Recomendar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb recomendar means to recommend, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Recomendar means to recommend, and it is used for recommending a restaurant, a book, a hotel and a film. It is a stem-changing verb, e to ie, and it usually takes que plus the subjunctive for recommendations about actions: recomiendo que vayas. Like every Spanish verb, recomendar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say recomiendo el restaurante a sus amigos, and in the preterite you say recomendé este hotel a los viajeros. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: recomendar
- English: to recommend
- Verb type: irregular verb, stem-changing (e → ie)
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: recomendando
- Past participle: recomendado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + recomendado)
- Stem change: e → ie in the present, present subjunctive and imperative; nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for recomendar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. The stem changes e to ie: yo recomiendo, tú recomiendas, but nosotros recomendamos keeps the e.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for recomendar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recomiendo |
| tú | recomiendas |
| él/ella/Ud. | recomienda |
| nosotros/as | recomendamos |
| vosotros/as | recomendáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recomiendan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recomendé |
| tú | recomendaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | recomendó |
| nosotros/as | recomendamos |
| vosotros/as | recomendasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recomendaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recomendaba |
| tú | recomendabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | recomendaba |
| nosotros/as | recomendábamos |
| vosotros/as | recomendabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recomendaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recomendaré |
| tú | recomendarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | recomendará |
| nosotros/as | recomendaremos |
| vosotros/as | recomendaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recomendarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recomendaría |
| tú | recomendarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | recomendaría |
| nosotros/as | recomendaríamos |
| vosotros/as | recomendaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recomendarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he recomendado |
| tú | has recomendado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha recomendado |
| nosotros/as | hemos recomendado |
| vosotros/as | habéis recomendado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han recomendado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había recomendado |
| tú | habías recomendado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había recomendado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos recomendado |
| vosotros/as | habíais recomendado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían recomendado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré recomendado |
| tú | habrás recomendado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá recomendado |
| nosotros/as | habremos recomendado |
| vosotros/as | habréis recomendado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán recomendado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría recomendado |
| tú | habrías recomendado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría recomendado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos recomendado |
| vosotros/as | habríais recomendado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían recomendado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recomiende |
| tú | recomiendes |
| él/ella/Ud. | recomiende |
| nosotros/as | recomendemos |
| vosotros/as | recomendéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recomienden |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recomendara |
| tú | recomendaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | recomendara |
| nosotros/as | recomendáramos |
| vosotros/as | recomendarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recomendaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | recomienda |
| él/ella/Ud. | recomiende |
| nosotros/as | recomendemos |
| vosotros/as | recomendad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recomienden |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | recomiendes |
| él/ella/Ud. | recomiende |
| nosotros/as | recomendemos |
| vosotros/as | recomendéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recomienden |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | recomendando | with estar for the progressive: estoy recomendando |
| Past participle | recomendado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he recomendado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For recomendar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Recomiendo el restaurante a sus amigos. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For recomendar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, recomendé un buen libro a la clase. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For recomendar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, recomendaba este hotel a los viajeros. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For recomendar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, recomendaré la película a todo el mundo. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For recomendar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Recomendaría el restaurante a sus amigos si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For recomendar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he recomendado un buen libro a la clase. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For recomendar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había recomendado este hotel a los viajeros antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For recomendar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré recomendado la película a todo el mundo. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For recomendar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría recomendado el restaurante a sus amigos con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For recomendar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él recomiende un buen libro a la clase. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For recomendar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él recomendara este hotel a los viajeros, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For recomendar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Recomienda la película a todo el mundo! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. This tense is irregular for this verb: the stem changes e → ie in the singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. For recomendar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No recomiendes el restaurante a sus amigos. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with recomendar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Recomiendo el restaurante a sus amigos. — I recommend the restaurant to his friends.
- Recomienda un buen libro a la clase. — He/she recommends a good book to the class.
- Ayer, recomendé este hotel a los viajeros. — Yesterday, I recommended this hotel to travellers.
- Antes, nosotros recomendábamos la película a todo el mundo. — Before, we used to recommend the film to everyone.
- Mañana, tú recomendarás el restaurante a sus amigos. — Tomorrow, you will recommend the restaurant to his friends.
- Yo recomendaría un buen libro a la clase si tuviera más tiempo. — I would recommend a good book to the class if I had more time.
- Él ha recomendado este hotel a los viajeros. — He has recommended this hotel to travellers.
- Espero que él recomiende la película a todo el mundo. — I hope he recommends the film to everyone.
- Yo ya había recomendado el restaurante a sus amigos antes de salir. — I had already recommended the restaurant to his friends before leaving.
- Ellos recomendaban un buen libro a la clase cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to recommend a good book to the class when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo recomienda el restaurante a sus amigos. — Right: Yo recomiendo el restaurante a sus amigos. — The person matters: recomienda is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is recomiendo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo recomendo un buen libro a la clase. — Right: Yo recomiendo un buen libro a la clase. — In the present, the correct first-person form is recomiendo, not recomendo. recomendar is a stem-changing verb (e → ie), so the stem changes in the present singular and third-person plural forms, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem.
- Wrong: Treating recomendar and aconsejar as identical in every context. — Right: Recomendar means to recommend, while aconsejar means to advise, the close synonym. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: recomendar fits sentences such as Recomiendo el restaurante a sus amigos, while aconsejar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy recomendado un buen libro a la clase. — Right: Yo he recomendado un buen libro a la clase. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he recomendado, has recomendado, ha recomendado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo recomendé este hotel a los viajeros todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo recomendaba este hotel a los viajeros todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (recomendaba), not the preterite. The preterite (recomendé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on recomendar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el restaurante a sus amigos. (present tense) A. recomiendo B. recomiendas C. recomienda D. recomendamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ un buen libro a la clase. (preterite) A. recomendé B. recomendaste C. recomendaron D. recomendó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ este hotel a los viajeros. (imperfect) A. recomendabas B. recomendaban C. recomendábamos D. recomendaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la película a todo el mundo. (future) A. recomendaremos B. recomendarás C. recomendaré D. recomendará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el restaurante a sus amigos si pudiera. (conditional) A. recomendaría B. recomendarías C. recomendarían D. recomiendo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ un buen libro a la clase. (present subjunctive) A. recomiendes B. recomendemos C. recomiendo D. recomiende
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ este hotel a los viajeros, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. recomendáramos B. recomiendo C. recomendara D. recomendaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la película a todo el mundo. (present perfect) A. han recomendado B. hemos recomendado C. he recomendado D. has recomendado
Complete the command: ¡___ el restaurante a sus amigos! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. recomienda B. recomiende C. recomendemos D. recomendad
Which is the gerund of recomendar, used with estar for the progressive? A. recomendado B. recomiendo C. recomendé D. recomendando
Answer key
- recomiendo — The first-person present of recomendar is recomiendo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- recomendó — The third-person preterite of recomendar is recomendó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- recomendábamos — The nosotros imperfect of recomendar is recomendábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- recomendarás — The second-person future of recomendar is recomendarás.
- recomendaría — The first-person conditional of recomendar is recomendaría, the form for what would happen.
- recomiende — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of recomendar is recomiende.
- recomendara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of recomendar is recomendara.
- hemos recomendado — The nosotros present perfect of recomendar is hemos recomendado: hemos + recomendado.
- recomienda — The affirmative tú imperative of recomendar is recomienda.
- recomendando — The gerund of recomendar is recomendando: estoy recomendando. The participle recomendado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does recomendar mean in English?
Recomendar means to recommend. It is used in everyday situations such as Recomiendo el restaurante a sus amigos. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is recomendar regular or irregular?
Recomendar is a stem-changing verb (e → ie), so it is not fully regular: the stem changes in the present, the present subjunctive and the imperative, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. The preterite and the imperfect are regular. Check the tables above for the exact forms in each tense.
What is the difference between recomendar and aconsejar?
Recomendar means to recommend, while aconsejar means to advise, the close synonym. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use recomendar when you mean to recommend, as in Recomiendo el restaurante a sus amigos, and use aconsejar for to advise, the close synonym. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I recommend” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo recomendé un buen libro a la clase. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo recomendaba este hotel a los viajeros. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he recomendado un buen libro a la clase.
How do I practise recomendar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the recomendar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Recomendar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for recomendar.
- Recomendar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for recomendar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Aconsejar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with recomendar.
- Avisar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with recomendar.
- Mandar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with recomendar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.