En verano, me gusta dibujar paisajes al aire libre con mis amigos.

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Breakdown of En verano, me gusta dibujar paisajes al aire libre con mis amigos.

• en: in
• con: with
• mi: my
• gustar: to like
• el amigo: the friend
• el paisaje: the landscape
• el verano: the summer
• dibujar: to draw
• al aire libre: outdoor

Questions & Answers about En verano, me gusta dibujar paisajes al aire libre con mis amigos.

What does me gusta mean, and why is it used instead of saying yo gusto?

Me gusta translates to “I like” in English, but its literal meaning is “it pleases me.” In Spanish, the sentence is structured so that the thing you like (in this case the activity of drawing) is actually the subject of the sentence, while the person who likes it is indicated by an indirect object pronoun (here, me). That’s why you don’t say yo gusto; the construction is different from English.

Why is the verb dibujar in its infinitive form instead of being conjugated?

When expressing likes or interests in Spanish with gustar, it’s common to follow the verb with an infinitive if you're referring to an activity. In this sentence, dibujar (to draw) is used to indicate the action that is pleasing. It implies that the act of drawing landscapes is something enjoyable, rather than referring to a specific instance that would need further conjugation.

Why is gusta conjugated in the singular form even though paisajes (landscapes) is a plural noun?

The verb gustar agrees with what is actually pleasing. In this sentence, the entire activity—dibujar paisajes al aire libre con mis amigos—is considered a single idea or activity. Therefore, it is treated as a singular entity, and gusta is correctly used in the singular form despite paisajes being plural.

What does the expression al aire libre mean, and how is it constructed?

Al aire libre means “outdoors” or “in the open air.” It is made up of al, a contraction of a and el, and aire libre, which literally translates to “free air.” This idiomatic expression is commonly used in Spanish to describe activities taking place outside.

What is the role of con mis amigos in this sentence?

Con mis amigos translates to “with my friends.” It is a prepositional phrase that explains with whom the speaker enjoys drawing. This phrase adds context and personal detail to the activity, indicating that the enjoyment of drawing landscapes is a social experience shared with friends.

Why is the time phrase En verano placed at the beginning of the sentence?

En verano means “in summer” and it functions as a time-setting adverbial phrase. In Spanish, it’s quite common to begin a sentence with a time phrase to establish the context or timeframe of the action. Placing it at the beginning emphasizes when the activity occurs, and it follows natural Spanish stylistic conventions.