aconsejar Present Conjugation
aconsejar — to advise
The present tense of aconsejar (aconsejo, aconsejas, etc.) is for current advice or habitual recommendations.
aconsejar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense of aconsejar for advice you are giving right now ('Te aconsejo que descanses' - I advise you to rest) or for general truths and habitual actions ('Mi abuela siempre aconseja comer sano' - My grandmother always advises eating healthy). It's the most common tense for everyday conversation.
Notes on aconsejar in the Present
Aconsejar is regular in the present indicative tense. All forms follow the standard -ar verb conjugation.
Example Sentences
Yo te aconsejo que lo pienses bien.
I advise you to think it over carefully.
yo
¿Tú me aconsejas ir al cine?
Do you advise me to go to the cinema?
tú
El profesor aconseja leer el libro completo.
The professor advises reading the entire book.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros aconsejamos tomar el autobús.
We advise taking the bus.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the subjunctive form 'aconseje' when the indicative is needed for a statement of fact or current advice.
Correct: For general advice or current actions, use the indicative: 'Te aconsejo que...'. Use the subjunctive only after specific trigger phrases (doubt, desire, etc.).
Why: The indicative is for facts and reality, while the subjunctive is for non-factual or subjective situations.
Mistake: Confusing 'aconsejamos' (present indicative) with 'aconsejamos' (preterite indicative).
Correct: Context usually clarifies whether 'aconsejamos' refers to habitual advice (present) or a completed act of advising (preterite).
Why: The 'nosotros' form is identical in both the present and preterite indicative for regular -ar verbs.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'aconsejar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: aconsejé
The preterite of aconsejar is regular: aconsejé, aconsejaste, aconsejó, aconsejamos, aconsejasteis, aconsejaron.
Imperfect
yo: aconsejaba
The imperfect of aconsejar (aconsejaba, aconsejabas, etc.) describes past habits or ongoing advice.
Future
yo: aconsejaré
The future tense of aconsejar (aconsejaré, aconsejarás, etc.) indicates advice that will be given.
Conditional
yo: aconsejaría
The conditional of aconsejar (aconsejaría, aconsejarías, etc.) suggests advice ('would advise') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aconseje
The present subjunctive of aconsejar (aconseje, aconsejes, etc.) follows expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: aconsejara
The imperfect subjunctive of aconsejar (aconsejara/aconsejase) is used for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: aconseja
Use the imperative of aconsejar for direct commands like '¡Aconseja!' (Advise!) or '¡Aconsejen!' (Advise!).
Negative Imperative
yo: no aconsejes
Use 'no' + present subjunctive for negative commands with aconsejar, like '¡No aconsejes!' (Don't advise!).