4.3.0: Gramática
Gustar is a special verb that cannot be conjugated like other -ar verbs. As you have seen in previous examples, to say that you like something is “me gusta” , not “yo gusto” .
The conjugation of gustar does not depend on the person who likes or dislikes, but on what is liked .
For example, if you talk about something that you like to do, you will need the singular form of gustar (gusta) + the verb in the infinitive that is used to refer to that activity
To tell what activities you like or dislike, use gusta + Infinitives
Modelo:
Me gusta planchar.
No me gusta cocinar.
The same is true if you refer to only one thing that you like or dislike.
Key concept: Gusta
To tell one thing you like or dislike, use gusta + Singular noun
Modelo:
Me gusta el apartamento.
No me gusta el fútbol americano.
If you want to talk about many things you like or dislike, you will need to use the plural form of gustar , gustan.
To tell many things you like or dislike, use gustan + Plural nouns
Modelo:
Me gustan los tacos.
No me gustan las tareas del hogar.
Also, in the examples, you must have noticed the pronoun me before gustar . Well, this is an example of indirect object pronoun , which refers to the object or the person who receives the action of a verb indirectly (in English, to whom or for whom ). In Spanish, we use indirect object pronouns with gustar . Have a look at this table. What do you notice about the use of gustar and the indirect object pronouns we need? What is the optional part?
| Subject | Optional |
(NO) |
Indirect object pronouns | Gustar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | (A mí) | me | gusta el apartamento. | |
| (A ti) | te (informal) | gustan las tareas del hogar. | ||
| (A usted/Ud.) | le (formal) | gusta limpiar el piso. | ||
| (A él/ella) | le | gustan los libros. | ||
| Plural | (A nosotros/nosotras) | nos | gusta la clase de español. | |
| (A vosotros/vosotras) | os | gustan los exámenes. (España) | ||
| (A ustedes/Uds.) | les | gusta cocinar. | ||
| (A ellos/ellas) | les | gusta lavar los vidrios. |
Para más información:
Me gusta y no me gusta en español - I like and I don't like in Spanish by ProfeDeELE.es is under a CC BY 4.0
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