There is a group of verbs that are most frequently used with indirect objects. The most common is gustar, which is the equivalent of to like, but functions very differently. In the English sentence "I like the book", “I” is the subject and the book the object. In Me gusta el libro, the book is the subject of the sentence and me the indirect object. It is as if you were to say in English "The book is pleasing to me": El libro me gusta (note that the article is needed). Hence:
Indirect object |
Verb (and adverb) |
Subject |
|
Nos A mí no me Al profesor le ¿Te Me |
gusta mucho gustaban gustó gusta gustas |
el fútbol. los periódicos. la clase. leer? tú. |
We like soccer a lot. I did not like newspapers. The teacher liked his class. Do you like reading? I like you (romantically). |
• A sentence beginning "Peter likes..." will have to begin A Pedro le gusta...:
A la mayoría de la gente le gusta dormir.Most people like to sleep.
• Where English says "I don't like it" or "I like them", it or them is the subject of the verb that Spanish uses. Spanish omits these subject pronouns:
¿Te gustó? Sí, me gustó.
Did you like it? Yes, I liked it.
Other verbs that express personal reactions and function like gustar:
caer bien/mal agradar disgustar doler encantar enojar |
to (dis)like a person (not romantically)
to like (not romantically) to annoy, irk to hurt to like a lot (love) to irritate |
fascinar importar interesar molestar parecer preocupar |
to fascinate to care about to interest to bother to seem to concern, worry |