Inverted verbs like gustar

Verbs that operate like gustar

Vocab

	play allPauseContinue
encantar		to love
interesar		to be interested in
molestar		to bother
apasionar		to be passionate about
fascinar		to be fascinated by, with
doler		to be painful
parecer		to seem
quedar		to remain
aburrir		to bore
faltar		to be lacking something
preocupar		to be worried about
importar		to be important
entretener		to entertain
bastar		to be sufficient
costar		to be difficult
picar		to itch
caer bien		to like [someone]
caer mal		to dislike [someone]
disgustar		to disgust
dar asco		to disgust
chiflar		to really like
volver loco		to really really like
tocar		to be someone's turn
enganchar		to get hooked [by something]

Q&A Forum 1 question, 4 answers

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GarryA2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Is there any "history" as to why these verbs are "inverted" as: "you are liked by me" instead of "I like you"?

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer4

InmaKwiziq team member

I am not sure about the origin of these structures in Spanish but there is this theory explained here that could be the reason why they started http://multilingualsociety.org/encantar-origin-of-backwards-verbs/

Saludos

Inma

Like12 years ago

GarryA2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks Inma,

You are a wealth of information and while the "theory" doesn't make it any easier to learn all of the backwards verbs it helps to understand them. Now, does the term "backwards verbs" in any way relate to reflexive verbs"?

Like02 years ago

InmaKwiziq team member

No Garry. The "backwards verbs" (gustar, encantar, interesar, etc) are not reflexive verbs. Reflexive verbs are those that use a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se). With a reflexive verb, the subject and the object are the same; the subject performs an action on himself/herself. Lots of verbs about routine are reflexive: "Me lavo" (I wash MYSELF), "Se ducha" (He showers HIMSELF).

Verbs like gustar or encantar are NOT reflexive. These verbs are intransitive verbs and the pronouns they use are not reflexive, but indirect object pronouns. For example:

"Me gusta la paella" --> Paella pleases ME. (me = indirect object pronoun)

"Le encanta el cine" --> Cinema pleases HIM/HER (le = indirect object pronoun)

Saludos

Inma

Like32 years ago

GarryA2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks, Inma

Clear, concise, educational.

Garry

Like22 years ago

Garry asked:View original

Is there any "history" as to why these verbs are "inverted" as: "you are liked by me" instead of "I like you"?

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