Common expressions with “gustar”: Me gusta, Te gusta, Le gusta, etc.

The verb “gustar” in Spanish is essential for expressing likes and preferences. Unlike English where you “like” something directly, Spanish uses a different structure that literally translates to “something is pleasing to me.” Here’s everything you need to know.

The Basic Structure

SubjectVerbObject
Megusta/gustan[singular/plural noun or verb]
Tegusta/gustan[singular/plural noun or verb]
Legusta/gustan[singular/plural noun or verb]
Nosgusta/gustan[singular/plural noun or verb]
Osgusta/gustan[singular/plural noun or verb]
Lesgusta/gustan[singular/plural noun or verb]

The verb “gustar” agrees with what is being liked, not with who likes it. Use “gusta” for singular nouns or verbs, and “gustan” for plural nouns.

Common Expressions and Their Uses

Me gusta (I like it)

When something pleases you:

  • Me gusta el café (I like coffee)
  • Me gusta bailar (I like dancing)
  • Me gustan los perros (I like dogs)

Te gusta (You like it – informal singular)

When asking or stating what someone else likes:

  • ¿Te gusta la película? (Do you like the movie?)
  • Te gusta viajar, ¿verdad? (You like traveling, right?)
  • Te gustan estas flores (You like these flowers)

Le gusta (He/She/You formal like it)

For third person singular or formal “you”:

  • A Juan le gusta el fútbol (Juan likes soccer)
  • ¿Le gusta la comida, señora? (Do you like the food, ma’am?)
  • Le gustan los deportes (He/She likes sports)

Nos gusta (We like it)

For group preferences:

  • Nos gusta la playa (We like the beach)
  • A mi hermano y a mí nos gusta cocinar (My brother and I like cooking)
  • Nos gustan las fiestas (We like parties)

Os gusta (You all like it – Spain)

Used in Spain for informal plural “you”:

  • ¿Os gusta la nueva casa? (Do you all like the new house?)
  • Os gusta mucho salir (You all really like going out)
  • Os gustan los dulces (You all like sweets)

Les gusta (They/You all like it)

For third person plural or formal plural “you”:

  • A mis padres les gusta viajar (My parents like to travel)
  • ¿Les gusta el nuevo restaurante? (Do you all like the new restaurant?)
  • Les gustan los deportes (They like sports)

Real-Life Contexts

Food and Drink

  • A mí me gusta el chocolate, pero a mi hermana no le gusta (I like chocolate, but my sister doesn’t)
  • ¿Te gustan los mariscos? (Do you like seafood?)

Activities and Hobbies

  • Le gusta mucho leer novelas (He/She really likes reading novels)
  • Nos gusta ir al cine los fines de semana (We like going to the movies on weekends)

People and Relationships

  • Me gustas tú (I like you)
  • Les gustamos a nuestros vecinos (Our neighbors like us)

Places

  • ¿Te gusta vivir en Madrid? (Do you like living in Madrid?)
  • A los turistas les gusta este museo (Tourists like this museum)

Advanced Usage

Expressing Strong Preferences

Use “encantar” instead of “gustar” for stronger feelings:

  • Me encanta la música clásica (I love classical music)
  • Nos encantan las vacaciones (We love vacations)

Asking Questions

Add question marks and adjust your tone:

  • ¿Te gusta el jazz? (Do you like jazz?)
  • ¿Les gustan los deportes? (Do they like sports?)

Negative Statements

Add “no” before the pronoun:

  • No me gusta madrugar (I don’t like getting up early)
  • No les gustan las verduras (They don’t like vegetables)

Emphasizing the Subject

Add “a + person” at the beginning:

  • A María le gusta cocinar (María likes to cook)
  • A nosotros nos gustan los videojuegos (We like video games)

Conclusion

Understanding “gustar” expressions is fundamental to expressing preferences in Spanish. While the structure may seem backwards at first, it follows a logical pattern that becomes natural with use. Remember that “gustar” agrees with what is being liked, use “gusta” for singular items and verbs, and “gustan” for plural items. These expressions are essential for everyday Spanish conversations and will help you communicate your likes and preferences effectively.

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Complete Spanish Grammar Learning Companion > Building Basic Conversations > Expressing Likes and Dislikes > Common expressions with “gustar”: Me gusta, Te gusta, Le gusta, etc.

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