Me gusta pintar acuarela con mi amigo.

I like to paint watercolor with my friend.

Breakdown of Me gusta pintar acuarela con mi amigo.

• el amigo: the friend
• yo: I
• gustar: to like
• mi: my
• con: with
• pintar: to paint
• la acuarela: the watercolor

Questions & Answers about Me gusta pintar acuarela con mi amigo.

Why does the sentence use the structure “me gusta” instead of “I like” directly?

In Spanish, the verb gustar works differently than “to like” in English. The sentence literally means “Painting watercolor with my friend is pleasing to me,” so what we consider the object in English becomes the subject in Spanish. That’s why you see “me gusta” (literally, “it pleases me”) followed by the activity you enjoy.

Why is the verb “pintar” in its infinitive form rather than a conjugated form?

After expressions like “me gusta,” Spanish requires the use of an infinitive to express the activity. Instead of conjugating pintar to match a subject (since the subject is actually the activity, not “I”), the infinitive remains in its base form, which is standard when talking about liking to do something.

What does “acuarela” mean, and why isn’t there an article before it?

“Acuarela” translates to “watercolor” in English. In this context, it’s used to refer to the medium you’re painting with. Similar to English phrases like “painting watercolor,” Spanish often omits the article when referring to an activity or medium in a general sense, focusing on the action rather than specifying a particular instance.

What role does “con mi amigo” play in the sentence?

“Con mi amigo” means “with my friend.” It tells us that the activity of painting watercolor is done together with a friend. This phrase adds context to the sentence by indicating who is involved in the painting, which can also help clarify the situation or add a personal touch to the statement.

Can the word order be changed in this sentence, or must it remain exactly as given?

While Spanish does allow some flexibility in word order, with constructs like gustar it’s important to maintain a clear structure so that the indirect object (the person pleased) and the activity (the pleasing subject) aren’t confused. The standard order “Me gusta [infinitive phrase]” is most natural. Rearranging it might shift the emphasis or lead to ambiguity, so it’s best to stick to the conventional structure unless you have a specific stylistic reason to change it.