Question 1

This lesson is about negative opinions triggering the subjunctive. Why isn't the subjunctive used here?

Accepted Answer

The subjunctive triggers you are learning require a main clause and a dependent clause connected by que (for example: No creo que...). This sentence is a single, simple clause stating a fact about what people dislike. Because there is no que introducing a second verb, the subjunctive isn't triggered at all!

Question 2

Why do we need le if we already say A nadie?

Accepted Answer

With verbs like gustar, you must always include the indirect object pronoun (here, le) to show who is receiving the feeling. Adding A nadie (to nobody) at the start clarifies exactly who that pronoun refers to, but it doesn't replace the grammatical need for le.

Question 3

Why is the verb gusta and not gustan if we are talking about people in general?

Accepted Answer

Remember that gustar literally means "to be pleasing to". The grammatical subject of the sentence is actually el cotilleo (the gossip). Since gossip is a singular noun, the verb takes the singular form gusta. It's the gossip doing the pleasing, not the people.

Question 4

The English translation says "their family", so why is it su instead of a plural possessive?

Accepted Answer

The word nadie (no one / nobody) is grammatically singular in Spanish, just like "nobody" is in English. While English often uses "their" as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun to refer back to "nobody", Spanish simply uses the singular third-person possessive su.

A nadie le gusta el cotilleo sobre su familia.

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