Gramática: El verbo gustar + infinitivo

Objetivos

  • Recognize phrases using gustar+infinitive to express what someone likes to do

The verb gustar is used to indicate things or activities that you like, but it is a little different in Spanish than in English. You’ll learn more about how gustar and other verbs like it work later, but for now you can see how it is used with infinitives:

singular plural
1a (1st) Play Audiome gusta Play Audionos gusta
2a (2nd) Play Audiote gusta Play Audioos gusta
3a (3rd) Play Audiole gusta Play Audioles gusta

As you see, instead of conjugating gustar to match the subject as you do with most verbs, only the third person ending is used along with different pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les).  Gustar is frequently used in Spanish with infinitives to indicate likes (and dislikes):

A wet cat that appears to have just been given a bath. It looks angry.

No le gusta nadar.

  • Play Audio¿Qué te gusta hacer?  (What do you like to do?)
  • Play AudioMe gusta comer en restaurantes buenos.  (I like to eat in good restaurants.)
  • Play AudioTe gusta cantar y bailar, ¿no?  (You like to sing and dance, right?)
  • Play AudioNos gusta correr todos los días.  (We like to run every day.)
  • Play AudioLe gusta escuchar música.  (He likes to listen to music.)  or  (She likes to listen to music.)  or  (You [formal] like to listen to music.)
  • Play AudioA usted no le gusta nadar. (You don’t like to swim.)

Useful phrases when talking about things you like or dislike:

  • A mí me gusta… (I like to…; the “a mí” phrase is added for emphasis or clarification.)
  • Me gusta ( ) más. (I like to (activity) more.)
  • Play AudioMe gusta mucho. (I like it a lot.)
  • Play AudioA mí también. (Me too / I do too.)
  • Play AudioNo me gusta… (I don’t like to…)
  • Play AudioNo me gusta nada ( ). (I don’t like to (activity) at all.)
  • Play AudioA mí tampoco. (Me neither / I don’t either.)
  • Play Audio¿Qué te gusta hacer? (What do you like to do?)
  • Play Audio¿Te gusta…? (Do you like to…?)
  • Play Audio¿Y a ti? (And you?)
  • Play Audioni (neither, nor)
  • Play Audioo (or)
  • Play Audiosí (yes)
  • Play Audiocon (with)
  • Play Audioy (and)
  • Play Audiopero (but)