Spanish grammar · Beginner (A1)
Gustar: saying what you like
How me gusta and me gustan work, how to say what other people like, and how to agree or disagree.
How gustar works
works differently from “to like”. It really means “to please”: is literally “Coffee pleases me”. The thing you like is the subject, so the verb agrees with the thing, not with the person.
Use with one thing or with a verb (an activity). Use with plural things. Things you like in general take the article: , .
- Me gusta el café.I like coffee.
- Me gustan los gatos.I like cats.
- Me gusta nadar y leer.I like swimming and reading.
Who likes it: me, te, le…
The person who likes something is shown by a small pronoun before the verb. and can refer to different people (him, her, you, them), so add + the person to make it clear or to add emphasis: , .
| Pronoun | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| () | I like | |
| () | you like | |
| ( / / ) | he / she likes, you (polite) like | |
| ( / ) | we like | |
| ( / ) | you (plural) like | |
| ( / / ) | they like, you (plural, polite) like |
Negatives, questions and agreeing
Put before the pronoun: . To say “I like it a lot” add ; for “I love it”, use , which works just like .
To agree or disagree with someone, use (me too), (me neither), and / when you have the opposite opinion.
- No me gusta el fútbol.I don't like football.
- Me encantan las fresas.I love strawberries.
- —Me gusta este bar. —A mí también.“I like this bar.” “Me too.”
- —No me gusta el pescado. —A mí sí.“I don't like fish.” “I do.”