Usamos el condicional simple para dar consejos de forma educada.

(We use the condicional simple to give polite advice.)

Using Spanish structures for advice and suggestions

In this unit you learn how to give advice and suggestions in Spanish in a polite, natural way.

  • When to use infinitive (pensar, planificar, viajar…).
  • When to use the conditional (pensaría, viviría, recomendaría…).
  • How to choose between the different expressions.

1. Two building blocks: infinitive and conditional

Almost all the expressions in the table work with one of these:

  • Infinitive: the “dictionary form” of the verb: pensar, soñar, planificar, viajar.
  • Conditional: the “would …” form: pensaría, viviría, recomendaría, hablaría.

Very important:

  • After some expressions you must use infinitive.
  • After others you normally use conditional.

2. Expressions that use infinitive

These go directly with an infinitive:

  • Mi consejo es + infinitive
  • Yo recomendaría + infinitive
  • Deberías + infinitive
  • Podrías + infinitive
Expression Correct pattern Example
Mi consejo es… Mi consejo es + infinitive Mi consejo es pensar más en el futuro.
Yo recomendaría… Yo recomendaría + infinitive Yo recomendaría mejorar tu español.
Deberías… Deberías + infinitive Deberías descansar más.
Podrías… Podrías + infinitive Podrías organizar una formación.

Think in English:

  • My advice is to think…
  • I would recommend improving…
  • You should rest…
  • You could organize…

In all of these, the next verb in English is also in the infinitive with “to”. That is the same logic in Spanish.

3. Common mistakes with infinitive

Typical errors come from using a conjugated verb or a gerund after these expressions.

  • Do not use a conjugated verb:

Mi consejo es piensas más en tu futuro.

Mi consejo es pensar más en tu futuro.

  • Do not add que + a conjugated verb:

Deberías que descansas más.

Deberías descansar más.

  • Do not use gerund (-ando, -iendo):

Podrías organizando una formación.

Podrías organizar una formación.

Self-check:

  • Can you point with your finger to the first verb? (deberías / podrías / mi consejo es / recomendaría)
  • Is the next verb in basic dictionary form? (-ar, -er, -ir)

4. Expressions that use the conditional

These normally go with a verb in the conditional:

  • En tu lugar, … + conditional
  • Si fuera tú, … + conditional
Expression Pattern Example
En tu lugar… En tu lugar, + conditional En tu lugar, planificaría mejor cada comienzo.
Si fuera tú… Si fuera tú, + conditional Si fuera tú, pensaría en lo posible.

Think in English:

  • In your place, I would plan…
  • If I were you, I would think…

That “would” = Spanish conditional.

5. Quick reminder: how to form the conditional

At this level, you do not need the full paradigm, only to recognize it.

  • Take the infinitive (planificar, vivir, pensar).
  • Add the conditional ending: -ía for “I”.
Infinitive “I would …”
planificar planificaría (I would plan)
vivir viviría (I would live)
organizar organizaría (I would organize)
pensar pensaría (I would think)

In your advice sentences with En tu lugar and Si fuera tú, you normally speak about what you would do, so you use the yo-form in conditional: -ría.

6. Why “En tu lugar” is different from “Deberías”

In English, both can sound like advice:

  • In your place, I would change jobs.
  • You should change jobs.

In Spanish, the structure after the expression is different:

Expression Verb form Example
En tu lugar… conditional En tu lugar, cambiaría de trabajo.
Deberías… infinitive Deberías cambiar de trabajo.

So:

  • If the sentence starts with En tu lugar or Si fuera tú → look for a verb ending in -ría.
  • If the sentence starts with Deberías / Podrías / Mi consejo es / Yo recomendaría → look for a verb in -ar, -er, -ir (infinitive).

7. Meaning and “strength” of each expression

The grammar is important, but the tone is also different.

  • Mi consejo es + infinitive
    • Very direct: “My advice is …”.
    • Use when you clearly want to give a recommendation.
  • Yo recomendaría + infinitive
    • Slightly softer. Similar to “I would recommend…”.
    • Good in professional or polite contexts.
  • Deberías + infinitive
    • Strong advice: “You should…”.
    • Use with colleagues, friends, family, when you know the person.
  • Podrías + infinitive
    • Softer suggestion: “You could…”.
    • Less pressure. Very polite and diplomatic.
  • En tu lugar / Si fuera tú + conditional
    • Empathetic: “If I were in your situation…”.
    • Shows respect for the other person’s decision.

8. Mini decision guide: which structure to choose?

Imagine you want to give advice. Ask yourself two questions:

  1. How strong do I want the advice to be?
    • Very strong: use Deberías or Mi consejo es.
    • Medium / polite: use Yo recomendaría or En tu lugar….
    • Soft / optional: use Podrías.
  2. Do I want to put myself in the other person’s position?
    • Yes → use En tu lugar, + conditional or Si fuera tú, + conditional.
    • No, I just want to say “you should/could…” → use Deberías / Podrías + infinitive.

9. Step-by-step: build your own advice sentence

  1. Decide the content
    • What is the action? (change job, plan better, save money, study…)
    • Put it in Spanish infinitive: cambiar, planificar, ahorrar, estudiar.
  2. Choose the structure
    • Strong direct advice → Deberías + infinitive.
    • Soft suggestion → Podrías + infinitive.
    • Empathetic → En tu lugar, + conditional or Si fuera tú, + conditional.
    • Professional / formal → Mi consejo es + infinitive / Yo recomendaría + infinitive.
  3. Combine them
    • Deberías + infinitive: Deberías ahorrar más dinero.
    • Podrías + infinitive: Podrías hablar con tu jefe.
    • En tu lugar + conditional: En tu lugar, hablaría con mi jefe.
    • Mi consejo es + infinitive: Mi consejo es organizar un plan.

Check quickly:

  • Does the verb after Deberías / Podrías / Mi consejo es / Yo recomendaría end in -ar, -er, -ir?
  • Does the verb after En tu lugar / Si fuera tú end in -ría?

10. Self-check: can you spot errors?

  • En tu lugar, deberías planificar mejor el presupuesto.

Better for this structure:

En tu lugar, planificaría mejor el presupuesto.

  • Deberías que organizar una formación.

Correct:

Deberías organizar una formación.

  • Mi consejo es piensas en un plan realista.

Correct:

Mi consejo es pensar en un plan realista.

If you can explain why each corrected version is right (infinitive vs conditional), you have understood the structure.

11. What you should pay attention to

  • Always look at the first expression of the sentence.
  • Let that expression “tell you” which form comes next: infinitive or conditional.
  • Do not mix patterns: avoid structures like En tu lugar, deberías… in this unit.
  • Use these patterns to prepare your own advice for class discussions (work, studies, future plans).

If you follow these patterns and do a quick verb-form check, you can give polite, natural advice in Spanish without hesitation.

  1. We use 'Mi consejo es' and 'Yo recomendaría' + infinitive.
  2. With 'En tu lugar' and 'Si fuera tú', we use the conditional.
  3. With 'Deberías' and 'Podrías', we also use the infinitive to make suggestions.
Expresión (Expression)Ejemplo (Example)
Mi consejo es... (My advice is...)Mi consejo es pensar más en el futuro antes de actuar. (My advice is to think more about the future before acting.)
En tu lugar... (In your place...)En tu lugar, planificaría bien cada omienzo. (In your place, I would plan each new beginning well.)
Si fuera tú... (If I were you...)Si fuera tú, pensaría en lo posible y no en lo imposible. (If I were you, I would think about what is possible and not about what is impossible.)
Yo recomendaría... (I would recommend...)Yo recomendaría realizar tus sueños poco a poco. (I would recommend making your dreams come true little by little.)
Deberías... (You should...)Deberías soñar con un plan realista. (You should dream with a realistic plan.)
Podrías... (You could...)Podrías hacerse escritor y contar tus historias. (You could become a writer and tell your stories.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. En tu lugar, __________ bien el comienzo de tu aventura antes de dejar el trabajo.

If I were you, __________ the start of your adventure carefully before quitting your job.)

2. Si fuera tú, __________ un año en otro país para conocer lo desconocido.

If I were you, __________ a year in another country to experience the unknown.)

3. Yo __________ pensar en un plan realista antes de intentar ser director de la empresa.

I __________ think of a realistic plan before trying to become the company's director.)

4. Mi consejo es soñar con tus proyectos, pero también __________ planificar cada paso.

My advice is to dream about your projects, but you should also __________ plan every step.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Select the correct sentence that politely expresses wishes, advice, or suggestions using "Me gustaría", "Querría" or "Debería" correctly.

1.
Error: after 'Me gustaría' the infinitive must be used, not the subjunctive ('travel' instead of 'I travel').
Conjugation error: after 'Me gustaría' comes an infinitive ('travel'), not a conjugated verb.
2.
Error: the correct structure is 'Querría' + infinitive ('to speak'), not gerund.
Error: after 'Querría' the infinitive is used, not the subjunctive ('to speak' instead of 'I speak').

Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences to give a more polite piece of advice using, as appropriate: "My advice is + infinitive", "If I were you + conditional", "If I were you + conditional" (alternative phrasing), "I would recommend + infinitive", "You should + infinitive" or "You could + infinitive".

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Hint Hint (Mi consejo es) Quiero decirle a mi amiga que tiene que pensar mejor en su futuro profesional.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Mi consejo es pensar mejor en tu futuro profesional.
    (My advice is to think more carefully about your career future.)
  2. Hint Hint (En tu lugar) Quiero aconsejar a mi compañero: “Cambia de trabajo si no estás contento”.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    En tu lugar, cambiaría de trabajo si no estás contento.
    (In your place, I would change jobs if you weren’t happy.)
  3. Hint Hint (Yo recomendaría) Quiero aconsejar a mi jefe: “Toma un curso de liderazgo”.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Yo recomendaría tomar un curso de liderazgo.
    (I would recommend taking a leadership course.)
  4. Hint Hint (Si fuera tú) Quiero aconsejar a mi hermana: “Organiza un plan realista para ahorrar dinero este año”.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Si fuera tú, organizaría un plan realista para ahorrar dinero este año.
    (If I were you, I would set up a realistic plan to save money this year.)

Exercise 4: Grammar in action

Instruction: In pairs, present your wish list and give and ask for advice using the conditional.

Show/Hide translation
Situation
Dos colegas hablan de sus deseos y planes para el futuro profesional y personal.
(Two colleagues talk about their wishes and plans for their professional and personal futures.)
Discuss
  • Di dos deseos importantes y explica por qué los quieres realizar. (Say two important wishes and explain why you want to make them come true.)
  • Escucha a tu compañero y dale consejos concretos usando condicional o infinitivo apropiado (por ejemplo: En tu lugar, planificaría... / Deberías... / Yo recomendaría...). Haz turnos y responde a los consejos recibidos en diálogo realizado por ambas partes, preguntando detalles si hace falta: ¿cuándo empezarías? ¿qué necesitarías? ¿es posible? ¿por qué? (Listen to your partner and give concrete advice using the conditional or an appropriate infinitive (for example: In your place, I would plan... / You should... / I would recommend...). Take turns and respond to the advice you receive in a dialogue between both people, asking for details if needed: When would you start? What would you need? Is it possible? Why?)
Useful words and phrases
  • planificar (el plan, el comienzo) (plan (the plan, the start))
  • realizar / realizar tus sueños (fulfill / fulfill your dreams)
  • viajar por el mundo / vivir en otro país (travel the world / live in another country)
Use in conversation
  • En tu lugar + condicional simple (In your place + simple conditional)
  • Si fuera tú + condicional simple (If I were you + simple conditional)
  • Deberías / Podrías / Yo recomendaría + infinitivo (You should / You could / I would recommend + infinitive)

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