Gustar - Basics (2)
Grammar note: the word "subject" below refers to the English. For example: Pepe (subject) likes (verb) to read (direct object) comes out in Spanish as A Pepe le (indirect object) gusta (verb) leer (subject).
Q: When do you put in a subject when using gustar?
A: When who we are referring to is not yet specified. For example, we might say 'A Pepe le gusta leer' at the start of the conversation, but as we go on talking about Pepe, we can just say 'Le gusta nadar también' without having to put in 'A Pepe'. With yo and tú we don't usually put in 'a mí' y 'a ti' unless we are giving the subject some special emphasis. Both of the following sentences are correct: 'A mí me gusta leer' and 'me gusta leer'.
Note: Below are examples of each of the six persons (me, te, le, nos, os, and le) in both affirmative and negative sentences. The words in parenthesis are optional, for the reasons just explained above:
* (A mí) me gusta el libro.
* I like the book.
* (A mí) no me gusta el libro.
* I don't like the book.
* (A ti) te gusta nadar.
* You like to swim.
* (A ti) no te gusta nadar.
* You don't like to swim.
* (A Pepe) le gusta la fruta.
* Pepe likes fruit.
* (A Pepe) no le gusta la fruta.
* Pepe doesn't like fruit.
* (A Elena y a mi) nos gusta cantar.
* Elena and I like to sing.
* (A Elena y a mi) no nos gusta cantar.
* Elena and I don't like to sing.
* (A Pepe y a ti os gustan los gatos.
* Pepe and you like cats.
* (A Pepe y a ti) no os gustan los gatos.
* Pepe and you don't like cats.
* (A los turistas) les gusta viajar.
* The tourists like to travel.
* (A los turistas) no les gusta viajar.
* The tourists don't like to travel.
Note about word order:
We've put the subject in at the beginning for these examples, but it doesn't have to go there. The following three sentences mean the same thing:
* A Pepe le gustan los libros (Pepe likes the books)
* Le gustan los libros a Pepe (Pepe likes the books)
* Los libros le gustan a Pepe (Pepe likes the books)
Brad
