| Learning Spanish Grammar and the | | | | A Carlos le gusta nadar. |
| Verb "Gustar"by Patrick Jackson | | | | Carlos likes to swim. |
| © Patrick Jackson - All Rights Reserved 2004 | | | | A mí me gusta la playa. |
| =================================== | | | | I like the beach. |
| Learning Spanish Grammar and the | | | | A ti te gusta la orilla del mar. |
| Verb "Gustar" | | | | You like the seashore. |
| If there's one verb that gave me a lot of trouble | | | | The boys like the forest. |
| when I first started learning Spanish grammar | | | | A los chicos les gusta el bosque. |
| that verb was | | | | They like the pool. |
| "gustar." Many of the Spanish lessons and Spanish | | | | A ellos les gusta la piscina. |
| classes that I took in order to learn Spanish only | | | | There are quite a few verbs in Spanish that |
| confused me even more about the use of | | | | follow the sameconstruction as the verb "gustar." |
| "gustar." "Gustar" means "to bepleasing to" or "to | | | | Here are just a few. |
| find pleasant." But in many instances, Spanish | | | | Importar (to be important to) |
| speakers use it the same way that we use the | | | | Interesar (to be interesting to) |
| verb "to like." | | | | Faltar (to be lacking to) |
| For example, in Spanish you don't literally say: "I | | | | Molestar (to bother or to annoy - note that this |
| like the dog." | | | | word doesnot mean to "molest") |
| In Spanish you would say: | | | | Encantar (to like) |
| "Me gusta el perro". | | | | I have also been confused about when to use |
| That literally means "the dog is pleasing to me." | | | | "gustar." |
| Actually, it means "it pleases me the dog." | | | | Despite what the textbooks say, you can use |
| It may sound strange to your English-hearing ears. | | | | "gustar"to indicate that you like someone asin |
| But you will get used to it. Let's try it. | | | | "being physically attracted to someone." |
| I like the house. | | | | For example, |
| Me gusta la casa. | | | | Tú me gustas. |
| I don't like the car. | | | | I like you. |
| No me gusta el carro. | | | | Me gusta Carmen. |
| You like the table. | | | | I like Carmen. |
| Te gusta la mesa. | | | | But if you want to say that you like someone as |
| He likes the screen/monitor. | | | | in "I getalong well with (name)," there's a different |
| Le gusta la pantalla. | | | | way to sayit. |
| We like the bridge. | | | | Me cae bien Carmen. |
| Nos gusta el puente. | | | | I like Carmen or I get along well with Carmen. |
| They like to lie. | | | | Literally,it means "Carmen falls well on me." |
| Les gusta mentir. | | | | No me cae bien María. |
| If you want to say "I like the dogs," a couple of | | | | I don't like María or I don't get along well with |
| changeshave to take place. Can you guess what | | | | María. |
| those changes are? | | | | No me caes bien tú, Or, Tú no me caes bien. |
| Of course dog ("perro") must now become plural | | | | I don't get along well with you. |
| ("perros"). | | | | Let's do a few exercises with "gustar." Translate |
| But the article ("el") must also become plural | | | | thefollowing sentences adding emphasis on the |
| ("los"). | | | | person orpersonsthat the object is pleasing to. |
| And the verb must change from third person | | | | The answers appear below. |
| singular | | | | 1. I like the cats. |
| ("gusta") to third person plural ('gustan"). | | | | 2. You like the wedding. (Add emphasis to "you" |
| Let's try it: | | | | using thefamiliar form of "you.") |
| I like the dogs. | | | | 3. Joseph likes the building. |
| Me gustan los perros. | | | | 4. We like the shirts. |
| You like the lakes | | | | 5. All of you like the insects. (Add emphasis to "all |
| Te gustan los lagos. | | | | ofyou") |
| She likes the streams | | | | Answers: |
| Le gustan los arroyos. | | | | 1.A mí me gustan los gatos. |
| We like the rivers. | | | | 2.A ti te gusta la boda. |
| Nos gustan los ríos. | | | | 3.A José le gusta el edificio. |
| They like the waterfalls. | | | | 4.A nosotros nos gustan las camisas. |
| Les gustan las cataratas. | | | | 5.A ustedes les gustan los insectos. |
| The following is the manner that we add clarity | | | | === |
| oremphasis, or mention the name of the personor | | | | Attn Ezine Editors/Site Owners ** |
| persons that the object is pleasing to. | | | | Want to make money with this Spanish lesson? |