SpanishB2Lesson 7.2
🇪🇸 Spanish B2 · Lesson 7.2

Consejos con matices — Nuanced advice

Give careful advice and express doubt, fear and emotion with the subjunctive.

Listen first

A friend gives tactful advice to someone overwhelmed at work.

🔊 Real audio — spoken by your browser in Spanish. Tap any word below to hear it.
New vocabulary — tap to hear
tomarse las cosas con calmato take things calmly 🔊
fijarse metas realistasto set realistic goals 🔊
pedir ayuda profesionalto seek professional help 🔊
el equilibrio emocionalemotional balance 🔊
no venir malto not be a bad idea / to do good 🔊
llevar una vida más sanato lead a healthier life 🔊

Now say it

Tap the phrase to hear it, then press the mic and repeat — we score your pronunciation for real (Chrome/Edge).

« No creo que valga la pena sacrificar tu bienestar por el trabajo. » 🔊
I don't think it's worth sacrificing your well-being for work.
—
Pronunciation

Live conversation lab

Practise this dialogue live with a native-trained tutor. Next session opens soon.

Read the dialogue

Tap any line to hear it. Grammar appears in context, never as a dry rule.

Dudo que puedas seguir a este ritmo sin que tu salud lo note. 🔊I doubt you can keep up this pace without your health suffering for it.
Lo sé, pero me temo que si bajo el ritmo, perderé oportunidades. 🔊I know, but I'm afraid that if I slow down, I'll miss opportunities.
No creo que valga la pena sacrificar tu equilibrio emocional por eso. 🔊I don't think it's worth sacrificing your emotional balance for that.
Quizá tengas razón. ¿Qué me aconsejas? 🔊Maybe you're right. What do you advise me?
Te recomendaría que te fijaras metas realistas y te tomaras las cosas con más calma. 🔊I'd recommend that you set realistic goals and take things more calmly.
Tienes razón; no me vendría mal pedir ayuda profesional. 🔊You're right; it wouldn't hurt me to seek professional help.
Grammar in focus · subjunctive after doubt, denial & emotion

Doubt and denial trigger the subjunctive: « Dudo que puedas », « No creo que valga la pena », « No es que sea fácil ». Note the flip: « Creo que puedes » (affirmation → indicative) vs « No creo que puedas » (denial → subjunctive). Emotion verbs also require it: « Me temo que… » can take indicative when it means 'I suspect' (« Me temo que llegará tarde »), but emotional reactions take subjunctive: « Me alegra que estés mejor », « Lamento que te sientas así ». Advice with the conditional uses the imperfect subjunctive: « Te recomendaría que descansaras ».

Write it yourself

Give a stressed friend tactful advice (4–5 sentences), using « dudo que » or « no creo que » + subjunctive and one « me alegra/lamento que » clause.

Saved to your writing portfolio
Tip for this task
« ¡Bien! » Watch the affirmation/denial switch: « Creo que puedes » (indicative) but « No creo que puedas » (subjunctive). For advice after the conditional, use the imperfect subjunctive: « Te aconsejaría que descansaras ».

Quick check

An adaptive quiz confirms you've got it and schedules the right words for review.

1. « No creo que ___ la pena » (worth it).
2. « Me alegra que ___ mejor. »
3. « Te recomendaría que te ___ metas realistas. »
Back to module