Gustar and other Similar Verbs
The verb “gustar” is used to express preferences.
EX:
Me gusta ese champú.
I like that shampoo. / That shampoo is pleasing to me.
EX:
Nos gustaron las clases.
We liked the classes. / The classes were pleasing to us.
Constructions with “gustar” do not have a direct English equivalent. The use of “gustar” also requires
the use of an indirect object pronoun.
me, te, le, nos, os, les
In constructions with “gustar”, the object being liked is really the subject of the sentence. The person
who likes the object is an indirect object because it answers the question: “To whom is the object
pleasing?”
Other verbs like Gustar
Aburrir
to bore
Encantar
to like very much; love (inanimate objects)
Faltar
to lack; to need
Fascinar
to fascinate; to like very much
Importar
to be important to; to matter
Interesar
to be interesting to; to interest
Molestar
to bother; to annoy
Quedar
to be left over; to fit (clothing); how something looks (on someone)
Be careful with “faltar” and “quedar”.
“Faltar” expresses what is lacking or missing.
EX:
Me falta una página.
I’m missing one page.
“Quedar” expresses how much of something is left.
EX:
Me quedan tres pesos.
I have three pesos left.
The third person conjugations of the verbs are used.
EX.
gusta / gustan
gustó / gustaron
The singular form is always used in front of an infinitive, no matter how many infinitives there are, to say
what someone likes or does not like to do.
EX:
Nos molesta comer a las nueve.
It bothers us to eat at 9:00.
EX:
Nos encanta cantar y bailar.
We love to sing and dance.