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Lesson 198 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 198 of 238

Can I suggest something in Spanish

Justin has a lease in front of him and a pen in his hand, and Alex has doubts about both.

In this lesson you'll learn to offer advice gently, warn a friend, and back off politely when the choice isn't yours.

By the end you can suggest, warn, and still stay friendly — the careful B1 way.

By the end of this lesson

Give careful advice and warn someone about a risk.

  • ¿Puedo sugerirte algo?Can I suggest something?
  • Te aconsejo que ___I'd advise you to ___
  • Ten cuidado con ___Watch out for ___
  • No te conviene ______ isn't a good idea for you
  • Tú sabesYou know best
  • Gracias, lo voy a pensarThanks, I'll think about it

Scene — a contract on the table

Café Laurel, late afternoon. Justin is at his usual table with a lease contract, a coffee, and a pen he keeps clicking.

Alex walks in, spots the paperwork, and slows down. Alex has rented here for years.

Justin sits at his usual café table with a lease contract, coffee, and a pen he keeps clicking, while Yako rests on two chairs beside him.

Learn — advice and warnings

Six lines that soften advice: ask first, then suggest, warn, or step back.

Notice that two of them are frames — you'll fill the blank with a real verb each time.

  1. Michael, just walked in and slowing down as he spots the paperwork, raises a hand and offers a suggestion to Justin.

    ¿Puedo sugerirte algo?

    Can I suggest something?

    When to use it: Ask this before giving advice, to be polite.

    Sugerirte is suggest to you; the te on the end marks who receives it.

    Say it: suh-heh-REER-teh, four quick syllables

  2. Michael leans over the table pointing at the contract, giving Justin advice.

    Te aconsejo que ___

    I'd advise you to ___

    When to use it: Use it to give a firm but caring piece of advice.

    After que, use the subjunctive: leer becomes leas.

  3. Amanda, a woman from a nearby table, warns Justin with raised warning fingers while he holds the contract.

    Ten cuidado con ___

    Watch out for ___

    When to use it: Use it to warn someone about a danger or risk.

    Cuidado literally means care; ten is the command for have.

  4. Michael shakes his head with crossed arms, telling Justin that something is not a good idea, while Justin frowns at the contract.

    No te conviene ___

    ___ isn't a good idea for you

    When to use it: Use it to say something doesn't suit someone's interests.

    Convenir means to benefit or suit; it works like gustar.

  5. Amanda shrugs with open hands at Justin, deferring to him with a you-know-best gesture.

    Tú sabes

    You know best

    When to use it: Say it to hand the decision back to the other person.

    A polite way to step back after advice: it's your call.

  6. Justin smiles and raises his coffee cup in thanks while the neighbours stand relaxed around the table.

    Gracias, lo voy a pensar

    Thanks, I'll think about it

    When to use it: Use it to thank someone for advice without deciding yet.

    Lo stands for the thing you'll think over.

Story — read the small print

Alex has rented in this colonia for years, and Justin is about to sign a lease without reading it.

Watch how Alex gives advice without pushing. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Late afternoon at Café Laurel. Justin is clicking his pen over a contract.
  2. Alex¿Qué es eso, Justin?What's that, Justin?
  3. JustinEl contrato de mi departamento. Lo pienso firmar hoy.The lease for my apartment. I'm thinking of signing it today.
  4. Alex¿Hoy? ¿Puedo sugerirte algo?Today? Can I suggest something?
  5. JustinSí, dime.Yes, tell me.
  6. AlexTe aconsejo que lo leas todo antes de firmar.I'd advise you to read all of it before signing.
  7. JustinYa lo leí... bueno, más o menos.I already read it... well, more or less.
  8. AlexTen cuidado con la letra chiquita.Watch out for the small print.
  9. Justin¿Qué tiene la letra chiquita?What about the small print?
  10. AlexA veces esconden cargos extra ahí.Sometimes they hide extra fees in there.
  11. Justin¿En serio?Seriously?
  12. AlexSí. No te conviene firmar con prisa.Yes. Signing in a rush isn't a good idea for you.
  13. AlexDeberías leerlo con calma, sin el lápiz en la mano.You should read it calmly, without the pen in your hand.
  14. JustinTienes razón, pero el depósito es buenísimo.You're right, but the deposit is really good.
  15. AlexBueno, tú sabes.Well, you know best.
  16. JustinGracias, lo voy a pensar.Thanks, I'll think about it.
  17. AlexEso es. Y si algo se ve raro, pregunta antes de firmar.That's it. And if something looks odd, ask before you sign.

Practice — choose your words

Eleven short exercises: listen, match, fill gaps, and rebuild the lines.

You'll also bring back Deberías and Buena idea, gracias from earlier lessons.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Te aconsejo que ___Drop the English here
    Ten cuidado con ___Drop the English here
    No te conviene ___Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    A friend is about to sign a lease and hasn't read the small print.

  4. Fill the gap

    Thanks, I'll think about it

    Gracias, lo voy a ____

  5. What do you say?

    You gave your friend advice about the shift, but he insists he needs the money. Hand the decision back to him.

  6. Swap the word

    Your friend told you to read the contract. Thank them, but say you'll think it over for now.

    Gracias, lo voy a ____

  7. True or false?

    After que, the next verb changes form, like leas instead of lees.

  8. What do you say?

    Your friend wants to sign today to get the deposit, and signing today clearly goes against his interests. Tell him signing today doesn't suit him.

  9. What do you say?

    Remind your friend of a general obligation: as a rule, he should read a contract slowly before signing.

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

  11. Build the line

    Can I suggest something?

    ¿ ?

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — you give the advice

Now you're Justin, and this time Alex is the one deciding. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and say the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the model. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. AlexOye, Justin. Me ofrecieron un turno doble el viernes.Hey, Justin. They offered me a double shift on Friday.
  2. Alex sits down, already tired just thinking about Friday.
  3. Justin (you)Ask if you can suggest something.

    ¿Puedo sugerirte algo?

    Can I suggest something?

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
¿Puedo sugerirte algo?Can I suggest something?
Te aconsejo que ___I'd advise you to ___
Ten cuidado con ___Watch out for ___
No te conviene ______ isn't a good idea for you
Tú sabesYou know best
Gracias, lo voy a pensarThanks, I'll think about it
Next: lesson 199I'll take care of it

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these advice lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your warnings soft and your advice kind.

Open Yak Cards