tasteis the spanish verb used for express someone's tastes. Exposing our personal preferences is one of the first forms of communication we learn. It's also something that defines us: our identity is also shaped by the things we like.
There is a Spanish expression that says For tastes, los colores, indicating that, just as there are many Colors, there are also many tastes, as they vary from person to person. In this text, we will learn how the verb is formed like in Spanish, the pronouns that accompany it, its interrogative and negative forms, and also how to compare tastes.
Read too: Verbsknowandtenerin Spanish – structure and uses
Uses of the verb like
The verb like has one structureSpecial in Spanish. A standard clause in this language is made up of subject, verb, and complements (such as direct and indirect objects), in that order. In case of like, the first element of the clause is an indirect object pronoun, followed by the verb like, conjugate always in third person singular or plural. The thing you love comes at the end of the prayer. Note the following example:
I like hablar español.
(I like to speak Spanish.)
Me it's the indirect object pronoun corresponding to the person yo, that is, to the first person singular; likes is the verb like conjugated in third person singular, and hablar spanish it's the thing you like.
with the verb likedo not use the personal pronouns of straight case (called tonic personal pronouns in Spanish). These pronouns are used as a subject in a clause (yo, you, usted etc.), but, as we have seen, the structure of the verb like its special. Instead, it is mandatory to use the indirect object pronouns corresponding to each person in the verb. Indirect object pronouns in Spanish are:
1st person singular |
me |
2nd person singular |
you |
3rd person singular |
read |
1st person plural |
US |
2nd person plural |
you |
3rd person plural |
they |
It is common, in Spanish, to also use indirect object pronouns preceded by prepositionThe at the beginning of a prayer with the verb like. Such use is optional and its function is to emphasize the prayer:
1st person singular |
to me |
2nd person singular |
to you |
3rd person singular |
To him/her/usted |
1st person plural |
to us |
2nd person plural |
to you |
3rd person plural |
To them/they/ustedes |
Examples:
I like going to the park with friends.
(I like going to the park with friends.)They taste the grapes.
(They like grapes.)
The parts to me and to them in the previous examples they are optional: even if we omit them, the sentences will keep their meanings unchanged:
I like going to the park with friends.
(I like going to the park with friends.)Les taste the grapes.
(They like grapes.)
However, it is not possible to omit the pronouns Me and Lesof these prayers, because they would be incorrect, grammatically speaking.
My gusta goes to the park with friends.
To them you taste the grapes.
After the direct object pronouns comes the verb like. Unlike other conjugations, like is inflected exclusively in third person singular or plural. The singular form of the verb is likes, used when the thing you like is a singular noun or an infinitive verb. Examples:
I like Christmas.
(I like christmas.)we like dancing.
(We like to dance.)
In turn, the plural form tasteis used when the thing you like is a plural noun or several singular nouns. Examples:
Le gustan las manzanas.
(She likes apples.)
I enjoy the coffee and the tea.
(I like coffee and tea.)
Despite what the last example might make it sound like, when the thing you like involves more than one verb, like stays in its unique form likes. Example:
We like to go en bici and run.
(We like cycling and running.)
This verb structure like it remains the same in interrogative and negative clauses. See the examples:
Do you like traveling by plane?
(Do you like to travel by plane?)
Do you like horror films?
(Do you like horror movies?)
I don't like the rain.
(I don't like the rain.)
A mi madre no le gusta el invierno.
(My mom doesn't like winter.)
Contrasts between tastes
To find out if someone likes the same thing as you or not, in Spanish they are used specific phrases. Take the following affirmative prayer as an example:
I taste the vegetables.
(I like vegetables.)
If the other participant in the dialogue also likes vegetables, your answer will be to me too(Me either). If he doesn't like it, his answer will be to me (I do not). Now let's look at this negative prayer:
I don't like the heat.
(I do not like heat.)
If the other participant doesn't like the heat either, your answer will be To me also (Me neither). If, on the other hand, he doesn't agree and likes the heat, his answer will be to me (I like). In short:
like me + like me |
Like me + Don't like me |
Don't like me + Don't like me |
dont like me + like me |
To me too. |
My no. |
Not to me either. |
To me you. |
See too: the conjunctions – the words that help in the articulation of sentences and texts
solved exercises
Question 1 - Choose the correct prayer between the two options:
The) They like Argentine beef. / They like the Argentinean meat.
B) I like jugar al tennis. / I like jugar al tennis.
ç) She likes to travel. / Ella likes to travel.
d) I don't like tequila. / I don't like tequila.
Resolution
The) Less like the Argentine beef.Les is mandatory in this prayer.
B) I like jugar al tennis. taste is conjugated in the singular when the object is a verb.
ç) She likes to travel. to her is optional but, if used, must contain the preposition The.
d) I don't like tequila. Nothing stands between the personal pronoun and the verb like.
Question 2 - Choose the correct pronoun between the two options:
The) Roberto likes me/le likes jugar al baloncesto.
B) You love to go en bici.
ç) Do you like to walk?
d) Me/us likes to read.
Resolution
The) read, because Roberto is third person is.
B) you, as it is the pronoun referring to the person vbones.
ç) you, as it refers to the person you, spelled out in the pronoun you.
d) me, as it is the person's personal pronoun yo, spelled out in the pronoun mi.
By Diego Guimarães Gontijo
Spanish teacher
