Al anochecer, me gusta ver el cielo bonito.

Al + infinitive is a very common Spanish structure meaning when, upon, or at the moment of doing something.

So:

• anochecer = to get dark / night to fall
• al anochecer = at dusk, when night falls, or as it gets dark

In this sentence, Al anochecer sets the time for the whole idea.

Examples:

• Al llegar, te llamo. = When I arrive, I’ll call you.
• Al entrar, vio a María. = Upon entering, he saw María.

So here it is not just a random al; it is part of a fixed grammar pattern.

Grammatically, it is the infinitive of a verb: anochecer = to get dark / to become night.

But in the structure al + infinitive, Spanish often uses the infinitive in a way that feels a bit noun-like in English. That is why al anochecer is often translated as a time expression such as at dusk or when it gets dark.

So the best way to think about it is:

• form: verb infinitive
• function here: time expression

Because gustar works differently from to like in English.

Spanish does not usually say I like X with gustar in the same way English does. Instead, the structure is more like:

• X is pleasing to me

So:

• me = to me
• gusta = is pleasing
• ver el cielo bonito = the thing that is pleasing

So Me gusta ver el cielo bonito literally works like:

• Seeing the beautiful sky is pleasing to me

That is why yo gusto is usually not the right way to say I like something.

Because the subject of gusta is the whole infinitive phrase:

• ver el cielo bonito = seeing the beautiful sky

An infinitive phrase counts as singular, so Spanish uses gusta.

Compare:

• Me gusta nadar. = I like swimming.
• Me gusta ver el cielo bonito. = I like seeing the beautiful sky.

But:

• Me gustan los libros. = I like books.
• Me gustan las películas. = I like films.

So the verb agrees with the thing that is liked, not with the person who likes it.

After gustar, Spanish often uses an infinitive to say that someone likes doing something.

So:

• me gusta ver = I like to see / I like seeing

If you said me gusta veo, that would be ungrammatical, because gusta is already the main conjugated verb, and the next verb should stay in the infinitive.

More examples:

• Me gusta leer. = I like reading.
• Me gusta pasear. = I like walking.
• Me gusta mirar las estrellas. = I like looking at the stars.

Because Spanish usually leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed.

So instead of saying:

• Yo gusto... or Yo me gusta...

Spanish simply says:

• Me gusta...

The me already tells you who experiences the feeling, and gusta is the standard form used here.

Spanish often omits pronouns like yo, tú, él, etc. unless the speaker wants emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

For example:

• Me gusta el café. = I like coffee.
• A mí me gusta el café, pero a ella no. = I like coffee, but she doesn’t.

Both are possible, but they do not feel exactly the same.

el cielo bonito

This is the more neutral pattern: noun + adjective.
In Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun.

So:

• el cielo bonito = the beautiful sky / the pretty sky

el bonito cielo

This puts the adjective before the noun, which often sounds:

• more literary
• more emotional
• more subjective
• more poetic

So:

• el bonito cielo can feel like that lovely sky

In everyday Spanish, noun + adjective is the default order, so el cielo bonito is grammatically normal.

Not always exactly.

Bonito often means:

• pretty
• nice-looking
• lovely
• sometimes beautiful, depending on context

It is a very common, natural adjective. But compared with hermoso or bello, bonito often feels a bit more everyday and less intense.

For example:

• un pueblo bonito = a pretty town
• un vestido bonito = a nice/pretty dress
• un cielo bonito = a pretty/lovely sky

So in this sentence, bonito gives a pleasant, simple, natural tone.

Yes. Spanish adjectives usually agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.

Here:

• cielo is masculine singular
• so the adjective is bonito

Compare:

• el cielo bonito = masculine singular
• la noche bonita = feminine singular
• los cielos bonitos = masculine plural
• las noches bonitas = feminine plural

Agreement is an important feature of Spanish grammar.

It is not strictly necessary, but it is very natural.

Because Al anochecer is an introductory time expression, a comma can help mark a pause:

• Al anochecer, me gusta ver el cielo bonito.

Without the comma, it is still understandable:

• Al anochecer me gusta ver el cielo bonito.

Both are possible. The version with the comma often feels slightly clearer in writing.

Yes, that is also possible.

Both versions are grammatical:

• Al anochecer, me gusta ver el cielo bonito.
• Me gusta ver el cielo bonito al anochecer.

The difference is mainly about focus and rhythm.

• Al anochecer, ... puts the time first and sets the scene.
• ... al anochecer gives the time information later.

Spanish is quite flexible with word order, especially with time expressions.

It is understandable and grammatical, but some native speakers might choose a slightly different wording depending on exactly what they mean.

If the meaning is simply:

I like looking at the sky at dusk a very natural version would be:

• Al anochecer, me gusta ver el cielo.

If the idea is:

I like seeing the sky when it looks pretty then:

• Me gusta ver el cielo bonito can work.

Still, some speakers might prefer alternatives such as:

• Al anochecer, me gusta ver el cielo cuando está bonito.
• Al anochecer, me gusta mirar el bonito cielo.
  This sounds more literary or poetic.

So the original sentence is fine, but the most natural version depends on the exact nuance you want.

Both can be translated as to see/look at, but they are not identical.

• ver = to see
• mirar = to look at

So:

• me gusta ver el cielo = I like seeing the sky
• me gusta mirar el cielo = I like looking at the sky

In many contexts, both are possible. But mirar can sound a little more intentional, because it suggests directing your gaze at something.

With a sentence about enjoying the sky at dusk, many native speakers might actually prefer mirar if they want to emphasize the act of watching it:

• Al anochecer, me gusta mirar el cielo.

But ver is still perfectly understandable.