Recomiendas

Recomiendas is the second-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb recomendar. It means “you recommend” and is used when addressing someone informally (tú) to indicate that he or she endorses a person, item, or course of action.

Etymology and forms: The verb recomendar comes from Latin recommendare, formed from re- (again, back) plus commendare (to entrust or praise). In the present indicative, the full paradigm includes: yo recomiendo, tú recomiendas, él/ella/usted recomienda, nosotros recomendamos, vosotros recomendaréis, ellos/ellas/ustedes recomiendan. In dialects with voseo, such as Argentina and parts of Central America, the corresponding form is recomendás or recomendás, depending on regional spelling and pronunciation.

Usage: Recomiendas is used in questions and statements directed at the person being spoken to. It commonly appears in requests for advice or endorsements. Examples: “¿Qué recomiendas para cenar esta noche?” “¿Qué libro recomiendas para empezar?” “Mi amigo me preguntó qué recomiendas para la fiesta.” In formal contexts, the corresponding forms are recomienda (usted) and recomiendan (ustedes).

Syntax and complements: Recomendar is transitive; the thing recommended typically follows as a direct object: “recomiendas este plato,” “recomiendas un buen hotel.” When giving advice through subordinate clauses, Spanish uses the subjunctive with verbs like pedir, sugerir, o insistir: “Quiero que me recomiendes un buen restaurante” (not a direct use of recomiendas in the subordinate clause).

See also: Recomendar, conjugations, Spanish verbs.