The verb "Gustar" in Spanish
If you’ve ever struggled with “gustar”, you’re not alone! Unlike most Spanish verbs, “gustar” works differently—it follows a reverse structure that can be tricky at first. Instead of saying “I like something”, Spanish expresses it as “Something pleases me.”
In this lesson, we’ll break down how to use “gustar” correctly, introduce other similar verbs, and give you plenty of interactive exercises for students to practice in the classroom! 🎉
Before we start the lesson, let’s listen to a song that uses the verb “gustar” a lot. In the meantime, try to guess its meaning in English. The song is “Me Gustas Tú” by Manu Chao.
While listening, ask yourself:
👉 What does “me gustas tú” mean?
👉 Why does “gustar” change depending on the subject?
🤔 Did you guess it? “Gustar” means:
🔹 How “Gustar” Works
Instead of following a subject-verb-object structure (like most verbs), “gustar” follows this pattern:
Indirect Object Pronoun + “Gustar” (Conjugated) + Thing Being Liked
✅ Me gusta el café. (Coffee pleases me. / I like coffee.)
✅ Nos gustan los perros. (Dogs please us. / We like dogs.)
💡 Key Tip for Students:
The verb agrees with the thing being liked, NOT the person liking it!
🚨 Incorrect: ❌ Me gusto el café.
✅ Correct: ✔ Me gusta el café.
🧩 Let’s Play: Do You Like It or Not?
Imagine we’re at a party in Barcelona. Someone hands you a plate of pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus). You take a bite.
What do you say?
Try it with different things:
🍕 ¿Te gusta la pizza con piña? (Do you like pineapple on pizza?)
📚 ¿Te gustan los libros de misterio? (Do you like mystery books?)
Have fun—disagree, debate, and discover your preferences in Spanish.
🤸♂️ Let’s make “gustar” physical.
1️⃣ 🔊 Si te gusta la música, baila.
(If you like music, dance!)
2️⃣ 🔊 Si te gusta la historia, abre un libro.
(If you like history, open a book!)
3️⃣ 🔊 Si te gusta dormir, acuéstate.
(If you like to sleep, lay down.)
This is a fun way to connect words with movement—your brain will remember it faster.
📝 Tell Your Story: What Do You Like?
Now it’s your turn.
Take 5 minutes and write down five things you love, five things that interest you, and one thing that bothers you.
Start with:
✅ Me gusta…
Example:
✍️ Me gusta el chocolate. (I like chocolate.)
✍️ Me gusta la clase de español. (I like Spanish class.)
✍️ No me gusta madrugar. (I don't like getting up early.)
Once you finish, share your list with a partner—see if you have anything in common!
🟢 Conjugate Gustar Correctly!
Click here to practice how to conjugate “Gustar”:
Let's complete this worksheet to practice the verb gustar! ✏️ You can access the Editable PDF by clicking here.
📸 Look at the pictures and create sentences using the verb “gustar.” 🎭
✅ For example:
📺 Me gusta ver televisión. (I like to watch TV.)
🏫 No me gusta ir a la escuela. (I don’t like to go to school.)
💡 Tip: Remember to use an infinitive verb after "gusta/gustan." If you're unsure which verb to use, feel free to check a dictionary. 📖🔍
📝 Write your sentences in the comments or in the chat! 💬✨
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