Verbs like “Gustar”
When you want to express “like” in Spanish, you have to say “it is pleasing to me”, and you have to use indirect object pronouns.
Gustar to be pleasing to
| Gustar to be pleasing to | Singular | Plural |
| 1st Person | Me gusta(n) I like | Nos gusta(n) We like |
| 2nd Person | Te gusta(n) You like | Os gusta(n) You like |
| 3rd Person | Le gusta(n) He/she/you likes | Les gusta(n) They like |
| Gustar to be pleasing to | Singular | Plural |
| 1st Person | Gusto I am pleasing to | Gustamos we are pleasing to |
| 2nd Person | Gustas You are pleasing to | Gustáis You are pleasing to |
| 3rd Person | Gusta he/she/you/it is pleasing to | Gustan They are pleasing to |
- (A mí) Me gusta el queso. (gusta since el queso is singular.)
Cheese is pleasing to me. (=I like cheese)
- (A mí) No me gustan las matemáticas. (gustan since las matemáticas are plural.)
Mathematics are not pleasing to me. (=I don’t like mathematics.)
In 1) and 2), subject of the sentence is not “I”, but subjects are “cheese” and “mathematics” in Spanish. And “me” is just an indirect object of the verb. This is why the conjugated form of the verb “gustar” has to be the 3rd person singular in 1) with el queso(subject), and has to be the 3rd person plural in 2) with las matemáticas (subjects).
Here is a list of the verbs that have the same function as gustar.
Interesar to be interesting to
Quedar to be left
Fascinar to be fascinating to
Aburrir to be bored
Importar to be important to
Molestar to be annoyed
Parecer to look like
Faltar to miss
Encantar to love