gustaban
goos-TAH-bahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
A mis hijos les gustaban mucho los dinosaurios cuando eran pequeños.
A2My children really liked dinosaurs when they were little (habitually).
Antes, no me gustaban las verduras, pero ahora sí.
B1Before, I didn't like vegetables, but now I do.
Ellos viajaban a la costa porque les gustaban las olas grandes.
B2They traveled to the coast because they liked the big waves.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Backwards' Verb
In Spanish, the verb 'gustar' literally means 'to be pleasing.' The thing being liked (e.g., 'dinosaurs') is the one doing the action, so you need the little word ('les' or 'me') to show who is receiving the pleasure.
Plural Subject Rule
Since 'gustaban' ends in -an, it means the thing or things being liked are plural (e.g., 'the toys' or 'the movies'). If it were a singular thing, you would use 'gustaba'.
Imperfect Tense (Habitual Past)
This form tells us about something that happened repeatedly, continuously, or generally in the past, like a past preference ('They used to like') or a description ('The flowers were pleasing').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Indirect Pronoun
Mistake: "Using 'Ellos gustaban los libros.'"
Correction: The correct structure is 'A ellos les gustaban los libros.' You must include the pronoun 'les' to show who is doing the liking, even if you mention 'A ellos'.
Using the Wrong Past Tense
Mistake: "Using 'gustaron' (preterite) for habitual liking."
Correction: Use 'gustaban' (imperfect) for general or repeated past preferences. 'Gustaron' is for a single, completed event ('They liked the gift I gave them once').
⭐ Usage Tips
Substitute 'Were Pleasing'
If you are unsure whether to use 'gustaba' or 'gustaban,' try translating the sentence literally: If the things being liked 'were pleasing' (plural), use 'gustaban'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
preterite
present
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: gustaban
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'gustaban'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'gustaban' end in -an?
The -an ending shows two things: 1) It's the imperfect past tense, and 2) The thing being liked is plural (like 'dogs' or 'movies').
How do I know whether to use 'gustaba' or 'gustaban'?
Look only at the thing being liked. If it is singular (the house), use 'gustaba.' If it is plural (the houses), use 'gustaban.' The person doing the liking (me, you, him, us) does not change this ending.