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“Gustar” is a commonly used verb in Spanish to express likes and dislikes. However, its usage is different from how verbs like “to like” are used in English. 

Here are the key points to understand when and how to use “gustar” in Spanish:

Expressing Likes and Dislikes:

• “Gustar” is primarily used to express what someone likes or dislikes. It indicates preferences and tastes.

Indirect Object Pronouns:

• The structure of “gustar” revolves around indirect object pronouns, which indicate who is doing the liking.

Reverse Perspective:

• The perspective is somewhat reversed compared to English. Instead of saying “I like something,” in Spanish, you say “It is pleasing to me” or “It pleases me.”

In this blog post we’ll explore the “gustar” conjugation in Spanish. Are you ready? Let’s go!

Read more: THE 150 MOST COMMON SPANISH VERBS (IRREGULAR + REGULAR)

“Gustar” Conjugation Indicative / Indicativo

The indicative tense (el modo indicativo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The indicative mood is used to make factual statements, ask questions, and express opinions about actions or events that are considered real or certain.

Present Tense Gustar Conjugation / Presente

The present tense is used to describe actions happening in the present or to express general truths or habitual actions.

A mí	Me gusta/gustan
A ti	Te gusta/gustan
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le gusta/gustan
A Nosotros	Nos gusta/gustan
A Vosotros	Os gusta/gustan
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les gusta/gustan

Examples:

1. Me gusta el helado (I like ice cream).
2. Te gustan los perros (You like dogs).
3. Os gusta la música (You all like music).

​​Simple Past Gustar Conjugation / Pasado 

The simple past tense (preterite) is used to describe completed actions in the past, often with specific time frames or events.

A mí	Me gustó/gustaron
A ti	Te gustó/gustaron
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le gustó/gustaron
A Nosotros	Nos gustó/gustaron
A Vosotros	Os gustó/gustaron
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les gustó/gustaron

Examples:

1. Le gustó la película (He liked the movie).
2. Nos gustaron las vacaciones (We liked the vacations).
3. Les gustó la comida (They liked the food).

Imperfect Gustar Conjugation / Imperfecto

Spanish imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing, repeated, or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the stage or provide background information

A mí	Me gustaba/gustaban
A ti	Te gustaba/gustaban
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le gustaba/gustaban
A Nosotros	Nos gustaba/gustaban
A Vosotros	Os gustaba/gustaban
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les gustaba/gustaban

Examples:

1. A mí me gustaba la playa (I used to like the beach).
2. A vosotros os gustaban los videojuegos (You all used to like video games).
3. A ustedes les gustaba la música clásica (They used to like classical music).

Present Continuous Gustar Conjugation / Presente Continuo

The present continuous tense (also known as “estar + gerundio”) is used to describe actions that are currently happening in the present moment or to express temporary situations.

A mí	Me está gustando/están gustando
A ti	Te está gustando/están gustando
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le está gustando/están gustando
A Nosotros	Nos está gustando/están gustando
A Vosotros	Os está gustando/están gustando
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les está gustando/están gustando

Examples:

1. Nos está gustando la película (We are liking the movie.)
2. Os está gustando la comida (You all are liking the food.)
3. Les están gustando las nuevas canciones (They are liking the new songs).

Future Tense Gustar Conjugation / Futuro

The Spanish future tense is used to express actions or events that will happen in the future, indicating something that has not yet occurred.

A mí	Me gustará/gustarán
A ti	Te gustará/gustarán
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le gustará/gustarán
A Nosotros	Nos gustará/gustarán
A Vosotros	Os gustará/gustarán
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les gustará/gustarán

Examples:

1. Me gustará la playa (I will like the beach).
2. A ti te gustarán los libros (You will like the books).
3. Nos gustará la comida (We will like the food).

Conditional Gustar Conjugation / Condicional

The conditional tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions or events that would happen under certain conditions in the present or future.

A mí	Me gustaría/gustarían
A ti	Te gustaría/gustarían
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le gustaría/gustarían
A Nosotros	Nos gustaría/gustarían
A Vosotros	Os gustaría/gustarían
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les gustaría/gustarían

Examples:

1. A usted le gustaría viajar (You would like to travel).
2. A vosotros os gustarían las películas de comedia (You all would like comedy movies).

Present Perfect Gustar Conjugation / Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto

Spanish present perfect tense (also known as “pretérito perfecto compuesto”) is used to express actions that have occurred in the past but have a connection to the present, emphasizing the result or consequences of those actions.

A mí	Me ha gustado/han gustado
A ti	Te ha gustado/han gustado
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le ha gustado/han gustado
A Nosotros	Nos ha gustado/han gustado
A Vosotros	Os ha gustado/han gustado
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les ha gustado/han gustado

Examples:

1. Te han gustado las vacaciones (You have liked the vacations).
2. Nos ha gustado la comida (We have liked the food).

Past Perfect Gustar Conjugation / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish past perfect tense (also known as “pretérito pluscuamperfecto”) is used to describe actions that occurred before another past action or event, expressing a past-in-the-past relationship.

A mí	Me había gustado/habían gustado
A ti	Te había gustado/habían gustado
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le había gustado/habían gustado
A Nosotros	Nos había gustado/habían gustado
A Vosotros	Os había gustado/habían gustado
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les había gustado/habían gustado

Example:

1. A ellos les había gustado la película (They had liked the movie).
2. A vosotros os había gustado la fiesta (You all had liked the party).

 

Future Perfect Gustar Conjugation / Futuro Perfecto

The Spanish future perfect tense is used to express actions that will have been completed in the future, indicating an action that will be finished before another specified future time or event.

A mí	Me habrá gustado/habrán gustado
A ti	Te habrá gustado/habrán gustado
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le habrá gustado/habrán gustado
A Nosotros	Nos habrá gustado/habrán gustado
A Vosotros	Os habrá gustado/habrán gustado
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les habrá gustado/habrán gustado

Examples:

1. Te habrá gustado la sorpresa (You will have liked the surprise).
2. A ella le habrán gustado las flores (She will have liked the flowers).
3. A ellos les habrá gustado la música (They will have liked the music).

Conditional Perfect Gustar Conjugation / Condicional Perfect

The conditional perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions that would have been completed in the past, indicating an action that would have happened prior to another past event.

A mí	Me habría gustado/habrían gustado
A ti	Te habría gustado/habrían gustado
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le habría gustado/habrían gustado
A Nosotros	Nos habría gustado/habrían gustado
A Vosotros	Os habría gustado/habrían gustado
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les habría gustado/habrían gustado

Examples:

1. A mí me habría gustado viajar a ese lugar (I would have liked to travel to that place).
2. Te habrían gustado las películas (You would have liked the movies).
3. A nosotros nos habría gustado asistir al concierto (We would have liked to attend the concert).

“Gustar” Conjugation Subjunctive / Subjuntivo

The subjunctive tense (el modo subjuntivo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, subjectivity, emotion, and hypothetical situations.

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Present Tense / Presente

The Spanish subjunctive present tense is used to express subjective actions, desires, doubts, recommendations, or possibilities, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, necessity, or influence.

 

A mí	Me guste/gusten
A ti	Te guste/gusten
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le guste/gusten
A Nosotros	Nos guste/gusten
A Vosotros	Os guste/gusten
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les guste/gusten

Examples:

1. Espero te gusten las flores. (I hope you like the flowers.)
2. Ojalá me guste esa ciudad. (I hope I like that city.)
3. Yo espero que a ellos les gusten los dulces. (I hope they will like the candies.)

Imperfect / Imperfecto

This tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, uncertainty, or unreal conditions.

A mí	Me gustara/gustaran
A ti	Te gustara/gustaran
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le gustara/gustaran
A Nosotros	Nos gustara/gustaran
A Vosotros	Os gustara/gustaran
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les gustara/gustaran

Examples:

1. Tal vez me gustara visitar ese país (Maybe I would like to visit that country).
2. Ojalá te gustaran los libros (I wish you would like the books).
3. Yo esperaba que Os gustara la comida (I was hoping you all would like the food).

Present Perfect / Pretérito Perfecto

Spanish subjunctive present perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the present with a connection to the past, indicating actions that would have been completed prior to the present moment.

A mí	Me haya gustado/hayan gustado
A ti	Te haya gustado/hayan gustado
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le haya gustado/hayan gustado
A Nosotros	Nos haya gustado/hayan gustado
A Vosotros	Os haya gustado/hayan gustado
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les haya gustado/hayan gustado

Examples:

1. Espero que te haya gustado la película (I hope you have liked the movie).
2. Nos contaron que les haya gustado la presentación (They told us they have liked the presentation).
3. Nos han preguntado si nos hayan gustado las vacaciones (They have asked us if we have liked the vacation).

Past Perfect / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish subjunctive past perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past with a connection to a previous past event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that past event.

A mí	Me hubiera gustado/hubieran gustado
A ti	Te hubiera gustado/hubieran gustado
A Él/Ella/Usted	Le hubiera gustado/hubieran gustado
A Nosotros	Nos hubiera gustado/hubieran gustado
A Vosotros	Os hubiera gustado/hubieran gustado
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Les hubiera gustado/hubieran gustado

Examples:

1. Te hubiera gustado ir al concierto (You would have liked to go to the concert).
2. A usted le hubieran gustado las flores (You would have liked the flowers).
3. Les hubieran gustado las películas (They would have liked the movies).

“Gustar” Conjugation Imperative / Imperativos

The imperative tense (el modo imperativo) is one of the verb moods used to express commands, orders, or requests. It is used to tell someone what to do or what not to do.

Affirmative / Afirmativos

Spanish affirmative refers to the use of positive statements or expressions that indicate agreement, confirmation, or positive response to a question or statement.

A mí	–
A ti	Gusta
A Él/Ella/Usted	Guste
A Nosotros	Gustemos
A Vosotros	Gustad
A Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Gusten

Examples:

1. ¡Gusta el helado! (Like the ice cream!)
2. ¡Gustad las películas! (Like the movies!)
3. ¡Gusten los libros! (Like the books!)

Negative / Negativos

Spanish negative refers to the use of negative statements or expressions that indicate negation, denial, or disagreement with a question or statement.

Yo	–
Tú	No gustes
Él/Ella/Usted	No guste
Nosotros	No gustemos
Vosotros	No gustéis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	No gusten

Examples:

1. No gustes del pescado (Don’t like the fish).
2. No gustemos de las discusiones (Let’s not like arguments).
3. No gusten de los deportes (Don’t like sports).

Keep Practicing Your Spanish!

Mastering the conjugation and use of “Gustar” will help you express yourself accurately and effectively in a variety of situations.

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