Instead of "I like the book", think "The book pleases me" - this will help you understand the Spanish construction.
Conjugation of 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 |
Key rule: Use gusta with singular nouns and gustan with plural nouns.
Examples with gustar
Worked Examples: Using gustar correctly
- Me gusta este libro - I like this book (singular noun = gusta)
- Me gustan estos libros - I like these books (plural noun = gustan)
- Nos gustó la comida india - We liked Indian food (preterite form)
- Le gustaron las tiendas - He liked the shops (preterite + plural)
Exam tip: To talk about other people's likes and dislikes, add a + name before the pronoun for clarity: A Vicente le gusta el deporte (Vicente likes sport).
Preterite tense of gustar
The preterite tense follows the same pattern as the present, but uses past tense verb forms:
| Present | Preterite |
|---|---|
| me gusta | me gustó |
| me gustan | me gustaron |
The pronouns remain the same as in the present tense.
Notice how the preterite forms maintain the same singular/plural distinction: gustó for singular items and gustaron for plural items.
Examples in the preterite
- Nos gustó la comida india - We liked Indian food
- Le gustaron las tiendas - He liked the shops
Other verbs like gustar
Several other verbs follow the same pattern as gustar: pronoun + third person singular/plural of the verb.
Common verbs with the gustar pattern
| Verb | Example | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| doler | Me duele(n) | My ... hurts/aches |
| importar | No me importa(n) | I don't mind |
| interesar | Me interesa(n) | I'm interested in |
| faltar | Me falta(n) | I'm missing/short of |
| hacer falta | Me hace(n) falta | I need |
Worked Examples: Other special verbs
- Me duele la cabeza - My head aches (singular body part = duele)
- ¿Te interesa la música? - Are you interested in music? (question form)
- Le faltan dos libros - He's missing two books (plural = faltan)
- Les falta una cuchara - They need a spoon (singular = falta)
The verb encantar (to love) behaves exactly like gustar: Le encanta la música rock (He loves rock music).
Other special verbs
Acabar de + infinitive
This construction means "to have just done something".
Formation: Present tense of acabar + de + infinitive
Examples: Acabar de + infinitive
- Acabo de llegar - I have just arrived
- El tren acaba de salir - The train has just left
Llevar + time + present participle
This construction means "to have been doing something for a period of time".
Formation: Present tense of llevar + time expression + gerund/present participle
Example: Llevar + time + gerund
Llevo tres meses trabajando en Madrid - I've been working in Madrid for three months
Translation practice
Spanish to English:
- Me duele el brazo
- ¿Te gusta el queso?
English to Spanish: 3. We are interested in the stories 4. They need forks
Answers:
- My arm hurts
- Do you like cheese?
- Nos interesan las narraciones
- Les hacen falta tenedores
Key Points to Remember:
- Gustar literally means "it pleases me" - think backwards!
- Use gusta with singular items and gustan with plural items
- Verbs like doler, importar, interesar, and faltar follow the same pattern as gustar
- Acabar de + infinitive = "to have just done something"
- Llevar + time + gerund = "to have been doing something for (time)"