gustar Imperfect Conjugation
gustar — to like
The imperfect of gustar is regular: gustaba, gustabas, gustaba, gustábamos, gustabais, gustaban.
gustar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to talk about things you used to like over a period of time or to describe background preferences in the past without a specific end point.
Notes on gustar in the Imperfect
Gustar is completely regular in the imperfect. Remember that because it's a 'backward' verb, the form usually matches the thing being liked (singular or plural).
Example Sentences
Me gustaba mucho jugar en el parque.
I used to like playing in the park a lot.
él/ella/usted
A mis padres les gustaban las películas viejas.
My parents used to like old movies.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Te gustaba la pizza de niño?
Did you like pizza as a kid?
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'gustábamos' to say 'we liked the food'.
Correct: Nos gustaba la comida.
Why: The verb agrees with the food (singular), not with the people (we).
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: gusto
The present of gustar is regular: gusto, gustas, gusta, gustamos, gustáis, gustan.
Preterite
yo: gusté
The preterite of gustar is regular: gusté, gustaste, gustó, gustamos, gustasteis, gustaron.
Future
yo: gustaré
The future of gustar is regular: gustaré, gustarás, gustará, gustaremos, gustaréis, gustarán.
Conditional
yo: gustaría
The conditional of gustar is regular: gustaría, gustarías, gustaría, gustaríamos, gustaríais, gustarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: guste
The present subjunctive of gustar is regular: guste, gustes, guste, gustemos, gustéis, gusten.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: gustara
The imperfect subjunctive of gustar is regular: gustara, gustaras, gustara, gustáramos, gustarais, gustaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: gusta
The affirmative imperative of gustar is: gusta, guste, gustemos, gustad, gusten.
Negative Imperative
yo: no gustes
The negative imperative of gustar is: no gustes, no guste, no gustemos, no gustéis, no gusten.