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SpanishUnit 5 · Saying what you likeStep 1 of 14

gustar runs backwards

English: I like the concerts. Subject is the person.

Spanish: Me gustan los conciertos, literally "the concerts please me". The thing liked is the subject and the person is an indirect object.

So the verb agrees with the thing: me gusta el concierto but me gustan los conciertos.

The trap: Yo gusto los conciertos means "I am pleasing to the concerts". Never conjugate gustar to match yourself.

gusta with one thing or any verb, gustan with several things

gusta + a singular noun: me gusta el chocolate.

gusta + an infinitive, always singular no matter how long the phrase: me gusta comer comida picante, nos gusta ir a los conciertos.

gustan + a plural noun: me gustan los chocolates.

The trap, and it is in your own notes: nos gustan comer comidas picantes is wrong. A verb can never make gustar plural. Write nos gusta comer comidas picantes.

The A mi is optional, the me is not

The full form doubles the person: A mi me gusta el cafe. The a mi adds emphasis or contrast and can be dropped; me cannot.

A mi me · A ti te · A el / a ella / a usted le · A nosotros nos · A vosotros os · A ellos / a ellas / a ustedes les

With a name, the a is compulsory: A Guillermo le gusta el pop.

The trap: Guillermo le gusta without the a is wrong, and so is a mi gusta without the me.

tambien agrees, tampoco agrees with a negative

Me gusta el cafe. A mi tambien. Me too.

No me gusta el cafe. A mi tampoco. Me neither.

The trap: English says "me too" in both directions in speech. Spanish will not: after a negative you must switch to tampoco.

Quick check

Tap a Spanish word, then its English partner