Giving Recommendations — I can give a short recommendation or advice with a reason and a simple example. - French 2

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Historical Context & Motivation

Giving advice is one of the most practical things you can do in any language. In French culture, the art of recommending — whether it's a restaurant, a study strategy, or a life choice — has deep roots in how French speakers communicate respect, politeness, and persuasion. Understanding how French speakers have historically framed advice helps you sound natural and culturally aware, rather than blunt or awkward.

1600s • Courtly Language & Politeness

During the reign of Louis XIV, French court culture demanded elaborate politeness. Giving direct commands was considered rude; instead, nobles used softened suggestions like "Il serait bon de…" (It would be good to…). This tradition shaped the indirect recommendation style still used today.

1800s • The Subjunctive Becomes Standard

French grammar was formalized during the 19th century. The subjunctive mood — essential for expressing wishes, suggestions, and recommendations — became a required part of educated speech and writing. Phrases like "Je recommande que…" required the subjunctive, cementing its role in giving advice.

1900s • Everyday Advice in Modern French

As French became more accessible through mass media, recommendation language moved beyond formal registers. Magazines, radio shows, and later TV programs popularized phrases like "Je te conseille de…" and "Tu devrais…" — making advice-giving part of everyday conversation.

2000s+ • Digital Recommendations

Social media, blogs, and review platforms brought recommendation language into the digital age. French influencers and reviewers use expressions like "Je vous recommande vivement…" in YouTube videos and Instagram posts, blending traditional politeness with casual modern tone.

So how do you actually construct a recommendation in French that sounds both natural and convincing? The key challenge is learning the right expressions, pairing them with reasons, and supporting them with simple examples — all while using the correct grammar. That's exactly what this lesson will teach you.

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Core Principles of Giving Recommendations in French

Before you start writing or speaking, you need to understand the three building blocks of any good French recommendation. Think of these as the foundation that every piece of advice rests on, whether you are writing a blog post, giving a presentation, or simply texting a friend.

The Recommendation Expression

Every recommendation starts with a specific phrase that signals advice. Common expressions include Je recommande que… (I recommend that…), Je te/vous conseille de… (I advise you to…), and Tu devrais / Vous devriez… (You should…). Choosing the right one depends on formality.

The Reason (Justification)

A recommendation without a reason sounds empty. Use connectors like parce que (because), car (since/because — slightly more formal), or puisque (since) to explain why your advice matters.

The Example (Illustration)

A concrete example makes your advice memorable. Introduce it with par exemple (for example) or comme (like/such as). This grounds your recommendation in something relatable.

French has distinct levels of formality. Use tu forms (Je te conseille…) with friends and peers, and vous forms (Je vous conseille…) with teachers, adults, or in formal writing. Matching register shows cultural competence.

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of a French recommendation like a sandwich: the recommendation expression is the top slice of bread, the reason is the filling that gives it substance, and the example is the bottom slice that holds everything together. Without any piece, the sandwich falls apart — and so does your advice.

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Visual Explanation — The Recommendation Formula

This diagram shows the three-part formula for building a French recommendation. Start with a recommendation expression (purple), connect it to a reason (blue), and finish with a concrete example (pink). The green box at the bottom shows the complete, polished result.

Notice how each layer of the formula builds on the previous one. The recommendation expression sets the tone, the reason gives your audience a logical motivation to follow your advice, and the example makes it tangible. When you write or speak, you can follow this exact top-to-bottom flow every time. This structure works equally well in a formal presentation, a class essay, or a casual conversation with a French-speaking friend.

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How It Works — Key Expressions & Grammar

Now let's dive into the specific French expressions you need and the grammar behind them. The three most common ways to give recommendations in French each require slightly different grammatical structures. Mastering these patterns will let you give advice in any situation.

Pattern 1: The Conditional — Tu devrais / Vous devriez

CONDITIONAL PATTERN

Tu devrais / Vous devriez + INFINITIVE

"Devrais" and "devriez" are the conditional forms of devoir (to have to / should). This is the most common, conversational way to give advice. Example: "Tu devrais lire ce livre." (You should read this book.)

Pattern 2: Conseiller de — Je te/vous conseille de…

CONSEILLER PATTERN

Je te/vous conseille de + INFINITIVE

Conseiller means "to advise." Use "te" for informal (a friend) and "vous" for formal (a teacher, stranger, or group). Example: "Je vous conseille de visiter le musée." (I advise you to visit the museum.)

Pattern 3: Recommander que — Je recommande que… + SUBJUNCTIVE

SUBJUNCTIVE PATTERN

Je recommande que + SUBJECT + VERB (subjunctive)

This pattern triggers the subjunctive mood (le subjonctif). For regular -er verbs, the subjunctive often looks like the present tense: "Je recommande que tu visites Paris." For irregular verbs, you'll need to memorize forms: "Je recommande que tu fasses du sport" (fasses = subjunctive of faire).

Connecting With Reasons and Examples

REASON CONNECTORS

parce que / car / puisque + CLAUSE (indicative mood)

All three mean "because" but differ in formality. Parce que is the most common and works everywhere. Car is slightly more formal and used more in writing. Puisque implies the reason is obvious or already known.

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Grammar Tip

Don't stress about the subjunctive too much at this level. For most recommendations, you can rely on "Tu devrais + infinitive" or "Je te conseille de + infinitive" — neither of which requires the subjunctive. Use "Je recommande que…" when you're ready for a challenge and want to impress!

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Expression Guide — Formality & Usage

Choosing the right expression depends on your audience and context. The table below organizes key recommendation expressions from most casual to most formal. Being able to shift between registers is a crucial skill in French — it shows that you understand not just the language but the culture.

Expression	English Meaning	Register	Grammar Notes
Tu devrais + inf.	You should…	Informal	Conditional of devoir + infinitive
Je te conseille de + inf.	I advise you to…	Informal	Conseiller de + infinitive; use te for friends
Il faut + inf.	One must… / It's necessary to…	Neutral	Impersonal; works for general advice
Vous devriez + inf.	You should…	Formal	Conditional of devoir + infinitive; use with vous
Je vous conseille de + inf.	I advise you to…	Formal	Conseiller de + infinitive; use vous for formality
Je recommande que + subj.	I recommend that…	Formal/Written	Triggers subjunctive mood
Je suggère que + subj.	I suggest that…	Formal/Written	Triggers subjunctive mood

French recommendation expressions organized by formality level

This spectrum diagram arranges French recommendation expressions from the most casual (green, left) through neutral (amber, center) to the most formal (violet, right). Notice that Je recommande que… sits at the formal end and requires the subjunctive mood.

When deciding which expression to use, ask yourself two questions: Who is my audience? and What is the context? If you're writing a blog post for peers, "Tu devrais" works perfectly. If you're writing a letter to a school principal or presenting to a class, "Je vous conseille de" or "Je recommande que" will earn you more credibility. As a general rule, start with the conditional pattern ("Tu devrais") since it's the easiest grammatically, and work your way toward the subjunctive pattern as your confidence grows.

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Worked Example — Building a Recommendation Step by Step

Let's say your French teacher asks you to write a short recommendation about staying healthy. You want to recommend that your classmates exercise more. Here's how you build a complete recommendation using the three-part formula.

Recommending Exercise to Classmates

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Step 1 — Choose Your Expression

Since you're writing to classmates (peers, informal register), choose the conditional pattern. Write: "Tu devrais faire du sport régulièrement." This means "You should exercise regularly." The infinitive "faire" follows directly after "devrais."

Tu devrais faire du sport régulièrement.
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Step 2 — Add a Reason with a Connector

Now explain why. Use "parce que" (because) to introduce your reason. Think about what would motivate your classmates. Write: "…parce que c'est bon pour la santé et ça réduit le stress." This means "…because it's good for your health and it reduces stress." Notice you're giving two reasons connected by "et" (and) for extra persuasiveness.

…parce que c'est bon pour la santé et ça réduit le stress.
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Step 3 — Support with a Concrete Example

Finally, add a specific example to make your advice real and relatable. Use "Par exemple" to introduce it. Write: "Par exemple, tu peux courir pendant vingt minutes chaque matin avant les cours." This means "For example, you can run for twenty minutes every morning before classes." This gives your audience something actionable.

Par exemple, tu peux courir pendant vingt minutes chaque matin avant les cours.
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Step 4 — Combine Into a Complete Recommendation

Put all three parts together into a polished paragraph. Read it aloud to check the flow. Here is the final version:

Tu devrais faire du sport régulièrement parce que c'est bon pour la santé et ça réduit le stress. Par exemple, tu peux courir pendant vingt minutes chaque matin avant les cours.

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Pro Tip: Vary Your Sentences

To sound more advanced, try flipping the order. You could start with the reason: "Puisque le sport est bon pour la santé, je te conseille de courir chaque matin." Starting with "puisque" assumes the listener already knows the benefit, which sounds sophisticated and natural.

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Comparing Recommendation Expressions — Strengths & Limitations

Not every recommendation expression is right for every situation. Each pattern has strengths that make it ideal in certain contexts and limitations that might make it sound off in others. Understanding these trade-offs will help you choose wisely.

Expression	Strengths	Limitations
Tu devrais + inf.	Easy grammar (no subjunctive); sounds friendly and natural; great for everyday conversation and peer-to-peer writing	Too casual for formal essays or presentations to authority figures; can sound presumptuous if used with someone you don't know well
Je te/vous conseille de + inf.	Versatile — works with tu or vous; clearly signals that you're giving advice; appropriate for both speaking and writing	Can feel a bit formal in very casual texting; requires knowing when to use te vs. vous
Il faut + inf.	Impersonal — great for general advice that applies to everyone; avoids directly telling someone what to do	Can sound too forceful ("one must"); doesn't add a personal touch; some teachers may want you to use more personal expressions
Je recommande que + subj.	Very polished and formal; impressive in essays and presentations; demonstrates advanced grammar knowledge	Requires the subjunctive mood, which is grammatically challenging; sounds overly formal in casual conversation

Strengths and limitations of four major recommendation expressions

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of these expressions like shoes in your closet. You wouldn't wear flip-flops to a job interview or dress shoes to the beach. Similarly, use "Tu devrais" for casual situations (the flip-flops), "Je te/vous conseille de" for most everyday and academic contexts (the sneakers), and "Je recommande que" for the most polished, formal settings (the dress shoes). The goal is to have all of them ready so you can match the situation.

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Connection to Advanced French — Where This Leads

The recommendation structures you're learning now form the foundation for much more complex persuasive communication in French 3, French 4, and AP French. As you advance, you'll expand these basic patterns into full argumentative essays, debate speeches, and nuanced cultural discussions. Here's a preview of how these skills evolve.

Skill Area	French 2 (Now)	French 3–4 / AP (Future)
Recommendation expressions	Tu devrais, Je te conseille de, Je recommande que	Il serait souhaitable que, Il vaudrait mieux que, Je préconise que — all requiring confident subjunctive use
Reason connectors	Parce que, car, puisque	Étant donné que, vu que, dans la mesure où, en raison de — sophisticated cause-and-effect language
Example support	Par exemple, comme	Citing statistics, quoting experts, referencing cultural texts — evidence-based argumentation
Register awareness	Tu vs. vous; informal vs. formal	Nuanced tone shifts within a single text; persuasion vs. diplomacy; irony and understatement
Output format	Short paragraphs, brief spoken recommendations	Multi-paragraph essays, formal presentations, debate, cultural comparison essays

How recommendation skills scale from French 2 to advanced levels

The beautiful thing about language learning is that every new structure you master opens the door to the next. The three-part formula you're learning today — expression, reason, example — is the same skeleton that drives a five-paragraph persuasive essay in AP French. You're building the muscles now that will carry you to fluency later.

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Practice Problems

Question 1: CONCEPTUAL

What are the three parts of a well-structured French recommendation? Explain each part briefly in English and give the French terms or expressions associated with each.

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The three parts are: (1) the recommendation expression — this is the phrase that signals advice, such as "Tu devrais," "Je te conseille de," or "Je recommande que." (2) The reason — introduced by a connector like "parce que," "car," or "puisque," this explains why the advice is worth following. (3) The example — introduced by "par exemple" or "comme," this gives a concrete illustration that makes the recommendation tangible and memorable.

Question 2: BASIC

Complete the following recommendation by filling in the blanks with appropriate French words: "Je te _______ de lire ce roman _______ l'histoire est fascinante. Par _______, mon frère l'a lu en un week-end."

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"Je te conseille de lire ce roman parce que l'histoire est fascinante. Par exemple, mon frère l'a lu en un week-end." The verb "conseille" completes the recommendation expression "Je te conseille de + infinitive." The connector "parce que" introduces the reason. "Par exemple" introduces the concrete example that supports the recommendation.

Question 3: INTERMEDIATE

Your French pen pal is visiting your city and asks what to do. Write a complete recommendation in French (3–4 sentences) advising them to visit a specific place. Include a recommendation expression, a reason with a connector, and a concrete example. Use the formal register since you don't know them very well yet.

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Sample answer: "Je vous conseille de visiter le musée d'art moderne parce que les expositions sont vraiment impressionnantes. Par exemple, il y a actuellement une exposition de Monet qui est magnifique. Vous devriez y aller le samedi matin car il y a moins de monde." This answer uses the formal "vous" register throughout, includes the recommendation expression "Je vous conseille de," provides a reason with "parce que," and adds a specific example with "Par exemple." A bonus second recommendation ("Vous devriez") with "car" shows variety.

Question 4: APPLIED

Imagine you are writing a short blog post in French for your school's French club website. The topic is: "How to succeed in French class." Write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) that includes at least two different recommendation expressions, at least one reason connector, and one example. Pay attention to register — your audience is fellow students.

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Sample answer: "Tu veux réussir en cours de français ? D'abord, tu devrais pratiquer le français chaque jour, même pendant dix minutes, parce que la régularité est plus importante que la durée. Par exemple, tu peux écouter un podcast français pendant le trajet à l'école. Je te conseille aussi de parler français avec tes camarades de classe car c'est la meilleure façon d'améliorer ta prononciation. Comme ça, tu vas progresser rapidement !" This response uses two different expressions ("tu devrais" and "je te conseille de"), two connectors ("parce que" and "car"), and a concrete example ("écouter un podcast"). The informal "tu" register is appropriate for fellow students.

Question 5: CRITICAL THINKING

Read the following recommendation and identify three specific improvements you would make. Then rewrite it. Original: "Fais du sport. C'est bien." Consider the three-part formula, register, detail, and persuasiveness in your analysis.

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Three improvements: (1) The original uses the imperative ("Fais") which sounds like a command, not a recommendation — it should use a recommendation expression like "Tu devrais" or "Je te conseille de." (2) There is no connector or developed reason — "C'est bien" is vague and unpersuasive. It needs a specific reason with "parce que" or "car." (3) There is no example — adding "Par exemple" with a concrete action would make the advice actionable. Rewritten version: "Je te conseille de faire du sport au moins trois fois par semaine parce que l'exercice améliore ta concentration et réduit le stress. Par exemple, tu peux jouer au basket avec des amis après les cours — c'est amusant et c'est bon pour la santé." This rewrite transforms a vague command into a structured, persuasive recommendation with a clear expression, a developed reason, and a relatable example.

SUMMARY

Lesson Summary

Summary

Giving recommendations in French follows a clear three-part formula. Start with a recommendation expression like Tu devrais (informal), Je te/vous conseille de (versatile), or Je recommande que + subjunctive (formal). Then add a reason using connectors like parce que, car, or puisque to justify your advice. Finally, include a concrete example introduced by par exemple or comme to make your recommendation tangible and persuasive.

Always match your expression to the register of the situation — use tu forms with friends and vous forms in formal settings. These skills form the foundation for advanced persuasive writing and speaking in French 3, French 4, and AP French. Practice the three-part formula consistently, and you'll be giving confident, culturally appropriate recommendations in no time.