GUSTAR By: Tiffany Welborn, Vianca Chicas, Joseth Flores, and Agyakwa Teenkorang
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW In English, it is correct to construct a sentence that has the subject "liking" a direct object. In Spanish, this never occurs. In Spanish, a different construction is used. English Way: I like the book. Spanish Way: The book is pleasing to me. In English, the subject of the sentence is the person (I, we) while in Spanish the subject of the sentence is the object (room, books). English sentences use a direct object, the Spanish sentences use an indirect object. The room is pleasing to me. (me = Indirect Object) I like the room. (room = Direct Object)
THINGS TO REMEMBER Since the subject of the sentence must be either singular (book) or plural (books), the only forms of gustar you will use are "gusta" and "gustan." This is true regardless of what IO pronoun appears in the sentence. A common mistake is to say "Me gusto los libros." This is incorrect because the subject of the sentence is "los libros" even though it comes at the end.
CONJUCATION For purposes of clarification, the sentence will often begin with a prepositional phrase that clarifies just who the IO pronoun refers to. Singulars (el libro) A mi me gusta A tu te gusta A él le gusta A nosotros nos gusta A vosotros os gusta A ellos les gusta Plurals (los libros) A mi me gustan A tu te gustan A él le gustan A nosotros nos gustan A vosotros os gustan A ellos les gustan
OTHER VERBS THAT WORK THE SAME WAY Bastar Disgustar Doler Encantar Faltar Fascinar Importar Interesar Molestar Parecer Sobrar
PRACTICE A mi me ________ el helado A el no le _______ las reglas de los deportes A nosotros nos _________ las pruebas de matematicas A ellos no les _________ el profesor sustituto A mi no me __________ el futbol americano A ella no le __________ zapatos sin tacón