recomendar

Recomendar is a Spanish verb meaning to advise or propose something as advisable, to endorse a course of action, or to suggest a product, service, or idea. It is used transitively with a direct object and often with a subordinate clause introduced by que, as in Te recomiendo este libro or Le recomendé que lo leyera.

Etymology and sense: the verb comes from Latin recommendare, formed by re- plus commendare, with the sense of directing someone toward a preferred course of action. In modern Spanish it carries the nuance of giving a trusted suggestion or endorsement.

Conjugation and key forms: Recomendar is a stem-changing verb in the present tense, with the o changing to ie in most forms: recomiendo, recomiendas, recomienda, recomendamos, recomendáis, recomiendan. The nosotros form does not undergo the change and is pronounced con el regular "recomendamos." The preterite forms are regular: recomendé, recomendaste, recomendó, recomendamos, recomendasteis, recomendaron. The imperfect is recomendaba, recomendabas, recomendaba, recomendábamos, recomendabais, recomendaban. The present subjunctive is recomiende, recomiendes, recomiende, recomendemos, recomendéis, recomienden. The participle is recomendado and the gerund is recomendando. Other tenses follow the regular endings of the -ar group after the stem recomend-.

Usage notes: Recomendar takes a direct object for what is being advised (recomendar una película), and often a indirect object for the person being advised (te recomiendo a ti, le recomiendo a Juan). It can introduce a clause with que (recomiendo que leas esto). Synonyms include sugerir and aconsejar.

See also: aconsejar, sugerir, recomendarse.