gustar de
Gustar De (Traditional Construction)
Galician has two ways to say like. The usual one is Gústame ler. The traditional one uses gustar de with the person as subject: Gusto de ler (I like reading).
How It Works
Two patterns
- Usual: the thing liked is the subject, and the person is an indirect object. Gústame ler. See gústame.
- Traditional: the person is the subject, and the thing liked comes after de. Gusto de ler.
Agreement
With gustar de, the verb agrees with the person: (eu) gusto de, (ti) gustas de, (el) gusta de, (nós) gustamos de, (eles) gustan de. The preposition joins the article: gusta da música.
Register
The RAG dictionary marks this use as literary. It often describes habits and tastes: Gusta de dar longos paseos pola praia. In a chat, gústame is the natural choice. In a story, an essay or a description of someone's character, gustar de sounds elegant.
Do not mix the patterns. Write Gústame ler or Gusto de ler, never Gústame de ler.
Examples (6)
- Gusto de ler antes de durmir.
I like reading before I go to sleep.
The verb agrees with eu, the person who likes.
- O meu avó gustaba de pasear pola praia.
My grandfather liked walking on the beach.
- Non gusta de falar de si mesmo.
He does not like talking about himself.
- Sempre gustou da música tradicional.
She always liked traditional music.
De + a becomes da.
- Os dous gustaban de contar historias.
They both liked telling stories.
Plural verb, because the subject is plural.
- Gústame ler antes de durmir.
I like reading before I go to sleep.
The everyday pattern, for comparison.
Common Mistakes
Mixing the two patterns.
Gústame de ler.Gústame ler.Use either Gústame ler or Gusto de ler. Gústame does not take de.
Leaving out de in the traditional pattern.
Eu gusto ler.Eu gusto de ler.When the person is the subject, the thing liked must come after de.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Traditional gustar de uses the liking person as subject rather than the everyday gustar pattern.
Related Patterns
- dóeme / encántameVerbs Like Gustar
Other verbs that follow the gústame pattern.
Level 2 - pensar en / casar con / decatarse deVerbs with Fixed Prepositions
Other verbs that need a fixed preposition.
Level 3 - lembrar / acordarse deRemembering: Lembrar and Acordarse
Another verb that can be used with or without de, with a change of pattern.
Level 3 - Formal and Colloquial Register
Helps you choose between gústame and literary gustar de.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice gustar de in Bubblegum
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