How to express tastes and preferences in Spanish correctly

Welcome to a new post about the fantastic world of the Spanish language.

Today we are going to discuss a topic that causes a lot of confusion for students who are beginning to learn Spanish.

We are going to explain to you how express tastes and preferences correctly, focusing on the verb like.

This verb has a different structure, so it is very important that you have a good theoretical basis to use it perfectly.

We will also see some common mistakes in their use, so that you do not fall into them. Additionally, you will learn other verbs to talk about tastes and preferences.

Likewise, you will know how show agreement and disagreement to other people's tastes.

And, of course, at the end of the day you will practice the verb gustar with exercises.

Without a doubt, an article of great value if you are a Spanish student in the initial level. 

We are giving you one of our star classes in Hispania, Spanish school.

We offer face-to-face Spanish courses and online Spanish courses for all levels with expert teachers in language teaching.

Do you want to know how to talk about your tastes and use the verb like like a real native? Well let's get started!

Express tastes and preferences in Spanish: the verb gustar

The verb like It is essential in communication in Spanish. 

Although its structure is different from that of the rest of the verbs, you will see how once you understand how it works, it is simpler than it seems.

Next, we present theverb structure and the most common mistakes so you can avoid them.

How to use the verb gustar correctly?

The verb gustar has the meaning that something pleases or someone likes it. 

The conjugation of the verb gustar It is different and super important that you learn it. Burn it!

I like it

you like it

He/she likes it

we / we like

You like it

They like it

There are many things to comment on this structure. To begin with, it is striking that the verb is conjugated only in third person of the singular (gusta). 

Although if the thing you like is plural, the verb gustar in Spanish is also plural. Let's see how to express tastes and preferences with examples in singular and plural:

• To me like the autumn.
• to you they like the big cities.
• To him like nature.
• To us they like comedy movies.

Do you see it? In the examples where the final noun is in the singular, the verb gustar is conjugated in the third person singular.

If the noun at the end is plural, so is the verb gustar.

Why is this happening? Because the noun that the person likes is really the subject of the action.

The basic structure of Spanish is this:

SUBJECT + VERB + COMPLEMENTS

If we follow it with the verb gustar, the result would be this: 

• I like autumn.  ❌

But talking like that is very strange, it seems like it was said by Master Yoda from Star Wars 😁.

We are used to putting the people at the beginningof sentences, even in this case they are not the subject. That's why we make this change: 

• I like autumn. ✅

That's much better!

The typical subject pronouns are not used (I, you, he, she, etc.), but rather we use person complement pronouns:

to me me

to you you

to him/her him

to us we

To you os

to them them

Another important thing to point out is that, in grammatical terms, there are two types of things that are liked: nouns and infinitives.

Let's see some sentences with the verb gustar, both with nouns and infinitives: 

• I like it train in the gym.
• you like it travel.
• she likes it the pool.
• we like it work in the cafeteria.
• you like them the books of suspense.
• They like it Madrid.

Proper nouns like "Madrid" are also nouns.

Another aspect to highlight is that the structure can be simplify. 

It is not always necessary to point out to me, to you, to him, etc. You can just say me, you, him, etc.

Examples: 

• I I like pop music.
• You I like to run on the beach.
• You likes to speak Spanish.

These sentences are totally correct 👍🏻.

When asking questions to find out someone's tastes and preferences, the structure is exactly the same but with the questions:

• Do you like to read
• Does Lisa like skating?

Common errors in its use

This point is very important. There are many errorsthat are committed when the verb gustar is used. We list them for you:

1st. you can't conjugate the verb gustar in a normal way followed by the thing you like:  I like coffee, you like bread, he likes to read, etc.

Remember that you have to use the personal pronoun and the verb in the third person: (to me) I like it, (you) like it, (he) likes it, etc.

• I like it drive. ✅
• I like drive.  ❌

2nd. You can leave out "to me", but you can never skip «me». 

• I like it Valencia. ✅
• I like it Valencia. ❌

This is equally applicable to the rest of the pronouns:

• you like it Spain. ✅
• you like Spain. ❌
• We like it talk. ✅
• we like talk. ❌

3rd. If what you like are infinitives, we will always put the verb in the singular, even if there are two or more infinitives.

• To me they like run and swim. ❌
• To me like run and swim. ✅

Other verbs that express tastes and preferences

To express a person's tastes and preferences there are many verbs, not only the verb like. 

There are verbs that use the same structure as gustar and others that have the usual structure. 

Let's see them!

Same structure as the verb gustar

There are many verbs to describe tastes and preferences with the same structure as the verb gustar.

We actually call them verbs of type gustar.

Some of these are: interest, fascinate, enchant, enthrall, excite, amuse, cool, freak out (this is more colloquial), etc.

What would the verb be like? interest? Very easy, just like it:

I'm interested

You are interested

He/she is interested

We are interested

You are interested

They are interested

And the verb to enchant? The same!

I love it

you love it

He/she loves it

We love it

You love it

They love it

Each verb has its own meaning, but in general they all express the degree of intensity of what we like something.

For example, enchant It means to like a lot. Interest talks about interest. Passionate of what makes you passionate. Molar and freak out It's like liking but in a more youthful slang.

Here are some sentences about tastes and preferences with these verbs:

• To me love it go hiking.
• to you passionate marine life.
• To her interested astronomy.
• To us amuses go out partying
• To you freak out this concert.
• To Antonio and Raquel fascinates travel around America.

Different structure to the verb gustar

There are also other verbs which we can use to expand the vocabulary of tastes and preferences that have the typical structure of Spanish.

The most used are: prefer, hate, love, adore and detest.

prefer directly marks the preference of something over other things. love and worship It is showing love for something. 

Instead, hate and detest It is the opposite, it is total rejection and a very negative emotion.

For example, the verb adore would be like this:

I adore

you adore

He/she adores

we adore

You adore

They adore

And the verb prefer? The same thing, although this is irregular, has a vowel change of the and by ie.

I preferiero

You prefiebeef

He/she prefiere

We prefer

You prefer

They prefieren

Remember that that vowel change It never changes in the form of us and you.

As you see, these verbs follow the normal conjugation from Spanish. Let's look at some examples:

• I I prefer sweet than salty.
• you you love this country.
• Joseph detests loneliness
• Us we hate the heat.
• you you adore this restaurant.

How to show agreement and disagreement

When we talk about things we like with other people, it is normal to agree or not agree with them. 

In this section we are going to show you how show agreement and disagreement to affirmative and negative ideas.

It's very simple and very useful, you'll see!

Respond to an affirmative idea

We can show agreement by adding the word «also» after the pronoun.

If, for example, someone expresses an opinion with a verb like like, we will respond using the same structure. 

Example:

• I love Valencia. Me too. 

If we disagree, instead of saying “also,” we simply say «no»:

• I am passionate about traveling. Not to me. 

If the verb used is with subject pronouns, we will respond with these same pronouns:

• I love to paint. Me too. I don't. 

With these simple phrases you are showing agreement with people and improving your social connections. How easy! 👏🏻

Respond to a negative idea

We can also show agreement with negative ideas, when someone doesn't like something.

In this case we use the word «neither». Otherwise, if you like it, we change "neither" to «yes».

Examples:

• I don't like large crowds of people.  Me neither.  To me, yes.
• Ricardo doesn't want to go to the party. Me neither. I do. 

Activities to practice

Now it's time to practice! 

We propose you two activities.

The first one is very simple but effective, ideal for mechanizing something that usually causes a lot of problems with gustar-type verbs: pronouns.

In this exercise you must write the personal pronouns correct in each sentence. Luck!

In the activity 2 you are going to practice the phrases of show agreement and disagreement (to me, too; to me, neither; to me, yes; to me, no...)

You have to respond using the first person singular (to me…). 

Example: 

• I like paella. (Show agreement) Me, too.

Be careful because one of the sentences is answered with "I". 🧐

Well we're done. Do you realize that now you know how to talk about your tastes and preferences? 

Your way of communicating has taken a giant step thanks to this article. 

Knowing how to master the use of the verb gustar and other similar ones is super valuable. Congratulations!

Would you like to continue learning more important things to improve your Spanish? Then we encourage you to come to our classes in Hispania, Spanish school, in Valencia.

Have you ever been to this city? Could you tell us what you like most about it?

Leave your comment and we'll talk. 

Take care of yourself!

Article written by Carlos Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school. 

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