Table of Contents

• Why Verbs Like *Gustar* Feel "Backwards"
• Mastering *Doler*: How to Talk About Aches and Pains
  • Using `duele` (for singular things)
  • Using `duelen` (for plural things)
  • Adding Emphasis with 'a mí', 'a ti', etc.
• Expressing Opinions with *Parecer*
  • Using `parece`
  • Using `parecen`
• Common Pitfalls to Watch Out For
• Let's Practice!
• You've Got This!

Spanish Verbs Like Gustar: A Guide to Doler & Parecer

You've probably gotten the hang of me gusta el chocolate, right? It's one of the first phrases every Spanish learner masters. But did you ever notice it's a little... weird? Why me gusta and not yo gusto?

Welcome to the world of verbs like gustar! These verbs work a bit "backwards" compared to English, but once you crack the code, a whole new level of expression opens up. In this guide, we'll build on what you know about gustar and dive deep into two super useful cousins: doler (to hurt/ache) and parecer (to seem/appear).

Get ready to talk about your headaches and share your opinions like a pro!

Unlocking the logic of Spanish verbs like gustar requires a shift in perspective

Why Verbs Like Gustar Feel "Backwards"

Let's quickly refresh our memory on gustar.

In English, we say: "I like the book." The structure is: Subject (I) + Verb (like) + Object (the book).

In Spanish, we say: Me gusta el libro. If we translate this literally, it means: "The book is pleasing to me."

See the flip? The thing being liked (el libro) is actually the subject of the sentence. The person doing the liking (me) is the indirect object—the person who receives the "pleasing" action.

This is the golden rule for all verbs in this family: The thing that is liked, hurts, or seems is the subject. The person experiencing that feeling is the indirect object.

Because the person is an indirect object, we don't use subject pronouns like yo, tú, or él. Instead, we use these trusty indirect object pronouns:

English	Spanish Pronoun
to me	me
to you (informal)	te
to him/her/you (formal)	le
to us	nos
to you all (Spain)	os
to them/you all	les

With this "backwards" logic in mind, let's meet our two new verbs.

Mastering Doler: How to Talk About Aches and Pains

Doler is essential for talking about aches and pains, whether minor or serious

Doler is your go-to verb for talking about anything that hurts or aches. It's a lifesaver at the doctor's office or just when you're feeling under the weather.

The structure is identical to gustar: Indirect Object Pronoun + duele / duelen + The thing that hurts

Just like gustar has gusta and gustan, doler has two main forms we'll use:

1. duele: Use when one thing hurts.
2. duelen: Use when two or more things hurt.

Let's see it in action.

Using duele (for singular things)

If your head hurts, you have one head, so you use duele.

• Me duele la cabezahead. (My head hurts. / Literally: The head hurts me.)
• ¿Te duele el estómagostomach? (Does your stomach hurt?)
• A mi madre le duele la espaldaback. (My mom's back hurts.)

Using duelen (for plural things)

If your feet hurt, you have two feet, so you need duelen.

• Me duelen los piesfeet. (My feet hurt. / Literally: The feet hurt me.)
• Nos duelen las muelasmolars/teeth. (Our teeth hurt.)
• A los niños les duelen los oídosears. (The children's ears hurt.)

The verb must match the thing causing the pain (los ojos is plural), not the person feeling it!

Adding Emphasis with 'a mí', 'a ti', etc.

Sometimes you'll see phrases like a mí or a Carlos at the beginning of the sentence.

• A mí me duele la cabeza.
• A Carlos le duele el brazo.

Why add this? Two main reasons:

1. Emphasis: "As for me, my head hurts." It puts a little extra stress on who is feeling the pain.
2. Clarity: The pronouns le and les are ambiguous. Le duele could mean his head hurts, her head hurts, or your (formal) head hurts. Adding a él, a ella, or a usted makes it crystal clear.

Time for a quick check!

Expressing Opinions with Parecer

Using parecer allows you to express your thoughts and opinions fluently in Spanish conversation

Parecer is a fantastic verb that means "to seem" or "to appear." We use it all the time to give opinions, just like saying "It seems to me..." or "I think..." in English.

The structure is exactly the same: Indirect Object Pronoun + parece / parecen + The thing you have an opinion about

1. parece: Use for singular things, or when followed by an adjective or a que clause.
2. parecen: Use for plural things.

Using parece

This is the most common form. You'll use it with singular nouns, adjectives, and to introduce ideas.

• With a singular noun: Me parece una buena ideaidea. (It seems like a good idea to me. / I think it's a good idea.)
• With an adjective: ¿No te parece rarostrange? (Doesn't it seem strange to you?)
• With que (that): Nos parece que va a lloverto rain. (It seems to us that it's going to rain.)

Using parecen

You'll use this when giving an opinion about multiple items.

• Me parecen carosexpensive esos zapatos. (Those shoes seem expensive to me.)
• Sus historias siempre le parecen interesantesinteresting. (His stories always seem interesting to her.)
• ¿Qué os parecen las nuevas cancionessongs? (What do you all think of the new songs?)

Let's test your opinion-giving skills.

Common Pitfalls to Watch Out For

These verbs can be tricky at first. Here are a couple of common mistakes and how to sidestep them.

1. Using the Wrong Pronoun

The biggest hurdle is fighting the English-speaker's instinct to use subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, etc.). Remember, the person is the receiver of the action, so you need an indirect object pronoun.

2. Matching the Verb to the Person, Not the Thing

Always, always, always match the verb (duele/duelen, parece/parecen) to the noun that follows it. It doesn't matter if "we" are feeling the pain; if it's only one thing causing it, use the singular verb.

• A nosotros nos duele la garganta. (Our throat hurts.)
  • One throat (la garganta) -> singular verb (duele).
• A nosotros nos duelen los oídos. (Our ears hurt.)
  • Two ears (los oídos) -> plural verb (duelen).

Let's Practice!

Time to put your new knowledge to the test. Try to unscramble this sentence.

Here's another one, this time with doler.

You've Got This!

Verbs like gustar, doler, and parecer are a fundamental part of sounding natural in Spanish. It feels strange at first, but the pattern is very consistent.

The key takeaway is to flip your thinking:

• What is causing the feeling? That's your subject.
• Does the verb match that subject (singular or plural)?
• Who is experiencing the feeling? That person gets an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le...).

Keep practicing, and soon this "backwards" structure will feel completely normal. ¡Te va a parecer muy fácil! (It's going to seem very easy to you!)