Giving advice
You can give advice or make a recommendation in different ways:
- using empfehlen (to recommend)
-Welchen Wein empfehlen Sie mir zum Hauptgericht?
âWhich wine do you recommend with the main course?
-Zum Fisch empfehle ich Ihnen einen Sauvignon Blanc.
âWith fish, I recommend a Sauvignon Blanc.
- using jemandem raten (to advise someone) or raten zu (to advise to), followed by the dative
-Was raten Sie mir? -Ich rate Ihnen, ein Taxi zu reservieren.
âWhat do you advise? âI advise you to book a taxi.
-Rätst du mir zum Verkauf? -Ja, ich rate dir, jetzt zu verkaufen.
âAre you advising me to sell? âYes, I'm advising you to sell now.
- using einen Ratschlag geben (to give advice)
Kannst du mir einen Ratschlag geben?
Can you give me some advice?
Wenn ich dir einen Rat geben darf: Warte bis morgen.
If I may give you some advice: wait until tomorrow.
- Using the subjunctive II of werden (will), mĂźssen (must) and sollen (should).
An Ihrer Stelle wĂźrde ich das Haus verkaufen.
If I were you, I would sell the house.
Das mĂźsstet ihr korrigieren.
You should correct it.
Du solltest die Firma anrufen.
You ought to give the company a call.
We can also advise someone against doing something:
- using the separable verb Trennbares Verb abraten von (to advise against), which takes the dative
Von dem Autohändler rate ich dir ab. abraten, Präsens
I would advise you against that car dealer.
Der Berater hat mir von der Investition abgeraten. abraten, Perfekt
The adviser advised me against the investment.
Note: in a restaurant, we ask for eine Empfehlung (a recommendation), not for einen Ratschlag (advice).
-Welchen Wein empfehlen Sie uns? -Wir empfehlen Ihnen den Wein des Hauses.
-Which wine do you recommend for us? -We recommend the house wine.
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