Understanding Spanish Requests, Wishes, and Recommendations
Understanding Spanish Requests, Wishes, and Recommendations
In this listening lesson, you will identify who wants, requests, or recommends something and who is expected to perform the action. Pay attention to the main verb, the subordinate verb, pronouns, negation, and any stated limits.
Listening Task 1: Wish
Listen first:
Before checking, identify the person who has the wish and the person who must arrive.
Check
— I hope Marta arrives before eight.
The speaker has the wish. Marta is the person expected to arrive. — before eight is the stated time limit.
Listening Task 2: Request
Listen first:
Who makes the request, and who closes the window?
Check
— I ask you to close the window before leaving.
The speaker makes the request. — you is the person who should close the window.
Listening Task 3: Recommendation
Listen first:
Check
— The doctor recommends that Carlos rest for two days.
The doctor gives the recommendation. Carlos performs the recommended action. — two days limits the recommendation.
Request or information?
Compare:
- — Ana closes the door at ten. Information.
- — I want Ana to close the door at ten. Wish or request depending on context.
The main clause changes the communicative function.
Listening Task 4: Negative Request
Listen first:
Check
— We ask Marta not to make noise after eleven.
The requested behavior is negative: Marta should not make noise after eleven.
Listening Task 5: Negative Recommendation
Listen first:
Check
— I recommend that you not drive if you are very tired. Addressed to a male listener.
The listener is the person who should avoid driving. The recommendation applies under the stated condition.
Track indirect object pronouns
Read:
— I ask Carlos to call Marta.
Le refers to Carlos as the person receiving the request. Carlos is also the understood subject of llame. Marta is the person he should call.
Do not confuse the recipient of the request with the object inside the action
In:
— I recommend that Ana visit Marta.
Ana receives the recommendation and performs visite. Marta is the person Ana visits.
Listening Task 6: Two Actions
Listen first:
Check
— The boss asks Ana to send the report and Carlos to call the client.
Ana and Carlos have different assigned actions. Do not merge them into one subject.
Listen for the main verb first
- — to hope / expect
- — to ask / request
- — to recommend
- — to want
Then identify the person and action in the subordinate clause.
A practical listening method
- Identify the main verb: wish, request, recommendation, or information.
- Identify who expresses the wish or request.
- Identify who performs the subordinate action.
- Track indirect object pronouns and explicit a + person phrases.
- Keep negation attached to the action it modifies.
- Record time limits, conditions, and other restrictions.
- Do not derive additional grammar rules from one listening example.
From Understanding Requests to Stem and Spelling Changes
You can now identify who requests or recommends an action and who is expected to perform it. The next lesson develops present subjunctive stem changes and spelling changes so you can form a wider range of these clauses accurately.