Spanish features a special category of verbs that follow the “gustar” pattern. These verbs express likes, feelings, and opinions using a structure that differs from English. Instead of saying “I like pizza,” Spanish says “Pizza pleases me” (Me gusta la pizza).
Core Structure
The pattern follows this format:
- Indirect object pronoun (me/te/le/nos/os/les)
- Verb conjugated in 3rd person (singular or plural)
- Subject (what is liked/pleasing)
Key Verbs and Usage
Gustar (to be pleasing/to like)
- Me gusta el café → I like coffee
- Me gustan los libros → I like books
Encantar (to delight/to love)
- Me encanta la música → I love music
- Le encantan las fiestas → He/She loves parties
Parecer (to seem/appear)
- Me parece difícil → It seems difficult to me
- Nos parecen caros → They seem expensive to us
Interesar (to interest)
- Me interesa la historia → History interests me
- Les interesan los deportes → Sports interest them
Importar (to matter)
- No me importa el dinero → Money doesn’t matter to me
- Le importan sus amigos → His/Her friends matter to him/her
Other Common Examples
- Faltar (to be missing): Me falta tiempo → I lack time/Time is missing for me
- Doler (to hurt): Me duele la cabeza → My head hurts
- Quedar (to fit/suit): Me queda bien → It fits me well/It suits me
Number Agreement
The verb must agree with the subject:
- Singular subject: Me gusta el chocolate (I like chocolate)
- Plural subject: Me gustan los chocolates (I like chocolates)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the verb in first person (gusto instead of gusta)
- Forgetting to make the verb plural with plural subjects
- Using direct object pronouns instead of indirect object pronouns
Advanced Usage
You can emphasize who is experiencing the feeling by adding “a + pronoun”:
- A mí me gusta → I (specifically) like
- A ella le encanta → She (specifically) loves
These verbs often appear with infinitives:
- Me gusta bailar → I like to dance
- Le interesa estudiar → He/She is interested in studying
Conclusion
Understanding Spanish Gustar-like Verbs
Spanish features a special category of verbs that express likes, feelings, and opinions using a structure different from English. Instead of saying “I like pizza,” Spanish says “Pizza pleases me” (Me gusta la pizza). This unique pattern appears in many common verbs and forms a crucial part of Spanish expression.
Core Structure
The pattern follows this basic format:
- Indirect object pronoun (me/te/le/nos/os/les)
- Verb conjugated in 3rd person (singular or plural)
- Subject (what is pleasing/interesting/etc.)
Essential Gustar-like Verbs
Gustar (to be pleasing/to like)
When something pleases you or you like it:
- Me gusta el café (I like coffee)
- Me gustan los libros (I like books)
Encantar (to delight/to love)
For expressing stronger appreciation:
- Me encanta la música (I love music)
- Le encantan las fiestas (He/She loves parties)
Parecer (to seem/appear)
For sharing perceptions and opinions:
- Me parece difícil (It seems difficult to me)
- Nos parecen caros (They seem expensive to us)
Interesar (to interest)
When something captures attention:
- Me interesa la historia (History interests me)
- Les interesan los deportes (Sports interest them)
Importar (to matter)
For expressing importance:
- No me importa el dinero (Money doesn’t matter to me)
- Le importan sus amigos (His/Her friends matter to him/her)
Additional Common Verbs
Faltar (to be missing)
- Me falta tiempo (I lack time/Time is missing for me)
- Nos faltan tres libros (We’re missing three books)
Doler (to hurt)
- Me duele la cabeza (My head hurts)
- Le duelen los pies (His/Her feet hurt)
Quedar (to fit/suit)
- Me queda bien (It fits me well/It suits me)
- Te quedan perfectos (They fit you perfectly)
Number Agreement Rules
The verb must match the number of the subject:
Singular subject:
- Me gusta el chocolate (I like chocolate)
- Le interesa la política (Politics interests him/her)
Plural subject:
- Me gustan los chocolates (I like chocolates)
- Le interesan las noticias (The news interests him/her)
Advanced Expression
Emphasis with “a + pronoun”
You can emphasize who experiences the feeling:
- A mí me gusta (I specifically like)
- A ella le encanta (She specifically loves)
Using with Infinitives
These verbs naturally combine with infinitives:
- Me gusta bailar (I like to dance)
- Le interesa estudiar (He/She is interested in studying)
Key Points to Remember
- The verb agrees with what is liked/pleasing, not who likes it
- Always use indirect object pronouns (me/te/le/nos/os/les)
- The verb stays in third person (singular or plural)
- With infinitives, the verb remains singular
Natural Examples in Context
- Me gusta tu idea (I like your idea)
- Nos encanta viajar (We love to travel)
- ¿Te parece bien? (Does it seem good to you?)
- Les interesan las culturas diferentes (Different cultures interest them)
- A Juan le importa el medio ambiente (The environment matters to Juan)
Understanding these verbs opens up natural Spanish expression. Their pattern may feel unusual at first, but it enables you to convey emotions, preferences, and states of being with elegance and precision. These verbs form a cornerstone of Spanish communication, allowing you to express yourself naturally in many everyday situations.