How to express liking: 3 of 6
English: I like…
Spanish: Me gusta…
The literal translation: It is pleasing to (or it pleases) me…

English: Juan likes to study.
Spanish: A Juan le gusta estudiar.
The literal translation: To Juan it is pleasing to study.

In Spanish, it is important to remember that in order to express "liking," the object (or person, or ction) liked (in English) is the subject of the expression, and the object is actually pleasing to the person who likes the object; that means if the thing possessed is plural, then the verb will be plural, and the "to" phrase is the indirect object:
English: Juan likes bananas.
(page down) Bananas please (are pleasing to) Juan.
A Juan le gustan bananas.

English: I like to study.
(page down) To study pleases (is pleasing to) me.
Me gusta estudiar.

English: We like the university.
(page down) The university pleases (is pleasing to) us.
La universidad nos gusta.

English: They like new cars.
(page down) New cars please (are pleasing to) them.
Spanish: Le gustan autos nuevos.

In the above examples, gustar (to be pleasing to, to please) is the verb used with the indirect object.

Other verbs in Spanish act the same way; one of these is "interesar):
English: Ana is interested in Spanish
(page down) a Ana le interesa el español.