Question

I need help with the verb "gustar" and understanding how the phrases compare to those in English

Answer 1

Where as in English you would write "I like the books" to express that you enjoy some specific books, in Spanish, the express the same concept you would write/say "Me gustan los libros"

Answer 2

So the literal translation in Spanish is: "The books are pleasing to me." But it means the same as "I like the books." So in the literal translation, the subject ("I") actually is an indirect object ("me" in "to me")

Answer 3

the subject in Spanish, "los libros" comes at the end of the sentence, "Me gustan los libros." OK, so the structure is (objective form of non-literal English translation) + (gustar conjugated for the Spanish subject AKA the English direct object) + (the Spanish subject AKA the English direct Object)

Answer 4

thanks, I think I got it

Answer 5

The thing I do is think of it backwards. If the sentence is "Me gusta los vestidos" don't think of it as I like dressed. think of it as the dresses are pleasing to me. This helps me alot!

Answer 6

a verb has a subject and an object. with gustar, the logical subject is the object and the logical object is the subject.