A Rosa _gusta hablar por teléfono.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: A Rosa le gusta hablar por teléfono.
In Spanish, the verb “gustar” is used differently than in English. Instead of directly saying “I like” or “she likes,” you express that something is pleasing to someone. The construction of the sentence revolves around indirect object pronouns.
- Gustar and Indirect Object Pronouns: In Spanish, “gustar” means “to be pleasing” and is often used with indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les). The indirect object pronoun refers to the person who likes something, not to the object itself. In the case of “A Rosa,” you need to use the indirect object pronoun “le,” because “Rosa” is the person receiving the action (she is the one who likes or is pleased by the action of talking on the phone). So, “le” corresponds to “her.”
- Agreement with the Subject: After “le gusta,” the verb “gustar” must agree with the subject of the sentence (the thing being liked). Since “hablar por teléfono” (talking on the phone) is considered a singular activity, the verb “gusta” stays singular.
- Word Order: The word order in “A Rosa le gusta hablar por teléfono” is slightly different from how it would be structured in English. The subject “Rosa” is not the one who “likes” in the traditional sense. Instead, the phrase “hablar por teléfono” (talking on the phone) is what is “liked” by Rosa.
- The Use of “A” with Names: The preposition “a” is used before a person’s name to clarify the indirect object in the sentence. This helps to indicate to whom the action of liking is directed, ensuring there is no ambiguity about who likes the action.
Therefore, the sentence “A Rosa le gusta hablar por teléfono” accurately translates to “Rosa likes talking on the phone” in English, using the appropriate structure for the verb “gustar” in Spanish.