Talking bout love...
Hi guys,
I have some questions about expressing love and desire. In the us at least there are lots of subtle distinctions and I'm sure there are in spanish as well. I'm in colombia by the way, since I know there are regional differences as well. Basically, in the usa if you tell someone (a girl in my case) that you love her, that implies very, very strong feelings - so if you tell that to someone you met a few days ago (or even a few weeks ago) and have gone out with a few times, you are most likely going to freak them out and scare them away. So a more appropriate thing to say would be "I like you" or, stronger, "I like you alot".
I'm wondering where this line falls in spanish. I've learned that gustar, querer, and amar can all be used to express love, and that to say that you like someone it is better to use caer - but I think that this is more like a platonic "like". Some how would one say "I like you", "I like you alot", without sending the recipient running for the hills?
Also, how do you use "gustar": appropriately to say "I like/love you"? With the gustar pattern I would have though it would be "Me gusta a ti (or a tu, not sure)" but then I was thinking maybe it would be better to say "Me gustas" (you are pleasing to me).
Thanks alot.
2 Answers
From my own personal point of view when a person expresses a liking,a love,a want for someone there are no real restrictions here where I am living in the Dominican Republic. The word love here is used in conversation alot in its different forms .A declaration of love can be a term of endearment ,a friendship ,a serious statement . I am from the UK and when you say I love you in my country similar to you its a serious statement of love and we would only use it for nearest and dearest although saying that I use the word love when talking to someone I know eg; How are you ,love?
Te quiero mucho I love you alot
Te amo mucho I love you alot
Me enchanta mucho I love alot
Me gusta mucho I like you alot
Idolatra mucho I have a great fondness for you / idolize you alot .
I like you - Me caes muy bien. I like your company. - Me gusta estar contigo.
Don't say, "Me gustas" since this implies "I find you attractive (with sexual overtones)." 
