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Gustar and similar verbs
Gustar is almost always used with an indirect object pronoun. In English we use it to express "to like," but the syntax of the verb in Spanish is always "to be pleasing (to someone)." Therefore, "I like" is expressed as "It is pleasing to me," or Me gusta. Study the table below to see how the verb is used in the singular and plural.
- Me gusta(n) –> I like it (them).
- Nos gusta(n) –> We like it (them).
- Te gusta(n) –> You like it (them.)
- Os gusta(n) –> You like it (them).
- Le gusta(n) –> She likes it (them).
- Les gusta(n) –> They like it (them).
If the expression is ambiguous for lack of an adequate
antecedent, or if one wishes to be more emphatic, a prepositional
phrase should be added in either of the two locations indicated
below.
- Le gustan a él los partidos de fútbol. (He likes soccer matches.)
- A mí me gustan los conciertos en el parque. (I like concerts in the park.)
Several other verbs function exactly like gustar, and a short list follows:
- convenir: to suit, to be suitable. Example: Me conviene.
- encantar: to charm, to be enchanted. Example: Te encantan.
- faltar: to need, to be lacking. Example: Le falta.
- interesar: to interest, to be interesting. Example: Nos interesan.
- quedar: to remain, to be remaining. Example: Les queda.
