Verbs like Gustar

Question

Overview

Some verbs in Spanish use an indirect object pronoun instead of the subject that would appear in an English translation. The subject in an English sentence becomes the indirect object in Spanish. The most recognizable verb in this category is "Gustar," which many native English-speakers translate as "to like" when it really means "to be pleasing" making the object that is pleasing the subject and the person to whom it is pleasing, the indirect object.

Formation

These verbs all have mandatory indirect objects which require an indirect object pronoun. Sentences may begin or end with the indirect object and may or may not include the preposition a plus a pronoun or noun. The verb is always conjugated to the main noun while the person is identified by the indirect object pronoun. If the sentence begins with with indirect object, the emphasis is placed on the person.

• Me agrada su visita. (I am pleased by your visit.)
• ¿Os interesaría ir al cine? (Are you interested in going to the movies?)
• A nosotros nos molesta el ruido. (We are bothered by the noise.)
• A muchas mujeres les encantan los cuentos de amor. (Many women really like love stories.)

If the sentence ends with the indirect object, more emphasis is placed on the subject instead of the person. In this manner, the sentences translate more literally into English.

• Los días tibios me gustan. (Warm days are pleasing to me.)
• Los coches deportivos le atraen. (Sports cars are attractive to her.)
• Lavar la ropa nos corresponde a nosotros. (Washing the clothes is our responsibility.)
• La política te interesa a ti. (Politics are interesting for you.)

Placement of the "a" + pronoun/noun

When the indirect object falls at the end of the sentence, the prepositional phrase such as "a mí" or "a nosotros" is placed after the verb instead of in front of the indirect object pronoun.

Below you will find a list of common verbs that function like "Gustar."

Common Verbs like Gustar
aburrir	to bore	faltar	to be lacking
agradar	to please	fascinar	to fascinate
alegrar	to gladden	fastidiar	to annoy
apasionar	to love	gustar	to please
apetecer	to feel like	hacer falta	to be missed
atraer	to attract	importar	to matter
bastar	to be enough	interesar	to interest
caber	to fit, to fill	molestar	to bother
convenir	to be better for	parecer	to appear to be
corresponder	to be responsible for	picar	to itch
costar	to cost	preocupar	to worry
disgustar	to disgust	quedar	to remain
doler	to hurt	repugnar	to disgust
encantar	to delight	sobrar	to be left over
extrañar	to surprise	tocar	to be responsible for

Exercises

1) Using the prepositional phrases provided, fill in the blanks with the correct indirect object pronoun.

Example: A mí ___| gustan las flores amarillas. -> me

1. A María ___| gusta bailar salsa.
2. A Juanita y yo ___| encantan los chocolates.
3. ¿A ti ___| alegra que vine?
4. Los perros ___| fastidian a mí.
5. Ir al cine ___| agrada a ellos.

2) Conjugate each verb in parenthesis to match the subject of the sentence. (Remember, the verb will is almost always in the 3rd person singular or plural.)

Example: A Juan le (gustar) caminar por el parque. -> gusta

1. Nos (hacer) falta mucho nuestro amigo Juan.
2. Me (atraer) los hombres guapos.
3. Le (gustar) su traje.
4. Te (faltar) dos capítulos para leer.
5. Les (doler) los pies.

Answers

Part 1

1. le
2. nos
3. te
4. me
5. les

Part 2

1. hace
2. atraen
3. gusta
4. faltan
5. duelen

• I found your wording confusing. I suggest that you say when the subject preceeds the indiirect object or when the subject follows the indirect object as the sentence doesn't actually end with the indirect object in some of your examples. - qfreed 25 de Ago, 2009
• I think in example #1 of Part 2 (where you conjugate the verbs in parenthesis), it should read "mucho falta" instead of "falta mucho." If the verb 'hacer' was not used and just the verb 'faltar' was, then yes "falta mucho" would work. But not vice versa. - AgentHobbit 24 de Feb, 2011
• No. "Falta mucho" is perfectly correct. - Guillermo2 8 de Dic, 2011