1. Gustar, Encantar, Fascinar, and Chocar
Grammar Essential
#34

2. Definitions Gustar = to be pleasing / to like
Encantar = to be very pleasing / to really like
Fascinar = to be extremely pleasing/ to love (not to be confused with amar)
Chocar = to not be pleasing / to dislike

3. Subject Chart A mí me A nosotros nos A ti te A él le A ella le
A usted le
A ellos les
A ellas les
A ustedes les
With all the verbs, you need to use this chart for your subject. If you want to say “he”, you will not use “él,” you will use “a él le.” It may seem redundant; it is used for clarification.

4. Conjugations X
All 4 verbs are only conjugated into two forms… the 3rd and 6th boxes.
Example: Gustar conjugates only into gusta and gustan.
As you learn different tenses, this still applies.

5. Conjugations
In order to conjugate the verb, you must figure out what is being liked (gustar), what is being really liked (fascinar), loved (encantar), or what is being disliked (chocar).
Once you found the object, determine whether it is singular, plural, or an infinitive.
3rd box is used for singular objects and infinitives
6th box is used for plural objects

6. Examples He likes the dogs.
In Spanish, you have to think backwards: The dogs are pleasing to him.
First, you must go to the subject chart and find the phrase for “he.”
A él le
Now, figure out what is being liked.
He likes what?... The dogs : los perros
Dogs is plural, so you will use gustan. Think backwards. The object will always determine the singular or plural verb (using these special infinitives).
Put the phrases together, you get:
A él le gustan los perros.

7. A él le gustan los perros.
Use gustan because the object is plural.
“The dogs please” is what you are translating.
Use “a él” is used to make sure the reader knows who “le” is referring to in the sentence.
If you didn’t have “a él” it could be “she” or “you.” The really person who like the dogs is him. You insure that the reader is not confused or mistakes the subject.

8. Examples We hate to sing in school.
Who is our subject?... We… a nosotros nos
We hate what?... To sing: cantar
Cantar is an infinitive, so you use the singular form of chocar: choca
A nosotros nos choca cantar en escuela.

9. A nosotros nos choca cantar en escuela.
Use choca because the object is singualr.
“to sing is not pleasing” is what you are translating.
Use “a nosotros” is used to make sure the reader knows who “nos” is referring to in the sentence.
Because with “nos” you can only refer back to “nosotros,” you don’t always have to use “a nos” to insure that the reader is not confused or mistakes the subject.

10. Practice They like the classes. You (s. fam.) love fruit.
I hate my old car.
She really likes to dance.

11. Answers A ellos les gustan las clases. A ti te fascina la fruta.
A mí me choca mi carro viejo.
A ella le encanta bailar.
Mí = me (does not agree in gender or number)
Mi = my (will agree in number)