Learning a new language can be an exciting and rewarding experience. As beginners, one of the first things we often want to talk about is our hobbies and interests. In Spanish, expressing your likes and dislikes is made easy with the construction “Me gusta + infinitive.” This simple phrase allows you to discuss your favorite activities while also helping you practice using different verbs. In this blog post, we will delve into the world of Spanish verbs and explore how the “Me gusta + infinitive” construction can enhance your language learning journey.
Understanding the “Me gusta + Infinitive” Construction
The phrase “Me gusta” can be translated word for word as “To me, it is pleasing.” However, it is more commonly understood as “I like.” This construction is used to express preferences for various activities and hobbies. By adding the infinitive form of the verb after “gusta,” you can talk about the activities you enjoy. For example, “Me gusta leer” means “I like to read.”
A List of Hobbies
leer – to read
cocinar – to cook
bailar – to dance
viajar – to travel
hacer ejercicio – to exercise
tocar música – to play music
pintar – to paint
ver películas – to watch movies
jugar al fútbol – to play soccer
hacer senderismo – to go hiking
nadar – to swim
dibujar – to draw
hacer yoga – to do yoga
ir de compras – to go shopping
escribir – to write
fotografiar – to take photos
montar en bicicleta – to ride a bicycle
jardinería – gardening
jugar al tenis – to play tennis
ver series – to watch TV series
jugar al baloncesto – to play basketball
jugar videojuegos – to play video games
aprender idiomas – to learn languages
pasar tiempo con mis amigos – to hang out with my friends
tocar el piano – to play piano
tocar la guitarra – to play guitar
levantar pesas – to lift weights
cantar – to sing
pasear a mi perro – to walk my dog
Extra Emphasis
You can add “mucho” directly after “Me gusta” to emphasize that you like something a lot. For example, “Me gusta mucho tocar el piano” (I like to play piano a lot). You can emphasize who does the action by starting the phrase with “A” followed by the person who does the liking. For example, “A mi hermano le gusta levantar pesas” (My brother likes to lift weights).
I don’t like
Simply add “No” to the start of the phrase to indicate that you don’t like something. For example, “No me gusta nadar” (I don’t like to swim). You can add “nada” directly after the “No me gusta” for extra emphasis.
Who does the liking?
Use the correct indirect object pronoun for who likes to do the activity. For example, “Nos gusta jardinería” (we like gardening). The pronouns are: me – to me, te – to you (informal), le – to you (formal), to him, to her, or to it, nos – to us, os – to yall (informal in Spain), and les – (to them, to yall (informal in Latin America), to you all (formal)
Asking Questions
To engage in conversations about hobbies, it’s important to know how to ask and answer questions. We’ve discussed how to answer about your hobbies, now here is how to ask. Two common questions you can use are:
- ¿Qué te gusta hacer? (What do you like to do?)
- ¿Qué te gusta más, [hobby 1] o [hobby 2]? (What do you like more, [hobby 1] or [hobby 2]?)
Me too
If some says that they like to do something, and you then want to say “Me too”, you can say either “Yo también.” or “A mí también.”.
More Example Sentences
- Me gusta pasear a mi perro. (I like to walk my dog.)
- Me gusta mucho leer. (I like to read (a lot).)
- A ella le gusta cocinar. (She likes to cook.)
- ¿Te gusta bailar? (Do you like to dance?)
- Nos gusta viajar. (We like to travel.)
Conclusion
Expressing your hobbies and interests in Spanish is not only a great way to connect with others but also a valuable opportunity to practice using different verbs. By incorporating the “Me gusta + infinitive” construction into your conversations, you can confidently discuss your favorite activities. Remember, language learning is a journey, and embracing new vocabulary and grammar structures will help you reach your goals. So, ¿Qué te gusta hacer? What do you like to do? Share your hobbies and let the conversation flow in Spanish! ¡Diviértase! (Have fun!)