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7.22: Gustar + infinitive

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    50213
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    Objetivos

    Use gustar + infinitive to express what you and others like to do

    Gustar + infinitive

    El verbo gustar

    The verb gustar is used to indicate things or activities you like, but it is a little different in Spanish than in English. You’ll learn more about how gustar and other verbs like it work later, but for now you can see how it is used with infinitives:

    singular plural
    1a (1st) Play Audiome gusta Play Audionos gusta
    2a (2nd) Play Audiote gusta Play Audioos gusta
    3a (3rd) Play Audiole gusta Play Audioles gusta

    As you see, instead of conjugating gustar to match the subject as you do with most verbs, only the third person ending is used along with different pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les). Gustar is frequently used in Spanish with infinitives to indicate likes (and dislikes):

    angry-cat-300x166.jpeg
    No le gusta nadar.
    • Play Audio¿Qué te gusta hacer? (What do you like to do?)
    • Play AudioMe gusta comer en restaurantes buenos. (I like to eat in good restaurants.)
    • Play AudioTe gusta cantar y bailar, ¿no? (You like to sing and dance, right?)
    • Play AudioNos gusta correr todos los días. (We like to run every day.)
    • Play AudioLe gusta escuchar música. (He likes to listen to music.) or (She likes to listen to music.) or (You [formal] like to listen to music.)
    • Play AudioA usted no le gusta nadar. (You don’t like to swim.)

    Useful phrases when talking about things you like or dislike:

    • A mí me gusta… (I like to…; the “a” phrase is added for emphasis or clarification.)
    • Me gusta ( ) más. (I like to (activity) more.)
    • Play AudioMe gusta mucho. (I like it a lot.)
    • Play AudioA mí también. (I do too.)
    • Play AudioNo me gusta… (I don’t like to…)
    • Play AudioNo me gusta nada ( ). (I don’t like to (activity) at all.)
    • Play AudioA mí tampoco. (I don’t either.)
    • Play Audio¿Qué te gusta hacer? (What do you like to do?)
    • Play Audio¿Te gusta…? (Do you like to…?)
    • Play Audio¿Y a ti? (And you?)
    • Play Audioni (neither, nor)
    • Play Audioo (or)
    • Play Audiosí (yes)
    • Play Audiocon (with)
    • Play Audioy(and)
    • Play Audiopero (but)

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    CC licensed content, Original
    • El verbo gustar. Authored by: Deborah M. Edson. Provided by: Tidewater Community College. License: CC BY: Attribution
    Public domain content

    7.22: Gustar + infinitive is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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