Likes and dislikes in Spanish
Do you know how to express likes in Spanish? In this post, you will learn how to use the Spanish verb GUSTAR.
At the end, you will practice with interactive exercises. Happy learning!
THE VERB GUSTAR
To express likes and dislikes in Spanish, we use the verb «GUSTAR»
However, this verb is a «peculiar» verb in the sense that do not work like most verbs. Whereas in English, we follow this pattern:
I like going to the cinema / SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT
In Spanish, we say:
Me gusta ir al cine / INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUN + VERB + SUBJECT
Therefore, the subject of the sentence is not the person who likes (I = yo) but the thing / person that is liked (going to the cinema = ir al cine)
It might help you to translate GUSTAR as to appeal or to be appealing.
Bearing in mind that the subject is what is liked, what appeals, the verb will vary according to the number of the subject:
Me gusta el zumo de naranja
Orange juice appeals / is appealing to me
Me gustan las películas de miedo
Scary movies appeals / are appealing to me
Therefore, if GUSTAR is followed by a singular noun or an infinitive verb, it will be conjugated in the singular and if he is followed by a plural noun it will be conjugated in the plural, and then you need to add an «N» at the end: GUSTAN.
Remember that when we use GUSTAR followed by a noun, we always need to use an article before this noun, whether it is singular, plural or uncountable. The article will agree in gender and number with the noun.
EXAMPLES
Me gusta la música clásica
Me gustan los museos de arte
Me gusta un libro de aventuras
However, we do not need the article with a verb or with a name of a place or person.
EXAMPLES
Me gusta pasear con mi perro
A Cristina le gusta mucho Valencia
A mi hermana y a mí nos gusta Javier Bardém
As you can see in the infographic, In Spanish, we don’t use GUSTAR with the personal pronouns (yo, tú, él, usted…) like in the others verbs. Instead of this, we use (me, te, le, nos, os…)
How to express likes in Spanish. The verb GUSTAR
How to express likes in Spanish. The verb GUSTAR
Download these two infographics in a PDF document to practice at your own pace.
How to express likes in Spanish. The verb GUSTAR
INTERACTIVE EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1
Complete the sentences with (me, te, le, nos, os, les)
EXERCISE 2
Complete the sentences with GUSTA / GUSTAN
EXERCISE 3
Put these words in the right column
EXERCISE 4
Complete these sentences with the verb GUSTAR in the right form. Reply in comments.
Well done !! 🙂 Now that you have learned how to express likes in Spanish, you should know another verbs with the same structure as GUSTAR. Have a look at my post: «How to express pain in Spanish»
