GustarGustar

To be pleasingTo be pleasing

(to like)(to like)

Gustar,Gustar, means "something is means "something is pleasing to me.“ It is different pleasing to me.“ It is different than the other verbs we have than the other verbs we have learned so far. Many Spanish learned so far. Many Spanish verbs work just like English verbs work just like English verbs in a straight forward verbs in a straight forward "Subject-Verb" manner."Subject-Verb" manner.

GustarWorks

backwards

For example, let's look at For example, let's look at the verb Tener,"to have".the verb Tener,"to have".

To say, "I have my book", we follow the To say, "I have my book", we follow the same word order we just used in English same word order we just used in English ""Yo tengo mi libro.Yo tengo mi libro.""

YoYo is the subject that controls the verb, is the subject that controls the verb, tengo,tengo, and and mi libromi libro is the direct object is the direct object [what I have].[what I have].

But But GustarGustar doesn't work this way. doesn't work this way.

We cannot say We cannot say **Yo gusto mi libro.Yo gusto mi libro. GustarGustar functions a little differently. With functions a little differently. With Gustar,Gustar, the subject is the thing or person that is the subject is the thing or person that is pleasing pleasing toto you. In other words, we say you. In other words, we say

The book is pleasing to me: The book is pleasing to me: Me gusta el Me gusta el libro.libro.

MeMe (to me) (to me) gustagusta (is pleasing) (is pleasing) el libroel libro (The book).(The book).

It may seem confusing because the It may seem confusing because the subject, subject, mi libromi libro,, comes after the comes after the verb. Do not let the word order verb. Do not let the word order influence you! Think of it this way: it influence you! Think of it this way: it is the responsiblility of other things is the responsiblility of other things and people to please you rather than and people to please you rather than for you to go out actively liking for you to go out actively liking things! things!

Let's look at another example using Let's look at another example using Gustar:Gustar: "I like horseback riding." "I like horseback riding."

We need to say: We need to say: Me gusta montar Me gusta montar a caballo.a caballo.

Remember this is not a direct Remember this is not a direct translation. When I say,translation. When I say, Me gusta Me gusta montar a caballomontar a caballo,, I'm really saying I'm really saying "Horseback riding is pleasing to me"."Horseback riding is pleasing to me".

Me Me is an Indirect Object Pronoun referring to myself is an Indirect Object Pronoun referring to myself - I am whom is being pleased; - I am whom is being pleased; Montar a CaballoMontar a Caballo is is the real Subject - it is what is pleasing me. the real Subject - it is what is pleasing me. Gusta Gusta is is the active verb and is singular because horseback the active verb and is singular because horseback riding is a concept or an action - at any rate, riding is a concept or an action - at any rate, MontarMontar is an infinitive and infinitives are is an infinitive and infinitives are ALWAYS ALWAYS SINGULAR.SINGULAR.

Gustar Gustar requiresrequires an indirect object pronoun an indirect object pronoun which indicates "to whom" the subject is which indicates "to whom" the subject is pleasing:pleasing:

MeMe(a mí)(a mí) TeTe(a ti)(a ti) LeLe(a él, a ella, a usted)(a él, a ella, a usted) NosNos(a nosotros)(a nosotros) OsOs(a vosotros)(a vosotros) LesLes(a ellos/as, a ustedes)(a ellos/as, a ustedes)

Gustar sentences will always Gustar sentences will always have three components: have three components:

#1:#1: #2:#2: #3:#3:an indirect an indirect A form of Gustar A form of Gustar A A subjectsubjectobject pronounobject pronoun with a definite with a definite articlearticle

MeMe gusta gusta el café el café

NosNos gusta gusta la música la música

If the subject (what is pleasing) is SINGULAR or If the subject (what is pleasing) is SINGULAR or an INFINITIVE,an INFINITIVE, Gustar Gustar is conjugated in the 3rd is conjugated in the 3rd person singular form (the person singular form (the él, ella, usted él, ella, usted form):form):

(a m(a mí) me gusta (a nosotros) nos í) me gusta (a nosotros) nos gustagusta

(a ti) te gusta (a vosotros) os (a ti) te gusta (a vosotros) os gustagusta

(a (a él, le gusta (a ellos/as, les él, le gusta (a ellos/as, les gustagusta

Ella, ustedes) Ella, ustedes) Usted)Usted)

Example:Example:A él le gusta la pizzaA él le gusta la pizzaA ella le gusta comer las hamburguesasA ella le gusta comer las hamburguesas

If what is pleasing is plural, (for example, If what is pleasing is plural, (for example, grapes) thengrapes) then Gustar Gustar is conjugated in the 3rd is conjugated in the 3rd person PLURAL form (person PLURAL form (Ellos, ellas, ustedesEllos, ellas, ustedes form):form):

(a m(a mí) me gustan (a nosotros) nos í) me gustan (a nosotros) nos gustangustan

(a ti) te gustan (a vosotros) os (a ti) te gustan (a vosotros) os gustangustan

(a (a él, le gustan (a ellos/as, les él, le gustan (a ellos/as, les gustangustan

Ella, ustedes) Ella, ustedes)

Usted)Usted)

Example: A mí me gustan las uvas.Example: A mí me gustan las uvas.

For now think of For now think of Gustar Gustar verbs as having verbs as having only two conjugations, the 3rd person only two conjugations, the 3rd person singular and plural (singular and plural (gusta gusta andand gustan gustan))

Avoid the error of Avoid the error of *Me gusto *Me gusto - At best - At best this implies you are physically this implies you are physically appealing to yourself which is appealing to yourself which is probably not what you mean to say probably not what you mean to say (at worst it is TMI.)(at worst it is TMI.)

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