67
Giving advice and making
suggestions
In the sections below you will find the most commonly used expressions to give advice
and make suggestions.67.1 Giving advice and making suggestions not involving
the speaker
67.1.1 Yo que tú/usted+ conditional
Yo que tú/usted, ‘if I were you’, is one of the most common expressions for giving
advice and making suggestions not involving the speaker, in the spoken language.
Unlike English, this does not carry a verb, but like English it is followed by a clause
containing a conditional.16.1.1.2 (p. 59)
Yo que tú no iría.
If I were you I wouldn’t go.Yo que tú se lo daría.
If I were you I would give it to him/her.Yo que usted la contrataría.
If I were you I would hire her.In spontaneous speech, especially in the Peninsula, the conditional is sometimes
replaced by the imperfect.Yo que tú lo hacía (for haría).
If I were you I would do it.Yo que usted me quedaba (for quedaría).
If I were you I would stay.Alternative expressions with similar meaning are:Yo, en tu lugar,... or
Si estuviera en tu lugar,...
If I were you/in your place...