⇒ The subjunctive (el subjuntivo) is one of three moods in Spanish, and it is often used to talk about emotions.
⇒ Many of the verbs and phrases that require the subjunctive fit into the acronym WEIRDO: Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt/Denial, and Ojalá
⇒ In these notes, we're going to take a look at recommendations and requests.
⇒ When a person recommends, suggests, wants, or asks another person to do (or not do) something, the subjunctive is used.
⇒ The following verbs are commonly used to give recommendations.
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| aconsejar | to advise | proponer | to suggest |
| sugerir | to suggest | decir | to say |
| ordenar | to order | rogar | to beg |
| dejar | to let/allow | exigir | to demand |
| hacer | to make/force | insistir | to insist |
| mandar | to order | prohibir | to forbid |
| recomendar | to recommend | suplicar | to beg |
⇒ Check out these examples:
| Mi doctor recomienda que beba más agua.My doctor recommends I drink more water. |
| Suplico que mi hija tenga más cuidado.I beg my daughter to be more careful. |
| Sugieren que leas este libro.They suggest you read this book. |
| Dicen que veamos esa película.They say we should watch that movie. |
⇒ Note that the word que is used to separate the recommender from the recommendation in the sentences above.