Introduction
Giving advice in Spanish is a key skill for everyday conversations. This guide explains how to use Te recomiendo que (I recommend that you) to offer natural, polite suggestions. You’ll learn the grammar rules, see practical examples, and avoid common mistakes.
- What does Te recomiendo que mean?
- The basic structure
- How to form the present subjunctive
- Common examples
- Changing the recipient: indirect object pronouns
- Formal vs informal
- Negative recommendations
- Other verbs for giving advice
- Alternative structure: recomendar + infinitive
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Making recommendations more polite
- Cultural and usage notes
- Recommending objects or places
- Real-life examples by situation
- How to practice naturally
- Conclusion
What does Te recomiendo que mean?
Te recomiendo que means “I recommend that you.” It’s a polite, common phrase for offering advice or suggestions. Because it expresses a recommendation (not a fact), it requires the subjunctive mood in the clause that follows.
The basic structure
Te recomiendo que + present subjunctive verb
Example:
Te recomiendo que estudies más.
I recommend that you study more.
Why the subjunctive?
Recommendations express desire, opinion, or influence—not certainty. Spanish uses the subjunctive for these types of statements.
How to form the present subjunctive
For most verbs, follow these steps:
1. Start with the yo form in present tense
2. Drop the -o
3. Add subjunctive endings
For -ar verbs: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en
For -er/-ir verbs: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an
Examples:
hablar → yo hablo → habl- → hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen
visitar → yo visito → visit- → visite, visites, visite, visitemos, visitéis, visiten
estudiar → yo estudio → estudi- → estudie, estudies, estudie, estudiemos, estudiéis, estudien
Common examples
Te recomiendo que estudies más para el examen.
I recommend that you study more for the exam.
Te recomiendo que visites el museo mañana.
I recommend that you visit the museum tomorrow.
Te recomiendo que hables con tu profesor antes de decidir.
I recommend that you speak with your teacher before deciding.
Te recomiendo que no comas tanto antes de hacer ejercicio.
I recommend that you do not eat so much before exercising.
Changing the recipient: indirect object pronouns
Te recomiendo que uses the indirect object pronoun te to indicate the person receiving the recommendation. To recommend to someone else, change the pronoun.
Le recomiendo que vaya al médico.
I recommend that you (formal) or he/she go to the doctor.
Les recomiendo que lleguen temprano.
I recommend that they arrive early.
Formal vs informal
Te recomiendo que is informal because te addresses tú. For formal advice or polite contexts, use le with usted:
Le recomiendo que revise los documentos antes de firmar.
I recommend that you (formal) review the documents before signing.
Negative recommendations
To tell someone not to do something, place no before the subjunctive verb:
Te recomiendo que no fumes aquí.
I recommend that you do not smoke here.
Te recomiendo que no compres eso todavía.
I recommend that you do not buy that yet.
Other verbs for giving advice
Spanish has several common verbs and phrases for giving advice. Each carries a slightly different tone.
Sugerir (to suggest)
Sugerir implies offering an idea or suggestion. It also requires the subjunctive when followed by que.
Te sugiero que vayas temprano.
Aconsejar (to advise)
Aconsejar is more formal and can sound like professional advice.
Te aconsejo que ahorres dinero.
Deberías (you should)
Deberías uses the conditional and gives a direct suggestion without using the subjunctive.
Deberías estudiar más.
Note the nuance: Te recomiendo que often sounds friendly and considered, while Te aconsejo que can sound firmer, and Deberías is straightforward and commonly used in casual speech.
Alternative structure: recomendar + infinitive
You can also use recomendar followed directly by an infinitive. This structure does not require the subjunctive because the infinitive is not a clause.
Te recomiendo estudiar más.
I recommend studying more.
Te recomiendo visitar el museo.
I recommend visiting the museum.
This construction is slightly less emphatic than using que + subjunctive but is perfectly natural and common in everyday speech.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive
Incorrect: Te recomiendo que estudias más.
Correct: Te recomiendo que estudies más.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the indirect object pronoun
Incorrect: Recomiendo que vayas.
Correct: Te recomiendo que vayas. or Le recomiendo que vaya.
Use pronouns to clarify the recipient.
Mistake 3: Mixing informal and formal forms
Avoid saying Le recomiendo que estudies if you mean to speak informally to tú. Match pronoun and verb conjugation to the intended person.
Making recommendations more polite
If you want to be very polite or less direct, combine Te recomiendo que with phrases that soften the tone.
Si quieres, te recomiendo que hables con ella.
If you want, I recommend that you talk to her.
Other polite alternatives that avoid the subjunctive:
Quizás deberías considerar…
Perhaps you should consider…
Cultural and usage notes
In many Spanish-speaking countries, giving advice directly is acceptable among friends and family. However, in formal or professional settings people often use more indirect or polite forms such as Le sugiero que, Le aconsejo que, or conditional constructions.
Pay attention to social context and relationship to choose between Te recomiendo que, Le recomiendo que, and softer alternatives.
Also be aware that recommendations that involve personal choices, like relationships or lifestyle, may be received differently depending on local norms. When in doubt, use a softer phrasing or ask if the person wants advice first.
Recommending objects or places
When recommending things (not actions), you don’t need que or the subjunctive:
Te recomiendo este libro.
I recommend this book to you.
Te lo recomiendo.
I recommend it to you.
Real-life examples by situation
Travel advice: Te recomiendo que visites la ciudad vieja por la mañana para evitar las multitudes.
Health advice: Te recomiendo que descanses y bebas agua.
Work advice: Te recomiendo que prepares una lista de preguntas antes de la reunión.
Study advice: Te recomiendo que repases los apuntes antes del examen.
How to practice naturally
To become comfortable with Te recomiendo que, practice by creating sentences you might actually say to friends or coworkers. Pay special attention to conjugating the subordinate verb in the present subjunctive and matching pronouns for formality.
Listening to native speakers in podcasts, conversations, or TV shows will help you notice how often people use recommendations and which alternative phrases appear in different contexts.
Conclusion
Mastering Te recomiendo que gives you a powerful, polite way to offer advice in Spanish. Remember the key rule: use the present subjunctive after the phrase, match pronouns for formality, and choose softer alternatives when the situation calls for extra politeness. With these tools, you can give clear, natural recommendations in many everyday situations.
