Lesson 6: Gustar - The Art of Liking

6.1

Introducing Gustar

And now for a pleasant but tricky verb: gustar. Gustar is an important Spanish verb that we use to express liking something. Here’s an example sentence:

“Hold up,” you say. “That looks like 'gustar' is conjugated in the third person plural. Shouldn’t it be 'gusto’?”

Actually, the way we use gustar in Spanish is quite distinct from the English equivalent. When we say Me gustan las galletas in Spanish, it translates directly as The cookies please me, not I like cookies. That’s why we conjugate gustar as gustan for plural subjects like las galletas (the cookies), instead of gusto. This syntax puts the emphasis on the cookies being pleasing to me, rather than me actively liking the cookies.

6.2

If this syntax strikes you as very unusual, it may help you to compare a verb that has a more direct English translation. Aburrir means to bore and works similarly to gustar.

So with that under our belt, let’s come back to gustar, using similar sentences:

6.3

In the Spanish language, several verbs echo the structure of gustar and aburrir. These verbs provide a fascinating glimpse into expressing feelings and states in a uniquely Spanish way. Let's dive into some of them:

Here's a simple formula for using these types of verbs:

1. Step 1: Identify the subject in the sentence (what is doing the action, e.g., the thing that pleases, bothers, interests, etc.).
2. Step 2: Choose the correct indirect object pronoun to indicate who is receiving the action (who is pleased, bothered, interested, etc.). You can find these in the table below.

Indirect object pronouns are like navigational beacons, guiding us to understand who is on the receiving end of an action. They are crucial for clarity and flow in sentences using verbs like gustar. Here's a quick reference chart to help you use them confidently:

6.4

Is Gustar Reflexive?

If you’ve gone through our lesson on reflexive verbs, you might ask yourself…”is gustar reflexive?” Great question! At first glance, gustar might seem reflexive, but in fact it is not.

Why not? Well, reflexive verbs are like mirrors - they reflect the action back on the subject. Imagine if gustar were reflexive. You'd end up saying something like Me gusto las galletas, which amusingly translates to I please myself with cookies. While cookies are undoubtedly delightful, this isn't quite what we mean in Spanish.

In short, gustar is more like a spotlight than a mirror, focusing on what or who is pleasing to someone else, rather than reflecting the action back onto the subject.

6.5

And what about Aburrir vs. Aburrirse?

You might wonder about aburrir and its relationship to reflexive verbs, especially since we touched on gustar not being reflexive. Yes, aburrir can indeed be reflexive, but there's an important distinction to understand.

Aburrir mirrors gustar in its non-reflexive form, focusing on external causes of boredom, like a dull movie. For example, Me aburre la película means The movie bores me.

Aburrirse, on the other hand, is reflexive, shining a light on personal feelings of boredom. Saying Me aburro con esta película translates to I get bored with this movie, emphasizing a subjective experience.

So, while gustar doesn't reflect back, aburrir can do both: spotlight what bores us or delve into our boredom. This nuance enriches our expression, letting us differentiate between being bored by something and feeling bored.

6.6

How to Practice “Backwards Verbs”

Our tips? First, listen for these verbs in Spanish conversations, music, and media. "Me Gustas Tú" by Manu Chau, a VerbMaster team favorite, is a great start! Second, practice extensively with aburrir and similar verbs. Share what you love (encantar)  what annoys you (molestar, fastidiar), and inquire about others' interests (interesar). Begin with the familiar me gusta and me gustan, and with practice, you'll confidently use these verbs in all their forms.