Me Gusta vs. Me Gustan: How to Use Gustar
English says “I like tacos.” Spanish says, in effect, “Tacos are pleasing to me.” That small change in point of view is the whole secret of gustar. Once you see the structure, you will know instantly whether to say gusta or gustan.
Quick answer
- Use gusta when the thing you like is singular or a verb: Me gusta el café. Me gusta bailar.
- Use gustan when the thing you like is plural: Me gustan los tacos.
- The verb agrees with the thing you like, not with the person. The person is shown by me, te, le, nos, les.
Gustar means “to be pleasing”
In Me gusta el café, the coffee is the subject (it pleases) and “me” is the person it pleases. The verb follows the thing that pleases, so it is almost always gusta (one thing) or gustan (more than one). The person appears as a small pronoun before the verb.
| Pronoun | Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| me | to me | Me gusta el té. |
| te | to you | ¿Te gusta el té? |
| le | to him, to her, to you (formal) | A Ana le gusta el té. |
| nos | to us | Nos gusta el té. |
| les | to them, to you all | A mis padres les gusta el té. |
Gusta or gustan?
Look at what you like. If it is one thing, use gusta. If it is more than one thing, use gustan.
| What you like | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One thing | gusta | Me gusta la playa. |
| Several things | gustan | Me gustan las playas. |
| An action (infinitive) | gusta | Me gusta nadar. |
Examples
- Me gusta la comida mexicana.I like Mexican food.Singular subject.
- Me gustan los mercados.I like markets.Plural subject.
- ¿Te gusta el helado de limón?Do you like lemon ice cream?A question with te.
- No me gustan las películas de terror.I do not like horror movies.No goes before me.
- Nos gusta viajar en tren.We like traveling by train.Gusta with an infinitive.
Gustar with verbs
When you like doing something, use the infinitive of the verb and keep gusta, even if you list several actions: Me gusta cantar y bailar. An infinitive is one idea, so the verb stays singular.
Examples
- Me gusta caminar por la mañana.I like walking in the morning.Infinitive after gusta.
- Me gusta leer y escribir.I like reading and writing.Two infinitives, still gusta.
A mí me gusta: emphasis and clarity
Because le and les can mean several people, add a phrase with a to make it clear who: A ella le gusta bailar, a él no. You can also use a mí, a ti, a nosotros to contrast or emphasize. When you use a name, the structure is A Ana le gustan los gatos. Do not remove me, te, le: the pronoun must stay.
Examples
- A mí me gusta el té, pero a ella le gusta el café.I like tea, but she likes coffee.A mí and a ella add contrast.
- A Carlos le gustan los videojuegos.Carlos likes video games.A name plus le.
- ¿A ustedes les gusta esta música?Do you all like this music?A ustedes les.
Verbs that work the same way
Several other common verbs use the same structure, so learning gustar gives you all of them: the thing is the subject and the person is the pronoun.
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| encantar | to love (really like) | Me encanta la música. |
| interesar | to interest | Me interesan los idiomas. |
| molestar | to bother | Me molesta el ruido. |
| doler | to hurt | Me duele la cabeza. |
| faltar | to be missing | Me falta tiempo. |
Examples
- Me encanta el chocolate caliente.I love hot chocolate.Encantar follows the same pattern.
- Me interesan los idiomas.Languages interest me.Plural subject, so interesan.
Me gusta, me gustas, and me cae bien
Be careful with people. Me gustas means “I like you” in a romantic or attracted sense, and Me gusta Pedro can suggest attraction too. To say you like someone as a person, use Me cae bien: Pedro me cae bien. (I like Pedro.) The opposite is me cae mal.
Examples
- Tu hermana me cae muy bien.I really like your sister (as a person).Me cae bien for friendly feelings.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Yo gusto el chocolate.
Correct: Me gusta el chocolate.
Gustar does not work like “to like.” The thing you like is the subject.
Incorrect: Me gusta los tacos.
Correct: Me gustan los tacos.
Tacos is plural, so the verb is plural: gustan.
Incorrect: Me gusto bailar.
Correct: Me gusta bailar.
Me gusto means “I like myself.” Use gusta with an infinitive.
Incorrect: A mí gusta la pizza.
Correct: A mí me gusta la pizza.
A mí adds emphasis, but you still need me before the verb.
Two questions to ask yourself
- What do I like: one thing or many? One (or an infinitive) is gusta. Many is gustan.
- Who likes it? Choose me, te, le, nos, les and put it before the verb.
- Do not use gustar for people you want to be friends with: say me cae bien.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I say ‘I liked it’ in the past?
Use the preterite: Me gustó la película (singular) or Me gustaron los tacos (plural). The rule is the same: the verb agrees with the thing you liked.
What if I like two things?
Use the plural: Me gustan el café y el té. Both nouns are more than one thing, so you can use gustan.
How do I say ‘I love’ something?
Use encantar: Me encanta la playa. It works exactly like gustar, only stronger.
Is ‘me gusta mucho’ correct?
Yes. Mucho goes after the verb and does not change: Me gusta mucho el café. For more on mucho, see muy vs. mucho.
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