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SPANISH VERB

gustar

to like (word for word, to please)

  • #51 most used
  • Regular -ar verb
  • Gerund: gustando
  • Past participle: gustado

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Presente · now, habits and facts

  1. yo I like (word for word
  2. tú you like (word for word
  3. usted, él, ella he/she likes (word for word
  4. nosotros we like (word for word
  5. vosotros Spain you all like (word for word
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they like (word for word

Past

Pretérito indefinido · finished actions

  1. yo I liked (word for word
  2. tú you liked (word for word
  3. usted, él, ella he/she liked (word for word
  4. nosotros we liked (word for word
  5. vosotros Spain you all liked (word for word
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they liked (word for word

Imperfect

Pretérito imperfecto · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. yo I used to like (word for word
  2. tú you used to like (word for word
  3. usted, él, ella he/she used to like (word for word
  4. nosotros we used to like (word for word
  5. vosotros Spain you all used to like (word for word
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they used to like (word for word

Future

Futuro · plans and promises; in speech, “voy a hablar” is just as common

  1. yo I will like (word for word
  2. tú you will like (word for word
  3. usted, él, ella he/she will like (word for word
  4. nosotros we will like (word for word
  5. vosotros Spain you all will like (word for word
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they will like (word for word

Conditional

Condicional · “would”

  1. yo I would like (word for word
  2. tú you would like (word for word
  3. usted, él, ella he/she would like (word for word
  4. nosotros we would like (word for word
  5. vosotros Spain you all would like (word for word
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas they would like (word for word

Present subjunctive

Presente de subjuntivo · wishes, doubts, “que …”

  1. yo (that) I like (word for word
  2. tú (that) you like (word for word
  3. usted, él, ella (that) he/she like (word for word
  4. nosotros (that) we like (word for word
  5. vosotros Spain (that) you all like (word for word
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas (that) they like (word for word

Past subjunctive

Imperfecto de subjuntivo · “if I were”, “si …”

  1. yo (if) I liked (word for word
  2. tú (if) you liked (word for word
  3. usted, él, ella (if) he/she liked (word for word
  4. nosotros (if) we liked (word for word
  5. vosotros Spain (if) you all liked (word for word
  6. ustedes, ellos, ellas (if) they liked (word for word

Imperative

Imperativo · requests and orders; a negative one uses the subjunctive (no hables)

  1. tú like (word for word!
  2. usted like (word for word! (formal)
  3. nosotros like (word for word! (let’s)
  4. vosotros Spain like (word for word! (all of you)
  5. ustedes like (word for word! (all of you)

How to use gustar

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Me gusta mucho la música de aquí.

    I really like the music here.

  2. Past

    ¿Te gustó la película de anoche?

    Did you like last night's movie?

  3. Imperfect

    De niña, no me gustaban las verduras.

    As a girl, I didn't like vegetables.

  4. Future

    Seguro te gustará mi ciudad.

    I'm sure you will like my city.

  5. Conditional

    Me gustaría conocer Mérida en diciembre.

    I would like to visit Mérida in December.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Espero que les guste la sorpresa.

    I hope you all like the surprise.

  7. Past subjunctive

    No pensé que te gustara tanto bailar.

    I didn't think you liked dancing that much.

  8. Imperative

    Gústale a tu suegra: llévale pan dulce.

    Win your mother-in-law over: bring her sweet bread.

Good to know

  • Gustar works backwards: me gusta el café is "coffee pleases me".
  • The verb agrees with the thing you like: me gusta el mole, me gustan los tacos.

Where you hear gustar

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Spanish · Beginner Level 1

  • Me gusta mucho Oaxaca. I like Oaxaca a lot.
  • Me gustó mucho la comida. I liked the food a lot.
  • Te va a gustar el chocolate. You're going to like the chocolate.

Spanish · Beginner Level 2

  • Me gustaría ayudar en la clínica. I'd like to help at the clinic.
  • Me gustó mucho el desfile. I liked the parade a lot.
  • Te va a gustar el mole. You're going to like the mole.
20
I Like the Rain

Beginner Level 1 · me gusta · no me gusta · ¿Te gusta? · Me gusta mucho.

Needs a subscription 24
I'm Looking for a Present

Beginner Level 1 · a Mateo le gusta

Needs a subscription 25
What Did You See?

Beginner Level 1 · Me gustó. · ¿Te gustó?

Needs a subscription 7
I'd Like to Help

Beginner Level 2 · me gustaría · te gustaría

Needs a subscription 21
What Is the Day of the Dead?

Beginner Level 2 · le gustaba · les gustaban

Needs a subscription 28
On the One Hand

Beginner Level 2 · me gustaría

Needs a subscription 4
What Brings You Here?

Beginner Level 3 · nos gusta · le gusta

Needs a subscription 17
The Lights Go Out

Beginner Level 3 · me gustaba

Needs a subscription 21
Seven Colours

Beginner Level 3 · te guste

Needs a subscription 13
For Me, or As Far As I'm Concerned

Intermediate Level 3 · como te gusta

Needs a subscription 1
Are You Mexican?

Advanced Level 1 · ¿Os gusta?

Free 2
Have You Eaten?

Advanced Level 1 · ¿Os ha gustado?

Free

And 4 more lessons.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular -ar verb.