Brain Boost: Present Sentences vs Modal Sentences
Section 4: Reflexive Verbs
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Instruction: Spanish Irregular Verbs Like Me Gusta

Introduction to Verbs Like “Gustar”

In Spanish, some verbs function differently than regular verbs, requiring a special construction. These verbs are often used to express feelings, sensations, or opinions, and they work in a way that might seem backward to English speakers. The most common of these verbs is gustar (to like), but there are several others that follow the same pattern. In this lesson, we will explore how these verbs work and provide examples for better understanding.

How Verbs Like “Gustar” Work

Verbs like “gustar” require an indirect object pronoun and agree with the subject in number. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb ends with a vowel (“a” or “e”), and if the subject is plural, the  verb ends with an “n.” Remember, plural nouns end with an “s,” and plural verbs end with an “n.” The structure can be summarized as follows:

  1. Indirect Object Pronoun + Verb + Subject
  2. The verb agrees with the subject (the thing or person being liked).
  3. The indirect object pronoun indicates who likes the subject.

Indirect Object Pronouns

Singular

Plural

First Person

me (to me)

nos (to us)

Second Person

te (to you Juana/Pedro)

os (to you all: informal, used mainly in Spain)

Third Person

le (to him/her/you - Sra. García)

les (to them/you all)

Agreement with the Subject

The verb must agree with the subject in number. If the subject (the word after the verb) is singular, the verb is singular (ends with an “a” or “e”). If the subject is plural, the verb is plural (ends with an “n”).

Remember the Formula:

Indirect Object Pronoun + Verb + Subject

Examples:

  • Me + gusta + el libro. (I like the book. – singular subject)
  • Me + gustan + los libros. (I like the books. – plural subject)

Examples of Verbs Like “Gustar”

 

    • Gustar (to like)
      • Me gusta el libro. (I like the book. Literally, this means “The book is pleasing to me.“)
      • Te gustan las flores. (You like the flowers.)
      • Le gusta la música. (He/She/You (formal) like(s) the music.)
      • Nos gusta el chocolate. (We like the chocolate.)
      • Os gustan los deportes. (You all like the sports – informal, used mainly in Spain.)
      • Les gusta viajar. (They/You all like to travel.)
    • Doler (to hurt)
      • Me duele la cabeza. (My head hurts. Literally, this means “The head hurts (to) me.“)
      • Te duelen los pies. (Your feet hurt.)
      • Le duele el estómago. (His/Her/Your (formal) stomach hurts.)
      • Nos duele la espalda. (Our back hurts.)
      • Os duelen los ojos. (Your eyes hurt – informal, used mainly in Spain.)
      • Les duele la garganta. (Their/You all’s throat hurts.)
    • Parecer (to seem/appear)
      • Me parece interesante. (It seems interesting to me. Literally, this means “It appears interesting to me.“)
      • Te parecen aburridos los libros. (The books seem boring to you.)
      • Le parece bien el plan. (The plan seems good to him/her/you (formal).)
      • Nos parece una buena idea. (It seems like a good idea to us.)
      • Os parecen fáciles las tareas. (The tasks seem easy to you all – informal, used mainly in Spain.)
      • Les parece mal la decisión. (The decision seems bad to them/you all.)
    • Fascinar (to fascinate)
      • Me fascina la ciencia. (Science fascinates me. Literally, this means “The science is fascinating to me.“)
      • Te fascinan los animales. (Animals fascinate you.)
      • Le fascina el arte. (Art fascinates him/her/you (formal).)
      • Nos fascina la historia. (History fascinates us.)
      • Os fascinan los viajes. (Travels fascinate you all – informal, used mainly in Spain.)
      • Les fascina la tecnología. (Technology fascinates them/you all.)
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    • Costar (to cost/be difficult)
      • Me cuesta cinco pesos el libro. (The book costs me five pesos. Literally, this means “The book costs (to) me five pesos.”)
      • Te cuesta entender el tema. (It is difficult for you to understand the topic.)
      • Le cuesta trabajar de noche. (It is difficult for him/her/you (formal) to work at night.)
      • Nos cuesta aprender otro idioma. (It is difficult for us to learn another language.)
      • Os cuesta hacer ejercicio. (It is difficult for you all to exercise – informal, used mainly in Spain.)
      • Les cuesta llegar a tiempo. (It is difficult for them/you all to arrive on time.)