Gustar- gusta/ gustan or gusto/gustas?

Question

Hi, ive seen other threads about this topic but i still dont fully understand it. I learnt that the verb gustar is sth is pleasing to me. I understand that part, so I was told that the only forms you use are either gusta or gustan (as the thing pleasing you can only be singular or plural). But ive seen in other threads forms like gusto or gustas- which I thought were never used. e.g. in a song it says "yo sé que me gustas"- I know that you like me.

Im so confused... can anyone explain to me in which cases you would use these forms? thanks.

Answer 1

Well, gustar can be used in a lot of forms: all the normal verb forms: gusto (i'm pleasing to...) gustas (you're pleasing to..) gusta (he/she/it is pleasing to...) and so on. So if you say: Yo sé que me gustas, it means 'I know that you are pleasing to me', or in other, more common words: 'I know that I like you.' More examples: Te gusto (I am pleasing to you -> You like me ) Les gustais (you (plural) are pleasing to them -> they like you)

So you can use gustar in the 3 forms singular and the 3 forms plural. I hope you understand it a little better, if not, ask me again!

Answer 2

hey ralph- most of the time we only use gusta or gustan, but if we are talking about a person or people we can use the other forms. Just remember that when referring to an object or action, gustar means "is pleasing" or "is liked" but when referring to people, it means that the person "is attractive," and is used to talk about a love interest. If you want to say that you like someone in a non romantic way, you can say "me cae bien." In your example, "yo sé que me gustas," the singer is saying "I know that you are attractive to me."

• Yo sé- I know
• que- that
• me- to me
• gustas- you are pleasing

Hi thanks for the reply- so how would you say then "I like him/her" in a non romatic way- if your describing a friend? - ralphmat, Mar 21, 2012

Answer 3

ok so gusto and gustas are used in everyday speech if they are referring to a person not a thing? Also in the song the translation of yo sé que me gustas" is "i know that you like me" Is that not right? Thanks.

Yes indeed, gusto and gustas are used in everyday sentences for saying that you like someone or saying/asking if someone likes you. - Lisamaud, Mar 4, 2012

The translation is not fully correct, because 'gustas' here means ; you are pleasing. me is a form of yo, so you are pleasing me.. This is not a very common way of saying it, so you could translate it into; i like you! 'I know that I like you ' - Lisamaud, Mar 4, 2012

how would you say then "i know that you like me"? - ralphmat, Mar 4, 2012

yo sé que te gusto - tsgrantham, Mar 4, 2012