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.
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:
|
|
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) |
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”).
Indirect Object Pronoun + Verb + Subject
Examples: