When saying I like.

Question

When saying "I like to something." When would I use, "A mí me gusta" compared to "me gusta."

Answer 1

Me gusta nadar. I like to swim. I like swimming.

A mí me gusta nadar. I like to swim. I like swimming.

The only difference is, as Ethan says, that the second example puts a little more emphasis on 'you' liking something in particular.

Eg. Juan: I like playing football. Me gusta jugar al futbol.

María: Well, 'I' like to swim. Bueno a mí, me gusta nadar.

Answer 2

They are interchangeable.

The only difference is that "A mí me gusta" adds more emphasis that I like something.

Answer 3

You know the best thing ever? How my teachers never explained to me that the word "like" does not translate in Spanish. Me gusta does not mean "I like." It means "it pleases me." Imagine being 12 and totally confused by the crappy teaching methods employed by your subpar teachers in even more subpar language classes. No wonder my Spanish is so great now. Oh wait, no it isn't. I won't even get into how in six years, nobody ever taught me the EXISTENCE of the subjunctive, much less how it would be used. Fail.

Anyway, sorry. I had to rant.

Please be advised that the use of capitals is shouting on the internet. The use of bold, though, is not. shouting. - bandit51jd, Jan 20, 2014

Please see your personal message. - bandit51jd, Jan 20, 2014