Imagine a language where you don't actually 'like' things. Instead, your school subjects have the superpower to please you! Let's unlock how Spanish flips the script on opinions, making you look like a total pro in your Year 7 exams.
Words to own
- las matemáticas
- Maths (treated as plural in Spanish, always ends in 's' with an accent on the second 'e')
- las ciencias
- Science (literally 'the sciences', plural in Spanish)
- la educación física
- PE / Physical Education (mind the written accents on 'educación' and 'física'!)
- el inglés
- English (singular, masculine, needs an accent on the 'e')
- me gusta
- I like [singular item] (literally: 'it pleases me')
- me gustan
- I like [plural items] (literally: 'they please me')
- no me gusta
- I don't like (simply place 'no' right at the start of the opinion)
- ¿Y a ti?
- And you? (used to ask someone's opinion back)
Meet Your School Subjects
To talk about your school day in New Zealand, you need the right words for your timetable.
In Spanish, all subjects have a gender (masculine or feminine) and are introduced with 'el' (the - masculine singular), 'la' (the - feminine singular), or 'las' (the - feminine plural). For example, science is 'las ciencias' because Spanish treats it as plural 'the sciences'.
| Point | English Structure | Spanish Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the action? | I (Subject) -> like -> Art (Object) | El arte (Subject) -> me (to me) -> gusta (pleases) |
| Singular Subject | I like history. | Me gusta la historia. ('gusta' is singular) |
| Plural Subject | I like sciences. | Me gustan las ciencias. ('gustan' is plural) |
| Negative Opinion | I do not like PE. | No me gusta la educación física. |
Phrase deck
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The Big Flip: How Gustar Works
In English, you are the boss of the sentence: 'I like history'. But in Spanish, the school subject is the boss!
The verb 'gustar' actually means 'to please'. When you say 'Me gusta la historia', you are literally saying 'History pleases me'. The subject is doing the action to you!
The pattern
The Gustar Pattern Table
Match 'gusta' or 'gustan' to the subject noun, not to the person doing the liking.
- I like [one thing] (e.g., Me gusta el arte)
- I like [multiple things] (e.g., Me gustan las ciencias)
- I don't like [one thing] (e.g., No me gusta la historia)
- I don't like [multiple things] (e.g., No me gustan las matemáticas)
Singular vs. Plural: Gusta vs. Gustan
Because the subject is doing the pleasing, the verb has to change depending on whether that subject is singular or plural.
If you like one thing, use 'gusta' (e.g., 'Me gusta el arte'). If you like multiple things, use 'gustan' (e.g., 'Me gustan las ciencias'). This is why 'las matemáticas' always goes with 'gustan'!
Saying No (It's Super Easy!)
What if you absolutely detest PE or geography? Making your opinion negative in Spanish is incredibly simple.
Just pop the word 'no' directly in front of 'me'. That's it! 'No me gusta la geografía' means 'I don't like geography' (literally: Geography does not please me).
Role-play
A Breaktime Chat about Classes
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Conversación
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Myth-busting corner
MythSince 'matemáticas' is just one subject (maths), I should say 'Me gusta las matemáticas'.
TruthEven though it's one class, the word 'matemáticas' is grammatically plural in Spanish. You must use 'Me gustan'!
MythTo say 'I don't like', I should say 'Yo no gusta'.
TruthWe never use 'Yo' with 'gustar' in this way. Simply use 'No me gusta' (It does not please me).
Exam answer that scores full marks
Explain why Spanish says 'me gustan las matemáticas' (with gustan, not gusta) to mean 'I like maths.'
In Spanish, the verb 'gustar' literally means 'to please'. Therefore, the subject of the sentence is not 'I', but the school subject itself ('las matemáticas' / mathematics). Because 'las matemáticas' is grammatically plural in Spanish, the verb must also be plural ('gustan' instead of 'gusta') to agree with it. This creates the literal translation 'Mathematics please me' (Me gustan las matemáticas).
Why it scores
- Correctly explains that 'gustar' means 'to please' and flips the English structure.
- Clearly identifies 'las matemáticas' as a grammatically plural noun.
- Demonstrates a precise understanding of verb agreement (plural subject = plural verb).