Present subjunctive: recommendations

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The present subjunctive is used to give opinions, advice, or recommendations, when the speaker does not state facts but rather influences a decision.

Teacher explanation

When do these expressions trigger the subjunctive?

Use present subjunctive after expressions of advice, recommendation, importance, necessity:

Te recomiendo que…
Te aconsejo que…
Es importante que…
Es mejor que…
Es necesario que…

Key idea: you are not simply describing a fact. You are influencing what someone should do (a suggestion, requirement, priority). That “non‑factual” frame is what Spanish marks with the subjunctive.

The “two subjects” check (fast self-check)

Expression + que
Then: a new subject (often you implied)
Then: verb in present subjunctive

Pattern	Example
Es importante que + (tú) + subj.	Es importante que guardes el comprobante.
Te recomiendo que + (tú) + subj.	Te recomiendo que revises el consumo de datos.

Tip: Spanish often drops the subject pronoun. The tú is still there logically: “It’s important that you…”

Common mistake: indicative vs. subjunctive (what changes?)

After these expressions, don’t use the present indicative.

Correct	Incorrect
Te aconsejo que actualices la app.	~~Te aconsejo que actualizas la app.~~
Es mejor que compares los planes.	~~Es mejor que comparas los planes.~~
Es necesario que conectes el router.	~~Es necesario que conectas el router.~~

How to form the present subjunctive quickly (what you actually need here)

Step 1: start from yo in the present (indicative).

Step 2: drop the -o.

Step 3: add subjunctive endings:

	-ar verbs	-er / -ir verbs
yo	-e	-a
tú	-es	-as
él/ella/usted	-e	-a
nosotros/as	-emos	-amos
ellos/ellas/ustedes	-en	-an

Mini examples from this unit (adult/real-life verbs)

Infinitive	Yo form	Subjunctive (tú)	In a sentence
revisar	reviso	revises	Te recomiendo que revises el consumo de datos.
activar	activo	actives	Te aconsejo que actives la factura electrónica.
guardar	guardo	guardes	Es importante que guardes el comprobante.
comparar	comparo	compares	Es mejor que compares los planes.
conectar	conecto	conectes	Es necesario que conectes el router a la fibra óptica.

Subjunctive vs. imperative: don’t confuse the two

In English, “I recommend you update…” can look like an imperative. In Spanish, with que it’s not an imperative.

Advice/recommendation structure: Te recomiendo que actualices la app.
Direct command (imperative): Actualiza la app.

Self-check: If you see que after the expression, you almost always need subjunctive, not the command form.

What to pay attention to in conversation

Listen for the trigger: recomiendo / aconsejo / es importante / es mejor / es necesario + que
Switch the verb to present subjunctive right after que
Keep it practical: these are very common in customer service, tech support, and workplace recommendations

After expressions of opinion, recommendation, or necessity, the subjunctive is always used, even if the action is concrete and technical.

Expressions	Examples
Te recomiendo que	Te recomiendo que revises el consumo de datos antes de cambiar la tarifa. (I recommend that you check your data usage before changing the plan.)
Te aconsejo que	Te aconsejo que actives la factura electrónica con tu operador. (I advise you to activate electronic billing with your provider.)
Es importante que	Es importante que guardes el comprobante del pago. (It’s important that you keep the proof of payment.)
Es mejor que	Es mejor que compares los diferentes planes móviles antes de elegir. (It’s better that you compare the different mobile plans before choosing.)
Es necesario que	Es necesario que instales la app para controlar la tarifa. (It’s necessary that you install the app to monitor the plan.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. Te aconsejo que ____ la app del operador antes de cambiar la tarifa de datos. Te aconsejo que actualices la app del operador antes de cambiar la tarifa de datos.

2. Es importante que ____ la contraseña en un lugar seguro y no la compartas por WhatsApp. Es importante que guardes la contraseña en un lugar seguro y no la compartas por WhatsApp.

3. Es mejor que ____ la cuota mensual y el consumo de datos antes de contratar una tarifa plana. Es mejor que compares la cuota mensual y el consumo de datos antes de contratar una tarifa plana.

4. Es necesario que ____ el router a la fibra óptica y luego selecciones la red Wi-Fi correcta. Es necesario que conectes el router a la fibra óptica y luego selecciones la red Wi-Fi correcta.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite each sentence using the indicated expression to give advice, a recommendation or a necessity + that + present subjunctive (e.g.: “You should activate electronic invoicing” → “I advise you that you activate electronic invoicing”).

Show/Hide translation

(Te recomiendo que) Debes revisar el consumo de datos antes de cambiar la tarifa.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Te recomiendo que revises el consumo de datos antes de cambiar la tarifa.
(I recommend that you check your data usage before changing the plan.)
(Te aconsejo que) Deberías activar la factura electrónica con tu operador.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Te aconsejo que actives la factura electrónica con tu operador.
(I advise you to activate electronic billing with your operator.)
(Es importante que) Tienes que guardar el comprobante del pago.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Es importante que guardes el comprobante del pago.
(It is important that you keep the proof of payment.)
(Es mejor que) Lo ideal es comparar los diferentes planes móviles antes de elegir.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Es mejor que compares los diferentes planes móviles antes de elegir.
(It is better that you compare the different mobile plans before choosing.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence.

Previous Next

Duration	Per month	Total
1 month	€14.99	€14.99
3 months -47%	€8.00	€24.00
6 months -62%	€5.75	€34.50
12 months -75%	€3.79	€45.48
48 months -90%	€1.50	€72.00

Duration	Per month	Total
1 month	€14.99	€14.99
3 months -47%	€8.00	€24.00
6 months -62%	€5.75	€34.50
12 months -75%	€3.79	€45.48
48 months -90%	€1.50	€72.00

Present subjunctive: recommendations

When do these expressions trigger the subjunctive?

The “two subjects” check (fast self-check)

Common mistake: indicative vs. subjunctive (what changes?)

How to form the present subjunctive quickly (what you actually need here)

Mini examples from this unit (adult/real-life verbs)

Subjunctive vs. imperative: don’t confuse the two

What to pay attention to in conversation

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

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