How to Say "they liked" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “they liked” is “gustaban” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
A mis hijos les gustaban mucho los dinosaurios cuando eran pequeños.
My children really liked dinosaurs when they were little (habitually).
Antes, no me gustaban las verduras, pero ahora sí.
Before, I didn't like vegetables, but now I do.
Ellos viajaban a la costa porque les gustaban las olas grandes.
They traveled to the coast because they liked the big waves.
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').
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').
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