Verbs like gustar turn the usual subject-object roles upside down, so it feels more natural to think in terms of what pleases you rather than what you please. This short guide covers the key verbs, how to use them with gustar, and useful signal phrases.
Key Verbs
Here are common verbs that work like gustar by aligning the verb with what is liked, wanted, or needed, while the person appears as an indirect object.
| Spanish Verb | English Verb | Spanish Verb | English Verb | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gustar | to like | encantar | to love | |
| interesar | to interest | faltar | to lack / need | |
| molestar | to bother | parecer | to seem | |
| caer bien / mal | to like / dislike (people) | importar | to matter / to care | |
| aburrir | to bore | quedar | to remain / to suit | |
| sorprender | to surprise | atraer | to attract |
How Gustar Works
Use an indirect object pronoun to show who is affected (me, te, le, etc.), then the verb agrees with the thing that pleases or bothers, and finally the thing itself.
| Indirect Object Pronoun | Spanish Translation | Indirect Object Pronoun | Spanish Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| me | to me | nos | to us | |
| te | to you (fam.) | les | to them / you (pl.) | |
| le | to him / her / you (form.) |
| Spanish Ending | English Meaning | Spanish Ending | English Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -a | he / she / you (sing.) | -an | they / you (pl.) | |
| -e | he / she / you (sing.) | -en | they / you (pl.) | |
| -o | he / she / you (sing.) | -os | they / you (pl.) | |
| -as | he / she / you (sing.) | -is | they / you (pl.) |
Examples
Indirect Object Pronouns
Signal Words
Words like a mí, a ti, and a ella can be added for emphasis or clarity when the indirect object is ambiguous or when you want to stress who feels the action.
| Spanish Phrase | English Phrase | Spanish Phrase | English Phrase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a mí | to me | a ellos | to them | |
| a ti | to you (fam.) | a usted | to you (form.) | |
| a él / a ella | to him / to her | a nosotros | to us |
Summary
Verbs like gustar require you to think from the perspective of the thing that pleases or troubles someone, using indirect object pronouns for the person affected and matching the verb to the thing. Practice with common signal phrases to make your meaning clear and natural.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025