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Gustar + infinitive

 

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  #1
Old January 17, 2011, 06:48 AM
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Question Gustar + infinitive

Me gusta caminar y cocinar. (I just read a sentence like this.)

Why isn't it Me gustan caminar y cocinar.

Thanks!
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  #2
Old January 17, 2011, 07:10 AM
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It's of no help to you, but I think it's a good question.
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  #3
Old January 17, 2011, 07:55 AM
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Let me think of something better, but although infinitives could well play the role of nouns, in this case the idea is centered in what I like, not in the fact they're two activities...
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  #4
Old January 17, 2011, 07:59 AM
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Okay, so could I also say the following? Me gusta mi pais y mi ciudad. - or would it be "gustan" there?
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  #5
Old January 17, 2011, 08:07 AM
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"Gusta" is right there. "Me gustan" would make the sentence sound strange. (At least for Mexican ears).

Hard to explain, sorry.
I think there are some cases, when nouns are used in singular we tend to use "me gusta", and when the nouns are plural we use "me gustan".


Me gusta ese perro y este gato.
Me gustan los perros y los gatos.

Me gusta la televisión y el cine.
Me gustan las películas.

Me gusta estar en casa y tejer.
Me gustan las actividades en casa.
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  #6
Old January 17, 2011, 08:08 AM
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Maybe it's about the proximity to the verb?

Me gustan las películas y la televisión.
Me gusta la televisión y las películas.

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  #7
Old January 17, 2011, 01:52 PM
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Hmmm... I have asked some people around and they prefer "me gustan la televisión y las películas", probably because of the explicit plural, even though it's not immediately after the verb. However, we are not bothered by "me gusta la televisión y las películas".
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  #8
Old February 08, 2011, 11:13 PM
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I have a possible explanation!

It seems that...

Me gusta caminar y cocinar = Me gusta caminar y (me gusta) cocinar

y por eso, no se usa gustan aunque hay dos cosas
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  #9
Old February 09, 2011, 01:49 AM
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Usually the subject in sentences with "gustar" is at the end of the sentence; however, many people think that the subject is a "complemento" (?). Verb must agree in person and number with the subject. Therefore:

Me gusta la tele ("tele" = subject, "gusta" = 3ª pers. sing.).
Me gustan los pájaros y los peces ("los pájaros y los peces" =suj.; "gustan" = 3ª pers. pl.).

With one or more infinitives, singular is used. Satyr is right.
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  #10
Old February 09, 2011, 02:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
Usually the subject in sentences with "gustar" is at the end of the sentence; however, many people think that the subject is a "complemento" (?) complement .

With one or more infinitives, singular is used. Satyr is right.
Not strictly logical though, is it? The infinitives are used as nouns, so there is no reason why the rule should change.
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  #11
Old February 09, 2011, 03:41 AM
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c) Si los elementos coordinados son gramaticalmente neutros, como infinitivos, oraciones sustantivas o pronombres neutros, el verbo va en singular: «No creo que sumar y restar sea lo suyo» (Sierra Regreso [Esp. 1995]); «Le gusta que la quieran y que la apoyen» (Tiempo [Esp.] 3.12.90); «Ni aquello ni esto hubiera sido posible» (Abc [Esp.] 25.1.85); pero si los elementos neutros coordinados se conciben o presentan en el enunciado como realidades diferenciadas, contrastadas o enfrentadas, el verbo irá en plural: «Informar y opinar son los dos fines específicos y diferenciales del periodismo» (MtzAlbertos Noticia [Esp. 1978]).

http://buscon.rae.es/dpdI/SrvltGUIBu...a=concordancia

Aunque la última frase la acaba de fastidiar.
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  #12
Old February 09, 2011, 09:14 AM
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I almost understand what you have copied here, Irma, but not entirely. Would someone be able to explain that to me in English?
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  #13
Old February 09, 2011, 11:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
c) Si los elementos coordinados son gramaticalmente neutros, como infinitivos, oraciones sustantivas o pronombres neutros, el verbo va en singular: «No creo que sumar y restar sea lo suyo» (Sierra Regreso [Esp. 1995]); «Le gusta que la quieran y que la apoyen» (Tiempo [Esp.] 3.12.90); «Ni aquello ni esto hubiera sido posible» (Abc [Esp.] 25.1.85); pero si los elementos neutros coordinados se conciben o presentan en el enunciado como realidades diferenciadas, contrastadas o enfrentadas, el verbo irá en plural: «Informar y opinar son los dos fines específicos y diferenciales del periodismo» (MtzAlbertos Noticia [Esp. 1978]).
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
I almost understand what you have copied here, Irma, but not entirely. Would someone be able to explain that to me in English?
I'll have a go:

If the coordinated elements are neuter, such as infinitives, noun clauses or neuter pronouns, the verb is singular. ..«Le gusta que la quieran y que la apoyen» ..
but if the neuter elements conceive (themselves, each other ? ) or appear in the statement as differentiated, contrasted or conflicting entities, the verb is plural. «Informar y opinar son los dos fines específicos y diferenciales del periodismo»

So the two infinitives count as neuter nouns, and the verb is singular.
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  #14
Old February 09, 2011, 11:16 AM
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"...are conceived or presented in the phrase as..." -> if that is their function...
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  #15
Old February 09, 2011, 11:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
"...are conceived or presented in the phrase as..." -> if that is their function...
ah - thanks
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  #16
Old February 09, 2011, 11:45 AM
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"Neuter" meaning not masculine or feminine?
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  #17
Old February 09, 2011, 11:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
"Neuter" meaning not masculine or feminine?
Yes, I guess so. So something like an infinitive is not considered to be masculine or feminine.

So the construction I like peas and gravy is grammatically distinct from I like to swim and sunbathe because in the second case, the infinitives are neuter nouns, requiring a singular verb.
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  #18
Old February 09, 2011, 12:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
Okay, so could I also say the following? Me gusta mi pais y mi ciudad. - or would it be "gustan" there?
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
"Gusta" is right there. "Me gustan" would make the sentence sound strange. (At least for Mexican ears).

I think there are some cases, when nouns are used in singular we tend to use "me gusta", and when the nouns are plural we use "me gustan".

Me gusta ese perro y este gato.

Me gusta la televisión y el cine.
In the quotes above, though, the subjects don't seem to me to be neuter.... yet the sentences still use "gusta", not "gustan".... What am I missing?
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  #19
Old February 10, 2011, 12:29 AM
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Same link:

4.1. Sujeto de varios elementos en singular unidos por una conjunción copulativa. Debe tenerse en cuenta lo siguiente:
a) Si los elementos coordinados se refieren a entidades distintas, el verbo va en plural: «Su voz y su gesto han hecho nido en mi corazón» (Matos Noche [Cuba 2002]); «En el patio crecían un magnolio y una azalea» (Mendoza Ciudad [Esp. 1986]); pero si dichos elementos se conciben como una unidad, de la que cada uno de ellos designa un aspecto parcial, el verbo puede ir también en singular: «El desorden y la algarabía es total» (Leñero Mudanza [Méx. 1979]); en ese caso es frecuente que solo lleve determinante el primero de los elementos coordinados: «La dirección y realización corrió [...] a cargo de Manolo Bermúdez» (Díaz Radio [Esp. 1992]). El verbo suele ir asimismo en singular cuando el sujeto va pospuesto y los elementos coordinados son sustantivos abstractos o no contables, especialmente si aparecen sin determinación: «Me gusta el mambo y el merengue» (GaRamis Días [P. Rico 1986]); «Solo me queda ánimo y tiempo para responderle lo que sigue» (Proceso [Méx.] 20.10.96).


In your sentence, for instance, "me gusta ese perro y ese gato/la televisión y el cine", the elements of the sentence can be understood as a part of a whole. But you could say the same sentence with "gustan" instead.
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