Confusion over singular person

Question

Me extraña que él quiera venir al cine con nosotras. (I'm surprised he wants to come to the cinema with us.)I'm confused by what appears to be third person (extraña) rather than first person (extraño) in this sentence.  Please explain. Is it similar to use of the verb "gustar" --- where third person is used?Pati

Accepted Answer

Hola Pati,
Yes, you are right. Extrañar is used the same way we use "gustar", for example:
Me extraña su actitud. (I am surprised at his attitude.[His attitute surprises me])
If we go back to the sentence from the lesson:
Me extraña que él quiera venir al cine con nosotras. (I'm surprised he wants to come to the cinema with us.)
Here the subject of the sentence is: "que él quiera venir al cine con nosotras" , therefore the verb is agreeing with this subject "extraña". 
Saludos
Inma