New here? This is lesson 114 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.
Free Spanish CourseLesson 114 of 238
I'd try this in Spanish
Amanda has two blouses and only a few minutes to choose one for her interview.
Justin offers several friendly ways to give advice, from direct suggestions to a softer personal opinion.
By the end, you'll be able to say what someone should do, suggest an option, thank them, and say you'll think about it.
By the end of this lesson
Give simple advice with should, why don't you, and if I were you.
- Deberías ___You should ___
- ¿Por qué no ___?Why don't you ___?
- Yo que tú, ___If I were you, I'd ___
- Mejor ___Better to ___
- Buena idea, graciasGood idea, thanks
- Lo voy a pensarI'll think about it
Scene — a small choice
Upstairs in Amanda's apartment, she is getting ready for an interview this morning.
She is comparing two blouses: the blue one is on the bed, and the green one hangs by the entryway.
Learn — giving simple advice
These chunks let you give advice without building a whole conditional sentence.
Learn them as ready-to-use pieces, especially Yo que tú, which means If I were you.
Deberías ___
You should ___
When to use it: Use this to give direct, friendly advice about what someone should do.
Deberías means you should; learn the chunk before adding an action.
Say it: deh-beh-REE-ahs
¿Por qué no ___?
Why don't you ___?
When to use it: Use this to suggest an action in a friendly, conversational way.
The question literally asks why not, but it works as a gentle suggestion.
Yo que tú, ___
If I were you, I'd ___
When to use it: Use this to give advice by saying what you would do in the other person's place.
Yo que tú is one chunk; don't treat it as a complete conditional pattern.
Say it: yoh keh TOO
Mejor ___
Better to ___
When to use it: Use this to recommend one option as better than another.
Mejor means better here, and the action follows it directly.
Buena idea, gracias
Good idea, thanks
When to use it: Say this when you like someone's suggestion and want to thank them.
Buena agrees with idea, which is feminine; learn the whole response together.
Lo voy a pensar
I'll think about it
When to use it: Say this when you want time before deciding whether to follow advice.
Lo refers to the choice or suggestion; voy a pensar means I'm going to think.
Story — the blue blouse
Amanda is choosing what to wear, and Justin offers advice without making the decision for her.
Listen for the different advice chunks and her final answer.
- Amanda holds two blouses up to the mirror before her interview.
Justin¿Qué te parece la azul?What do you think of the blue one?
AmandaMe gusta, pero todavía no sé.I like it, but I still don't know.- JustinDeberías usar la azul.You should wear the blue one.
- Amanda¿Y si uso la verde?What if I wear the green one?
- Justin¿Por qué no usas la verde?Why don't you wear the green one?
- AmandaMe gusta la verde, pero todavía no sé.I like the green one, but I still don't know.
- JustinYo que tú, la azul.If I were you, the blue one.
- Amanda¿Todavía prefieres la azul?Do you still prefer the blue one?
- JustinMejor la azul.Better to choose the blue one.
- AmandaBuena idea, gracias.Good idea, thanks.
- AmandaLo voy a pensar antes de decidir.I'll think about it before deciding.
Practice — choose your advice
You'll listen, match meanings, choose advice, check a detail, and build a complete response.
Read each situation carefully so your advice fits the moment.
0 of 9 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Spanish
Deberías ___Drop the English here¿Por qué no ___?Drop the English here¿Qué te parece?Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
Amanda asks: if you were in her place, what would you do? Start your advice with the chunk that puts you in her place.
True or false?
True or false?
Mejor ___ recommends one option as better than another.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Buena idea
What do you say?
What do you say?
Amanda can't decide. Make a friendly suggestion in question form that she wear the green blouse.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Good idea, thanks
Buena ____, gracias
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Lo voy a pensar
Build the line
Build the line
I'll think about it
Tap the words in order.
Say it — help Amanda decide
Now you're Justin, helping Amanda choose what to wear. Give advice, respond to her hesitation, and keep the exchange natural.
Tap ▶ to hear each model line; your recording stays on the device.
- AmandaNo sé cuál escoger para la entrevista.I don't know which one to choose for the interview.
- Justin (you)Tell her she should choose the blue blouse.
Tell her she should choose the blue blouse.
Deberías ___
You should ___
0 of 3 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Spanish | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Deberías ___ | You should ___ | |
| ¿Por qué no ___? | Why don't you ___? | |
| Yo que tú, ___ | If I were you, I'd ___ | |
| Mejor ___ | Better to ___ | |
| Buena idea, gracias | Good idea, thanks | |
| Lo voy a pensar | I'll think about it |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
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Review one advice chunk, then use it in a new situation.
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