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Lesson 208 of 238

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I'd recommend it in Spanish

Justin is eating at Café Laurel when Michael asks what he thinks of a dish. A simple yes or no won't quite cover the answer.

You'll learn to recommend something, reject it politely, describe how it was, and explain that taste depends on the person.

You'll also give a conditional suggestion: if someone goes, tell them what to try. Yako's chair-based review may complicate the advice.

By the end of this lesson

Recommend something, describe it, and explain that your advice depends on what someone likes.

  • Lo recomiendoI'd recommend it
  • No lo recomiendoI wouldn't recommend it
  • Estuvo ___It was ___
  • Depende de lo que te gusteIt depends what you're into
  • A mí me gustó, pero ___I liked it, but ___
  • Si vas, prueba ___If you go, try ___

Scene — a very debatable dish

It is lunchtime at Café Laurel, and Michael has brought over a plate of pozole for Justin to try.

Yako is nearby on his usual two chairs, listening closely because he wants advice about a new cooking class.

Michael sets a steaming bowl of pozole on Justin's table at Café Laurel while Yako listens from his two chairs.

Learn — recommendations with conditions

These six chunks let you sound helpful without pretending everyone likes the same things.

Notice how a recommendation can stand alone or become more specific with a condition.

  1. Michael, pointing at the bowl of pozole, recommends it to Justin.

    Lo recomiendo

    I'd recommend it

    When to use it: Use this to give a positive recommendation when the listener is considering something.

    Lo refers to the thing you are recommending, so learn this chunk as one useful piece.

    Say it: Recomiendo sounds like reh-koh-MYEN-doh, with stress on myen.

  2. Justin waves a hesitant hand over the pozole, signaling he wouldn't recommend it.

    No lo recomiendo

    I wouldn't recommend it

    When to use it: Use this to advise against something when your experience was negative or disappointing.

    The first no rejects the recommendation; lo still refers to the thing being discussed.

    Say it: Keep no lo together, then stress recomiendo on myen.

  3. Justin, having tasted a spoonful, gives his verdict that it was too spicy.

    Estuvo ___

    It was ___

    When to use it: Use this to describe how an experience, meal, or event turned out.

    Estuvo is the preterite of estar for a completed experience; fill the frame with an adjective.

    Say it: Estuvo sounds like ehs-TOO-boh, with stress on the middle syllable.

  4. Michael shrugs, explaining that whether you like it depends on what you're into.

    Depende de lo que te guste

    It depends what you're into

    When to use it: Use this when your recommendation changes according to the other person's tastes.

    After depende de lo que, guste uses the subjunctive because the preference is personal and not fixed.

    Say it: Guste sounds like GOOS-teh; keep the final e short and clear.

  5. Justin, holding his glass of water, says he liked it but it was very hot.

    A mí me gustó, pero ___

    I liked it, but ___

    When to use it: Use this to balance a positive personal reaction with a reservation or limitation.

    A mí emphasizes your opinion, while gustó refers to one completed experience or thing.

    Say it: Stress gustó on the final syllable: goos-TOH.

  6. Michael crouches beside Yako and points at the café's kitchen door, advising him that if he takes the cooking class he should try the pozole recipe.

    Si vas, prueba ___

    If you go, try ___

    When to use it: Use this to recommend a specific thing to try if someone visits a place.

    Si vas sets a condition, and prueba is a tú command meaning try; complete it with a food or activity.

    Say it: Prueba sounds like PWEH-bah, with one quick syllable after the w sound.

Story — the pozole question

Listen as Justin gives a balanced opinion about lunch, then advises Yako about a cooking class. The highlighted chunks are today's lines.

The advice isn't simply good or bad: Justin explains who might enjoy it and what to try. Turn on Show English if needed.

  1. At lunchtime, Justin has finished the pozole and pushes the empty bowl aside.
  2. Michael¿Qué te pareció el pozole?What did you think of the pozole?
  3. JustinEstá rico. Lo recomiendo.It's good. I'd recommend it.
  4. Michael¿Y la clase de cocina de la colonia?And the neighborhood cooking class?
  5. JustinA mí me gustó, pero fue muy larga.I liked it, but it was very long.
  6. Yako¿Entonces la recomiendas?So do you recommend it?
  7. JustinDepende de lo que te guste. Si vas, prueba el mole.It depends what you're into. If you go, try the mole.
  8. Yako¿Estuvo difícil?Was it difficult?
  9. JustinEstuvo interesante, pero no lo recomiendo si no te gusta cocinar.It was interesting, but I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like cooking.
  10. YakoEntonces, ¿qué pruebo?So what should I try?
  11. JustinSi vas, prueba el mole. Y lleva paciencia.If you go, try the mole. And bring patience.
  12. Yako looks at the two chairs, as if one of them might enroll in the class.
  13. Yako¿La clase incluye sillas cómodas?Does the class include comfortable chairs?
  14. JustinNo lo recomiendo para sillas. Para cocinar, depende.I wouldn't recommend it for chairs. For cooking, it depends.

Practice — give useful advice

You'll identify recommendations, complete a past-tense description, and choose advice that fits someone's preferences.

Read each situation carefully before picking an answer.

0 of 12 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Estuvo ___Drop the English here
    A mí me gustó, pero ___Drop the English here
    Si vas, prueba ___Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What does it mean?

    Depende de lo que te guste

  4. What did you hear?

  5. What do you say?

    A friend asks whether you recommend the cooking class. You liked it, but it lasted too long.

  6. True or false?

    This line recommends that someone try the thing.

  7. What do you say?

    Yako asks what to try at the cooking class if he goes. Tell him to try the mole.

  8. Build the line

    I'd recommend it

    Tap the words in order.

  9. Pick the reply

    Michael says:

    ¿Cómo estuvo la clase?

    How was the class?

    And you reply with:

  10. What does it mean?

    Lo recomiendo si te gusta ___

  11. What did you hear?

  12. What did you hear?

Say it — recommend it carefully

Now answer as Justin while Michael and Yako ask about the meal and the class.

Tap ▶ to hear the model line, then tap the microphone when it's your turn. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Michael¿Qué te pareció el pozole?What did you think of the pozole?
  2. Justin (you)Recommend the pozole.

    Lo recomiendo

    I'd recommend it

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Lo recomiendoI'd recommend it
No lo recomiendoI wouldn't recommend it
Estuvo ___It was ___
Depende de lo que te gusteIt depends what you're into
A mí me gustó, pero ___I liked it, but ___
Si vas, prueba ___If you go, try ___
Next: lesson 209In short

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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Practice giving one clear recommendation, then add a condition when personal taste matters.

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