Subjunctive: Giving Advice with

To give advice, you usually need a specific formula. It looks like this: Trigger Verb + que + Subjunctive Verb. The "Trigger Verb" is usually in the normal Present Tense. These are words like recomendar (to recommend) or aconsejar (to advise). Then comes the word que, which acts like a bridge. On the other side of that bridge, the second verb must change its ending. This second verb is the action you want the other person to take. If you say "I advise that you sleep," the word "sleep" goes into the subjunctive. It is a signal to the listener. It says, "Hey, this is just my opinion!"

1. 1Creating a subjunctive verb is like a simple kitchen recipe. You just need to follow three steps. Even if the verb looks scary, the pattern stays the same.
2. 2Start with the yo form of the verb in the Present Tense. For example, comer (to eat) becomes como.
3. 3Drop the o from the end. Now you have the stem: com-.
4. 4Add the "opposite" endings. This is the fun part. It is like a grammar swap-meet!
5. 5For -ar verbs, use -er style endings: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en.
6. 6For -er and -ir verbs, use -ar style endings: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an.
7. 7Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Red means stop and swap! If it's an AR verb, give it an E. If it's an ER verb, give it an A.

You use this pattern whenever you want to be helpful or suggest a path. Real-world scenarios are everywhere! Imagine you are at a restaurant. Your friend can't decide what to order. You say, Te recomiendo que pidas la paella (I recommend that you order the paella). Or maybe you are at a job interview. You might say, Le sugiero que vea mi portafolio (I suggest that you see my portfolio).

Common verbs for this include:

• Aconsejar que... (To advise that...)
• Sugerir que... (To suggest that...)
• Recomendar que... (To recommend that...)
• Es mejor que... (It is better that...)

It is perfect for giving directions too. Te aconsejo que tomes el metro (I advise that you take the subway).

There is one big trap you need to avoid! You only use the subjunctive if there are two different people involved. If I am giving advice to myself, I just use the normal infinitive. For example: Quiero estudiar (I want to study). No que, no subjunctive. But if I want *you* to study, then the rule kicks in: Quiero que estudies.

Also, don't use it for plain facts. If you say "I know that you eat," that is a fact. You use the normal indicative: Sé que comes. The subjunctive is for the "maybe" world, not the "is" world. If there is no doubt or influence, stay in the normal present tense.

The most common slip-up is forgetting to swap the endings. Many learners say Te recomiendo que comes. That sounds a bit clunky to a native ear. Remember the swap! It should be Te recomiendo que comas.

Another mistake is forgetting the word que. In English, we can sometimes skip it. We say "I suggest you go." In Spanish, you MUST have that que bridge. Without it, the sentence falls apart.

Lastly, watch out for the subject change. If you say Te aconsejo comer, that is actually fine! It's just a general suggestion. But the moment you add a specific person after the advice, you need the subjunctive. Think of it as a balance scale. Two people? Use the subjunctive. One person? Use the infinitive.

You might wonder: "Can't I just use a command?" Yes, you can. But commands can be a bit harsh. If you say ¡Come más! (Eat more!), it sounds like an order. If you say Te sugiero que comas más, it sounds like you care. It is much softer.

Also, compare it to Es necesario. While Es necesario que... also uses the subjunctive, it feels more like a rule. Giving advice with recomendar feels like a personal choice. It is the difference between a doctor telling you to take medicine and a friend suggesting a new movie. Both use the same grammar, but the "vibe" is different.