Gustar

Un Verbo Complicado

Gustar

• Gustar and gustar-like verbs have a special set of conditions applied to their conjugation

• Misunderstandings occur when we treat Gustar as if it meant “to like”

• Gustar means “to be pleasing to”– Ejemplo: bicycling is pleasing to Mr. Murphy—NOT

—Mr. Murphy likes bicycling– Ejemplo: Le gusta montar en bicicleta a Sr. Murphy

—NO—Sr. Murphy gusta montar en bicicleta.

Reglas del Verbo

• Since gustar means “to be pleasing to” the subject will always be the thing that is pleasing– Ejemplo: me gusta chocolate (chocolate is talked

about and is one thing—third person, singular form)– Ejemplo: me gustan notas buenas (notas is plural and

being talked about—third person, plural form)• If gustar is followed by an infinitive, as in when

talking about activities we like to do, the singular form is used– Ejemplo: Me gusta montar en bicicleta

Reglas de Pronombres

• Indirect object pronouns are used with Gustar, they explain to whom the object or activity is pleasing (indirectly recieving the action of the verb)– Ejemplo: me gusta chocolate (Chocolate is pleasing to me) vs. le gusta

chocolate a él (chocolate is pleasing to him)• If the third person indirect object pronouns “le” or “les” are

used, you must clarify to who you are talking about using “a ____”– Ejemplo: me gusta chocolate (“me” makes it clear who I am talking

about) vs. le gusta chocolate (“le” could mean him, her, or you formal here)

– Ejemplo: a mis estudiantes les gusta chocolate (no longer is it unclear who chocolate is pleasing to)

Los Pronombres de Objetos Indirectos

Me NosTe OsLe Les

Los Pasos

• Check what is pleasing (what is liked) – Singular or plural or infinitive– Conjugate gustar

• Check who it is pleasing to– Use the corresponding IOP– Clarify if necessary

¿Por qué?

• Why will we only likely see the third person singular and plural forms of gustar?– Not often do we use gustar to talk about liking

people (but it is not unheard of, and if that is who is found pleasing—not who is pleased by something—conjugate Gustar for that person)

– Ejemplo: Me gustas tú