español · A2 · verb · 4 minutes
Gustar: gusta and gustan
Let the liked thing choose between gusta and gustan.
Understand the choice
Stop treating gustar as a mirror of English “like.” The liked thing controls gusta or gustan, while me, te, le, nos, os, or les identifies the person experiencing that reaction.
Core rule: Gustar agrees with what is pleasing: use gusta for one thing or an infinitive and gustan for plural things.
Notice it in context
Me gusta el café, pero me gustan estos pasteles.
I like coffee, but I like these cakes.
Gustar agrees with what is pleasing: use gusta for one thing or an infinitive and gustan for plural things.
A Lucía le gusta cocinar.
Lucía likes cooking.
An infinitive takes singular gusta.
Nos gustan mucho estos barrios.
We really like these neighborhoods.
Plural barrios requires gustan.
What to remember
- Use gusta before one thing or an infinitive: me gusta el café; me gusta cocinar.
- Use gustan before a plural noun: me gustan estos pasteles.
Common trap: Do not make gustar agree with the person who likes something: me gusto el café means something entirely different. The coffee controls singular gusta.