GUSTAR y otros verbos iguales

GUSTAR and other verbs like it are significantly different than the regular verbs that students encounter in Spanish.  The normal sentence structure of a sentence is such: 
Here are a couple of examples in English of how we use "like" in a phrase. 
I like going to the store.       

  I = Subject 
  like = verb/action
  going to the store = direct object (what is being "liked")
​
We like the red car more. 
 
  We = Subject
  like = verb
  the red car = direct object (what is being "liked")​
In English it is correct to have a Subject liking a direct object, but in Spanish... this does not occur!  In Spanish a different construction is used.  The sentence order looks more like this: 
Notice here how the order is flipped, but what acts on each element of the sentence is the same.  The Subject, although coming after the verb, is still acting on the verb (direction of the arrow), and the verb is still acting on the object (in this case the indirect object).
Here are some English sentences and what they become in Spanish, if we were to translate them as they are written.  They still make sense, though in modern English it would sound odd. 

A nosotros nos gustan las uvas. 
   English: We like the grapes.
   Spanish: The Grapes are pleasing to us.

A ella le gusta la blusa roja.
   English: She likes the red blouse. 
   Spanish: The red blouse is pleasing to her.

What you need to understand here is both of these sentences mean the same thing, they are just expressed differently. 

Now, to translate those sentences into Spanish we use the 4 STEPS for using the verb GUSTAR.  

STEP 1 - We use the preposition "a" before the pronouns or names that are doing the liking.

STEP 2 - This step is optional if you DON'T like something, this is where you enter NO.

STEP 3 - You have to use the indirect object pronoun that agrees with the pronoun or name in STEP 1.  (ex.  A mí me,  A ti te,  A ellos no les, etc.)

STEP 4 - This involves the verb GUSTAR.  Typically you will use only two of the conjugated forms: GUSTA or GUSTAN (both in the 3rd person).  Which one you use will be determined by the noun(s) or verb that comes right after it.  Basically, whatever is being liked will determine the conjugation of the verb because it is the subject that is pleasing the person.  
Below is a flow chart to demonstrate how the steps come together in a more visual manner.
​Here are some examples of the use of a normal sentence structure in English and Spanish.  
Here are the steps color coded:

STEP 1: A ____             STEP 2: (No)             STEP 3: me, te, le, nos, os, les             STEP 4 (gusta/gustan)

English:  I like the red car. 
Spanish:  A mí me gusta el coche rojo. 

English: Sam doesn't like vegetables. 
Spanish: A Sam no le gustan las verduras. 

As you can see, regardless of the indirect object pronoun that comes before the verb GUSTAR, there are only two forms it will take, GUSTA or GUSTAN.  

  A mí me gusta correr en la mañana.
  I like to run in the morning.

  A nosotros nos gustan las uvas. 
  We like grapes.

  A él no le gustan los libros grandes. 
  He does not like the big books.

  A los estudiantes no les gusta el examen.
  The students don't like the test. 

Other verbs that grammatically function like GUSTAR...

There are more verbs that grammatically function like the verb GUSTAR.  They will follow the same steps, the only thing that changes is the meaning of what you are saying.  Here is a short list of those verbs that you can use to communicate, if you don't just want to say "like" all the time. 
gustar = to like (literal translation is to please)
A Carlos y a mí no nos gusta montar bicicletas en el invierno. 
Carlos and I don't like riding bikes in the winter. 
encantar = to love (something) ​
 A mí me encanta explorar cuevas en las mañanas. 
 I love exploring caves in the mornings. 
importar = to be important (care)
A Pablo le importa hacer trabajo voluntario a menudo con su familia. 
Pablo cares about doing volunteer work often with his family. 
interesar = to interest or be interesting
A nosotros nos interesa hacer una excursión este fin de semana contigo. 
We are interested in going on an excursion this weekend with you.
quedar = to fit, to have left (verb used normally changes meaning to to stay​)
¿Te quedan los pantalones bien o mal? 
Do the pants fit you well or badly?

Solo me quedan siete dólares para comprar comida esta tarde. 
I only have seven dollars left to buy food this afternoon.
aburrir = to bore
A los niños les aburre sentar por dos horas para escuchar a un discurso. 
The children are bored to sit for two hours in order to listen to a speech. ​
molestar = to be bother
A mi amigo le molesta cuando como con mi boca abierta. 
It bothers my friend when I eat with my mouth open.
fastidiar = to annoy
A mí me fastidia cuando algunos jóvenes no hablan con respeto.  
It annoys me when some youth do not speak with respect.
Below are flashcards to help you memorize the GUSTAR verbs.  there are more, but we are only going to focus on these ones.