Me gusta usar el bolígrafo azul en mi cuaderno.

I like to use the blue pen in my notebook.

Breakdown of Me gusta usar el bolígrafo azul en mi cuaderno.

• yo: I
• gustar: to like
• en: in
• mi: my
• el cuaderno: the notebook
• usar: to use
• el bolígrafo: the pen
• azul: blue

Questions & Answers about Me gusta usar el bolígrafo azul en mi cuaderno.

Why is gusta used and not gusto here?

In Spanish, the verb gustar literally translates to something like to be pleasing to. The subject of the sentence is actually el bolígrafo azul (the pen), and me is the indirect object pronoun that means to me. So you say Me gusta because you’re really saying The pen is pleasing to me, not I please the pen. That’s why we use gusta (and not gusto) when talking about something singular that you like.

Why do we use the article el before bolígrafo?

In Spanish, nouns typically require a definite article (el for masculine nouns, la for feminine) when referring to something specific. Since bolígrafo is masculine and we’re talking about a particular pen (the blue one you use in your notebook), you say el bolígrafo.

What does en mi cuaderno imply exactly?

It means you’re using that blue pen specifically in your notebook. In Spanish, en can mean in or on, and here it emphasizes where you’re using the pen—inside the notebook or on its pages.

Can I say Me gustas usar el bolígrafo azul en mi cuaderno?

No. Me gustas would switch the meaning to I like you. In other words, you would be telling someone that you like them, rather than talking about liking to use a blue pen. Remember that gustar is focused on what pleases you, so you keep it as Me gusta + [infinitive / noun].

What’s the difference between bolígrafo and pluma?

Both can mean pen, but bolígrafo is the more commonly used term in Spain for a ballpoint pen. Pluma can mean pen in many regions (and it also means feather in general), but in Spain, bolígrafo is more specific for what English speakers usually just call a pen.