Use of subjunctive with verb of advice.

Question

'He recommended (to me) investing in the stock market'

I put 'me ha recomendado que invertiera en bolsa' recomendar + imperfect subjunctive.

This was marked wrong and the only alternatives shown being recomendar + infinitive 'me ha recomendado invertir en bolsa'

Why can't I use the subjunctive here?

Gracias

Accepted Answer

Hola to both of you,
Indeed, the use of the imperfect subjunctive in this sentence is also correct, so we have added it as valid.
Thank you very much for your contribution!
Saludos
Silvia

Answer

Hello there David L -There are some verbs in Spanish which can be followed by an infinitive [in that^ type of construction] even when there is a change of subject. My grammar book [published in 2004] lists ayudar, autorizar, animar, enseñar, forzar, persuadir and several others which are usually followed by an infinitive - e.g. "Le enseñé a hacerlo" = "I taught him to do it".My book also mentions that some verbs are in a "transitional state", where preference for a 'following infinitive' [in the above^ context] is gaining ground; [so, during the last 20 years, some of them might by now have "crossed over" !] These verbs include recomendar, aconsejar, proponer and sugerir [and perhaps pedir, particularly in Hispano-America]. The book says "the older construction is with the subjunctive and is safer for foreigners, but the infinitive option is often heard".So the answer to your question is that it is not wrong to use the subjunctive, but a lot of Spaniards [perhaps a majority, by now] would prefer to use the shorter version.Regards, David M