The Spanish verb “gustar” can be tricky because it doesn’t work exactly like “to like” in English. A more accurate translation is “to please.”
In this article, we’ll focus on how to use “gustar” in the preterite tense (past tense). Understanding how the subject and object are reversed with “gustar” is key!
Understanding the “Gustar” Verb Structure
The verb gustar (“to please”) can be tricky for English speakers because it uses a structure that’s very different from English. Instead of saying “I like coffee,” Spanish speakers say, in effect, “Coffee pleases me” (A mí me gusta el café).
The thing that’s liked (coffee) is actually the subject of the sentence, not the person doing the liking. To clarify who is pleased, Spanish uses indirect object pronouns (like me, te, le, nos, os, les).
Understanding the context is key to grasping gustar. The preterite tense, in particular, changes the meaning and use of this verb.
Conjugating “Gustar” in the Preterite Tense
“Gustar,” which means “to please,” works a little differently than other verbs because what you’re describing is what pleases you. For instance, to say “I like the movie,” you’d say “Me gusta la película.” Literally, that translates to “The movie pleases me.”
To say you liked something at a specific point in time, you’ll use the preterite form of the verb. “Gustar” is a regular verb in the preterite tense, so the conjugations are:
- yo: gusté
- tú: gustaste
- él/ella/usted: gustó
- nosotros: gustamos
- vosotros: gustasteis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes: gustaron
So, to say “I liked the movie” (meaning that you liked it after you saw it), you’d say “Me gustó la película.”
Remember that the present tense of “gustar” refers to general liking, while the preterite refers to liking something during a specific instance.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Using gustar in the preterite can be tricky. Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Subject-verb agreement: Remember that the verb gustar agrees with what is liked, not who is doing the liking.
- Preterite vs. imperfect: The preterite tense describes completed actions, while the imperfect describes ongoing or habitual actions. For example, “Me gustó la película” (I liked the movie – a completed action) versus “Me gustaba ir al cine” (I liked going to the movies – a habitual action).
- Forgetting indirect object pronouns: Always include the correct indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les). For example, “A mí me gustó el libro” (I liked the book).
The Bottom Line
Using gustar in the preterite tense means focusing on completed actions of liking or disliking something. Remember that Spanish reverses the subject-object relationship with this verb, so what’s doing the pleasing determines the verb form.
Keep practicing and immersing yourself in Spanish to master this and other tricky grammar points. ¡Buena suerte!