Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes
Learn how to give polite advice using the condicional simple in Spanish with expressions like "Mi consejo es", "En tu lugar", and "Deberías" plus infinitive, enhancing your everyday conversations.
- We use 'Mi consejo es' and 'Yo recomendaría' + infinitive.
- With 'En tu lugar' and 'Si fuera tú', we use the conditional.
- With 'Deberías' and 'Podrías', we also use the infinitive for 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... (If I were you...) | En tu lugar, planificaría bien cada omienzo. (If I were you, I would plan each 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 pursuing your dreams little by little.) |
| Deberías... (You should...) | Deberías soñar con un plan realista. (You should dream of a realistic plan.) |
| Podrías... (You could...) | Podrías hacerse escritor y contar tus historias. (You could become a writer and tell your stories.) |
Exercise 1: Dar consejos con el condicional simple
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Deberías, En tu lugar, Podrías, Si fuera tú, Yo recomendaría, Mi consejo es
1.
Consejo + infinitivo:
... planificar el comienzo de tu carrera.
(You should plan the start of your career.)
2.
Consejo en condicional + infinitivo:
... pensar más en el futuro antes de decidir.
(You could think more about the future before deciding.)
3.
Consejo en condicional + infinitivo:
... pensar bien antes de tener un hijo.
(I would recommend thinking carefully before having a child.)
4.
Consejo + infinitivo:
... pensar bien antes de actuar.
(You should think carefully before acting.)
5.
Consejo + condicional:
... , investigaría un poco más sobre ese plan.
(If I were you, I would investigate that plan a bit more.)
6.
Consejo + condicional:
... empezaría a ahorrar desde ya.
(If I were you, I would start saving right away.)
7.
Consejo + condicional:
... hablaría con la familia sobre el futuro.
(If I were you, I would talk to the family about the future.)
8.
Consejo + infinitivo:
... hablar con tu pareja.
(My advice is to talk with your partner.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Select the correct sentence that expresses wishes, advice, or suggestions politely, using "Me gustaría", "Querría" or "Debería" correctly.
1.
Error: after 'Me gustaría' the infinitive must be used, not subjunctive ('viajar' instead of 'viajo').
Conjugation error: after 'Me gustaría' goes infinitive ('viajar'), not conjugated verb.
2.
Error: the correct structure is 'Querría' + infinitive ('hablar'), not gerund.
Error: after 'Querría' the infinitive is used, not subjunctive ('hablar' instead of 'hablo').
3.
Error: you must not use 'que' nor conjugated verb after 'Deberías', but infinitive.
Error: after 'Deberías' should go infinitive ('descansar'), not gerund.
4.
Incorrect for this structure, because with 'En tu lugar' the conditional is used, not 'deberías' + infinitive directly.
Error: 'En tu lugar' is used with conditional for suggestions, not with present indicative imperative like 'debes'.