Question 1

Why does the sentence use apruebe instead of aprueba?

Accepted Answer

The phrase Recomiendo que (I recommend that) triggers the subjunctive mood for the second verb. We use the subjunctive when giving advice, expressing wishes, or making recommendations. Because aprobar (to approve) is an -ar verb, its vowel swaps to an -e in the subjunctive.

Question 2

Where does the "ue" in apruebe come from?

Accepted Answer

The infinitive of the verb is aprobar. Just like in the normal present tense (where we say yo apruebo or tú apruebas), this verb has a stem change from o to ue. The present subjunctive keeps this exact same stem change.

Question 3

Why is the word usted included here? Doesn't the verb already tell us who is doing the approving?

Accepted Answer

Usually, yes! But in the present subjunctive, the verb forms for yo, él, ella, and usted are all exactly the same (apruebe). Because of this overlap, Spanish speakers often add the subject pronoun (like usted) to make it perfectly clear who they are talking about.

Question 4

Why does lo come before the verb? Could I say "apruebelo"?

Accepted Answer

Lo means "it" and is a direct object pronoun. The rule in Spanish is that these pronouns must go immediately before a conjugated verb. Even though apruebe is in the subjunctive mood, it is still a conjugated verb, so it has to be lo apruebe. You can only attach these pronouns to the end of infinitives, "-ing" words, or affirmative commands.

Recomiendo que usted lo apruebe.

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