by Patrick Jackson © Patrick Jackson - All Rights Reserved 2004 =================================== Learning Spanish Grammar and Verb "Gustar"

If there's one verb that gave me a lot of trouble when I first started learning Spanish grammar that verb was "gustar." Many of Spanish lessons and Spanish classes that I took in order to learn Spanish only confused me even more about use of "gustar." "Gustar" means "to be pleasing to" or "to find pleasant." But in many instances, Spanish speakers use it same way that we use verb "to like." For example, in Spanish you don't literally say: "I like dog."

In Spanish you would say: "Me gusta el perro".

That literally means "the dog is pleasing to me." Actually, it means "it pleases me dog."

It may sound strange to your English-hearing ears. But you will get used to it. Let's try it.

I like house. Me gusta la casa.

I don't like car. No me gusta el carro.

You like table. Te gusta la mesa.

He likes screen/monitor. Le gusta la pantalla. We like bridge. Nos gusta el puente.

They like to lie. Les gusta mentir.

If you want to say "I like dogs," a couple of changes have to take place. Can you guess what those changes are? Of course dog ("perro") must now become plural ("perros"). But article ("el") must also become plural ("los"). And verb must change from third person singular ("gusta") to third person plural ('gustan").

Let's try it:

I like dogs. Me gustan los perros.

You like lakes Te gustan los lagos.

She likes streams Le gustan los arroyos.

We like rivers. Nos gustan los ríos.

They like waterfalls. Les gustan las cataratas.

The following is manner that we add clarity or emphasis, or mention name of person or persons that object is pleasing to.

A Carlos le gusta nadar. Carlos likes to swim.

A mí me gusta la playa. I like beach.