Gustar and similar defective verbs in Spanish.
I know. Sometimes these type of verbs can be confusing and tricky.
Gustar : To like
Doler: To hurt
Parecer: To seem
Asustar: To scare
Interesar: To interest
Disgustar: to upset
Sorprender: To surprise
Defective verbs in Spanish refer to a verb that is not conjugated in all its forms.These verbs work different.
Where is the trick?
Don´t sweat it! I will show you how it works.
First of all, Spanish verbs work just like English verbs in a straight forward Subject-Verb manner.
Look at this example with the verb QUERER (To want) in Spanish.
Yo quiero la manzana. (I want the apple)
However, We cannot do this with the verb GUSTAR (To like), or the other verbs listed above.
Yo gusto la manzana. (I like the apple)
Noooooo... Mistake!
The right construction would look like this :
*Me gusta la manzana.
With GUSTAR the subject is the thing or person that is pleasing to you.
Look at his example:
*Me gusta bailar Salsa.
What you re really saying is : Dancing salsa is pleasing to me.
You cannot do direct translation. Look at it in this way, is not your responsability liking things. People or other things have to please you.
With verb GUSTAR we make use of the indirect object.
If i say ME ( to me) I am referring to myself.
If i say TE (to you) I am referring to yourself.
If i say LE (to her, to him) I am referring to herself or himself.
If i say LES ( to them) I am referring to themselves.
If i say NOS (to us) I am referring to ourselves.
The verb GUSTAR and the other verbs that are listed above are only conjugated in the 3rd person of singular and plural
Gusta and Gustan.
Look at this:
Me gusta
Te gusta
Le gusta
Les gusta
Nos gusta
Let´s look at these examples:
Les gusta el futbol. To them soccer( futbol) is pleasing.
¿Qué te gusta? Me gusta bailar.
What do you like? To me, dancing ( bailar) is pleasing to me.
Verb GUSTAR and the other verbs listed above have three components:
- An Indirect Object Pronoun
- A form of the verb GUSTAR
- A subject with a definite article.
Really important:
*If the subject (what is pleasing to you) is in plural, GUSTAR is conjugated in the 3rd person of plural.
For example:
Nos gustan los zapatos. ( to us, the shoes are pleasing)
PLURAL SUBJECT.
Nos gusta el vestido. (to us, the dress is pleasing)
SINGULAR SUBJECT
Therefore, GUSTAR and other verbs listed above are conjugated this way.
Another example:
Molestar: To upset.
*Me molesta el ruido. (to me, the noise-el ruido is upseting).
*Nos molestan las abejas. ( to us, the bees -las abejas are upseting.
TIP:
Remember these grammar constructions and practice these verbs. The more you practice them, the more easier will be for you.
*I hope you enjoyed these article and can be useful for you.
June 16, 2017
