A young child with a big smile happily dribbling a soccer ball on a sunny green field, illustrating a past enjoyment.

gustaba

goos-TAH-bah

Verb (Past Tense Form)A2regular (stem-changing for emphasis, but regular -ar ending) ar

I used to like?When the object liked is singular, e.g., 'Me gustaba el fútbol' (I used to like soccer),He/She/It liked?Describing a past continuous preference, e.g., 'A él le gustaba leer' (He liked reading)

Also:It was pleasing?The literal meaning based on the inverted verb structure

Quick Reference

infinitivegustar

gerundgustando

past Participlegustado

📝 In Action

A mi padre le gustaba mucho la música clásica cuando era joven.

My father really liked classical music when he was young.

Antes, me gustaba ir al mercado todos los sábados.

Before, I used to like going to the market every Saturday.

¿A ti te gustaba la escuela cuando vivías aquí?

Did you like school when you lived here?

Word Connections

Synonyms

encantaba (used to love (stronger liking))
agradaba (was pleasing)

Antonyms

disgustaba (used to dislike)

Common Collocations

Me gustaba mucho – I really liked / I used to really like
Ya no me gustaba – I no longer liked it

💡 Grammar Points

Using the Imperfect Tense

We use 'gustaba' to talk about preferences that lasted for a long time or happened habitually in the past. It describes the scene, like saying 'I used to like' or 'I would always like.'

The Special Structure of Gustar

Remember that gustar works backward! The item being liked (e.g., 'fútbol') is the one doing the 'pleasing,' so it controls the verb form. Since 'fútbol' is singular, we use the singular verb form 'gustaba.'

Who is liking?

The little word before 'gustaba' tells you who felt the liking: me (I), te (you), le (he/she/it/you formal). Since 'gustaba' is singular, it is used for 'yo' (me gustaba) or 'él/ella/usted' (le gustaba) when the thing liked is singular.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Imperfect vs. Simple Past (Preterite)

Mistake: "Me gustó leer libros de historia."

Correction: Me gustaba leer libros de historia. (Using 'gustó' implies liking something specific once; 'gustaba' means a recurring or general love of reading.)

Forgetting the 'A' for Clarity

Mistake: "Le gustaba la música."

Correction: A ella le gustaba la música. (Adding 'A ella' clarifies that 'le' refers to 'she,' not 'he' or 'usted.')

⭐ Usage Tips

Use with Time Phrases

To emphasize the habitual nature, pair 'gustaba' with time expressions like cuando era niño (when I was a child), antes (before), or todos los días (every day).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: gustaba

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'gustaba' to describe a repetitive past action?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

gustar(to like) - verb

gusto(taste, pleasure, liking) - noun

gustoso(tasty, pleasing) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use 'gustaba' (imperfect) versus 'gustó' (simple past)?

Use 'gustaba' when you are talking about something you liked generally, habitually, or over a long period in the past (e.g., I used to like that show). Use 'gustó' only when referring to a single, completed moment of liking (e.g., I liked that movie we saw yesterday).

Why does 'gustaba' mean 'I liked' and 'he/she liked'?

'Gustaba' is the third-person singular form, meaning it pairs with a singular thing or activity. Since Spanish uses the indirect object pronouns (me, te, le), the 'le' can mean 'to him,' 'to her,' or 'to you formal.' The single verb form 'gustaba' simply states that the singular thing *was pleasing* to whoever is indicated by the pronoun.