Al and Le usage

Question

Can someone please explain this sentence Al nino no le gusta zanahorias
I know what it means but don't know why A el nino and le in front of gusta is needed. Can I simply say

El nino no gusta zanahorias?

it's las zanahorias. You need "las" - polenta1, Jun 30, 2017

Welcome to SpanishDict, Gabriel. - rac1, Jun 30, 2017

Answer 1

Can I simply say "El nino no gusta zanahorias?"

No, I'm afraid not. "Gustar" questions are very common, and you'll probably find your answer already in the Q&A, but I'll answer here.

"Gustar" is a verb that acts differently than we might expect in English. The easiest way to explain it is that it does not mean "like" but instead "is pleasing to." With "gustar" you will normally find the subject after the verb. So in this case the subject is "zanahorias" giving us "Carrots are not pleasing to..."

Who are they not pleasing to? "Le," which is an indirect object pronoun telling us carrots are not pleasing to him / her / it / you (formal). The "Al [a+el] nino" clarifies who the "le" is referring to: "the boy." So "Carrots are not pleasing to the boy." In more natural English this becomes "The boy does not like carrots."

My question to someone more advanced than me is why not "las zanahorias" in this sentence. For me "zanahorias" as the subject should be preceded by a definite article, but I have seen this type of sentence written often both ways, with and without the definite article. Are both forms acceptable?

Surely it needs to be gustan as it is plural (they) Singular used before verb or singular item. - Mardle, Jun 30, 2017

Jellonz. I agree, it should have las. Some modifier, such as the indefinite article should precede most nouns as subjects. When infinitives are subject they usually go bare. ") - DilKen, Jun 30, 2017

I was focusing on the lack of the definite article and I missed that completely Mardle. You are of course correct :) - jellonz, Jun 30, 2017

Thanks Ken. I've seen this structure so often using noun subjects but no definite article that I was beginning to think it must be used somewhere, but I guess it is just a very common mistake :) - jellonz, Jun 30, 2017

Thank you Jello z... Very helpful - Gabriel8948, Jul 1, 2017

Answer 2

Al niño no le gustan las zanahorias is correct.

No le gustan las zanahorias al niño is correct.

Las zanahorias no le gustan al niño is correct.

If you don't want to mention the word "niño" you can only use "le" and it's ok.
No le gustan las zanahorias or Las zanahorias no le gustan.

If you want to mention the word "niño" you have to say "al niño" and also "le" as I've told you above.

Gracias Polenta. - jellonz, Jun 30, 2017

Muchas graçias :-) - Gabriel8948, Jul 1, 2017

Answer 3

Jellonz said.....

My question to someone more advanced than me is why not "las zanahorias" in this sentence. For me "zanahorias" as the subject should be preceded by a definite article, but I have seen this type of sentence written often both ways, with and without the definite article. Are both forms acceptable?

I think it's a mistake. It should be

Al niño no le gustan las zanahorias

As you say the "las" is obligarory. Also "gustaN" because they (the carrots) are not pleasing to the boy.

Gabriel don't worry if you're confused with gustar - it's a problem for all English speakers. As Jellonz said it's best to think of it as "...is pleasing to". Practise saying the sentences in English but using the Spanish "system" for example....

To him they are not pleasing the carrots (sounds ridiculous I know lol)

Q. To whom are the carrots not pleasing?....... ¿A quién no le gustan las zanahorias?

A. To the boy............... Al niño

You MUST say the "le" in this sentence

(please let me know if I've made a mistake here)

"las " is necessary. - polenta1, Jun 30, 2017

good job :) - 006595c6, Jun 30, 2017

Thanks Patch :) - jellonz, Jun 30, 2017

Answer 4

Muchas graçias a tondos