# 20. The Verb "Gustar"

> Source: [video link](https://youtube.com/watch?v=YHDZSHCt1DE&t=5034s)

**Gustar** does not literally mean "to like." It means **"to be pleasing to"** — so the thing or activity being liked is the **subject** of the verb, and the person doing the liking is expressed by an **indirect object pronoun**. This flipped structure makes gustar feel strange to English speakers, but it follows a fixed pattern.

## Key Rules
- Translate gustar as **"to please / to be pleasing to,"** not "to like."
- The thing liked is the grammatical subject; the verb agrees with **it**, not with the person.
- Use only two main forms in present indicative: **gusta** (singular subject / infinitive) and **gustan** (plural subject).
- Always introduce the experiencer with an **indirect object pronoun** (me, te, le, nos, os, les).
- For **le / les**, clarify the person with **a + él / ella / usted / name / ellos / ellas / ustedes**.
- When the subject is **one or more infinitives**, use **gusta** (singular). Multiple infinitives joined by *y* still take **gusta**, because each infinitive is a singular activity.
- When the subject is a plural noun, use **gustan**.

## Conjugation / Pattern Tables

### Present indicative of gustar (used forms)

| Subject (the thing) | Verb form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular noun or infinitive | **gusta** | Me gusta el café. / Me gusta bailar. |
| Plural noun | **gustan** | Me gustan los gatos. |

### Frame: [a + name/pron] + IOP + gusta(n) + subject

| Person (experiencer) | IOP | With clarifier |
|---|---|---|
| me | me | (a mí) me gusta(n) |
| you | te | (a ti) te gusta(n) |
| him / her / you (Ud.) | le | a él / a ella / a usted le gusta(n) |
| us | nos | (a nosotros/as) nos gusta(n) |
| y'all | os | (a vosotros/as) os gusta(n) |
| them / you (Uds.) | les | a ellos / a ellas / a ustedes les gusta(n) |

## Examples

| Spanish | English (literal) | English (natural) |
|---------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Me gusta bailar. | Dancing pleases me. | I like to dance. |
| Me gusta cantar. | Singing pleases me. | I like to sing. |
| Me gustan los gatos. | The cats please me. | I like cats. |
| Me gustan tus palabras. | Your words please me. | I like your words. |
| Te gusta la casa. | The house pleases you. | You like the house. |
| A él le gusta jugar fútbol. | Playing soccer pleases him. | He likes to play soccer. |
| Nos gusta hablar español. | Speaking Spanish pleases us. | We like to speak Spanish. |
| Les gusta escuchar la música. | Listening to music pleases them. | They like to listen to music. |
| Me gusta hablar contigo. | Speaking with you pleases me. | I like talking with you. |
| Me gusta bailar y cantar. | Dancing and singing pleases me. | I like to dance and sing. |
| A María le gustan los libros. | The books please María. | María likes books. |

## Notes & Gotchas
- **Multiple infinitives are still singular**: *Me gusta bailar y cantar* (NOT *gustan*), because each activity is one infinitive.
- A plural noun subject always triggers **gustan**: *Me gustan los gatos*.
- Use **a + pronoun** at the start for emphasis or contrast: *A mí me gusta el café, pero a ella no le gusta.*
- Other "gustar-like" verbs follow the same pattern: **encantar** (to love), **doler** (to hurt), **molestar** (to bother), **interesar** (to interest), **importar** (to matter), **faltar** (to be lacking), **parecer** (to seem), **quedar** (to fit/remain).
- Don't say *Yo gusto* unless you mean "I am pleasing (to others)."