Mastering the verb recommend in the past tense is essential for anyone learning English. Whether you’re a student preparing for exams, a language learner aiming for fluency, or a professional enhancing your communication skills, understanding how to properly express past suggestions and advice will greatly improve your accuracy and confidence.
Recommend is a common verb found across many contexts—academic papers, business correspondence, everyday conversations, and storytelling. Expressing past recommendations allows you to report advice, narrate personal experiences, or recount what others have suggested. This ability is crucial for clear communication and effective storytelling.
This comprehensive guide will help you:
- Understand what recommend means and its grammatical forms
- Learn how to form its past tense and use it correctly
- Apply it in various sentence structures—affirmative, negative, interrogative, passive, and more
- Explore advanced topics like subjunctive mood, reported speech, and passive constructions
- Avoid common mistakes
- Practice with exercises and review detailed examples
- Find quick answers in the FAQ
Let’s begin our journey into mastering the past tense of recommend!
Table of Contents
- 3. Definition of the Past Tense of ‘Recommend’
- 4. Structural Breakdown
- 5. Types or Categories of Past Tense Usage with ‘Recommend’
- 6. Examples Section
- 7. Usage Rules
- 8. Common Mistakes
- 9. Practice Exercises
- 10. Advanced Topics
- 11. FAQ Section
- 12. Conclusion
3. Definition of the Past Tense of ‘Recommend’
3.1 What Does ‘Recommend’ Mean?
The verb recommend means to suggest, advise, or endorse someone or something as suitable or beneficial. It’s a regular transitive verb that typically requires an object.
| Base Form | Meaning | Related Synonyms |
|---|---|---|
| recommend | To suggest or advise something as good or suitable | advise, suggest, endorse, propose |
3.2 Grammatical Classification
- Main verb (lexical verb) used to express actions or states
- Regular verb: forms its past by adding -ed
- Can be used in both active and passive voice
3.3 The Past Tense of ‘Recommend’
The simple past and past participle forms of recommend are both recommended.
| Base | Past Simple | Past Participle | Present Participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| recommend | recommended | recommended | recommending |
3.4 Function of the Past Tense
The past tense recommended indicates that the act of recommending happened at a specific time in the past. It is used to:
- Report past advice or suggestions
- Describe endorsements or proposals made previously
- Recount actions or conversations about recommendations
3.5 Usage Contexts
- Narrating past events: *Last week, he recommended a new podcast.*
- Reporting advice: *My teacher recommended more practice.*
- Indirect speech: *She said she recommended the soup.*
- Academic writing: *The study recommended further research.*
- Storytelling: *During our trip, the guide recommended several sights.*
4. Structural Breakdown
4.1 Forming the Past Simple of ‘Recommend’
Recommend is a regular verb, so its past simple form is created by adding -ed without any spelling changes:
- recommend → recommended
There is no doubling of consonants or vowel changes.
4.2 Affirmative Sentences
Structure: Subject + recommended + object/complement
Examples:
- She recommended the new restaurant.
- They recommended taking the earlier train.
- My professor recommended additional reading.
- The doctor recommended rest and hydration.
4.3 Negative Sentences
Structure: Subject + did not (didn’t) + base form recommend + object
Remember, after did not, the verb stays in the base form (recommend), not recommended.
Examples:
- He didn’t recommend that movie.
- We didn’t recommend buying the house.
- She didn’t recommend changing the plan.
- They didn’t recommend hiring him.
4.4 Interrogative Sentences
Structure: Did + subject + base form recommend + object?
Examples:
- Did she recommend this book?
- Did your doctor recommend surgery?
- Did they recommend visiting the museum?
- Did the manager recommend a new approach?
4.5 Passive Voice in Past Tense
Structure: Subject + was/were + past participle recommended (+ by agent)
Examples:
- The hotel was recommended by my colleague.
- The book was not recommended by the teacher.
- The solution was recommended in the report.
- That movie wasn’t recommended by many critics.
| Active Sentence | Passive Sentence |
|---|---|
| My friend recommended the restaurant. | The restaurant was recommended by my friend. |
| The doctor recommended the treatment. | The treatment was recommended by the doctor. |
| They didn’t recommend the plan. | The plan wasn’t recommended by them. |
| Many users recommended the software. | The software was recommended by many users. |
4.6 Past Continuous with ‘Recommend’
Structure: was/were + recommending
Usage: Describes an ongoing act of recommending at a specific time in the past.
Example:
- At that moment, he was recommending a different approach.
- During the meeting, they were recommending several alternatives.
- She was recommending a new book all afternoon.
4.7 Past Perfect
Structure: had + recommended
Usage: Shows the recommendation happened before another past event.
Examples:
- She had recommended that course before I enrolled.
- They had already recommended him for the role.
- By then, the manager had recommended a new strategy.
- The doctor had recommended surgery before the test results arrived.
5. Types or Categories of Past Tense Usage with ‘Recommend’
5.1 Simple Past Recommendation
Direct statement of a recommendation that occurred at a specific past time.
My friend recommended this cafe yesterday.
The teacher recommended a different textbook last semester.
5.2 Reported/Indirect Speech
Used to report what someone said or recommended previously.
Example:
- Direct: She said, “I recommend the pasta.”
- Reported: She said she recommended the pasta.
5.3 Conditional Past Recommendations
Expresses hypothetical or unreal past situations—what would have been recommended if circumstances were different.
Example:
- If they had recommended the treatment earlier, I would have tried it.
- If you had recommended that hotel, we might have stayed there.
5.4 Passive Recommendations in Past
Focuses on the recommendation itself, not on who made it.
Example:
- His novel was recommended by many critics.
- The software was recommended by several experts.
5.5 Negative Past Recommendations
Expresses that someone advised against something.
Example:
- He recommended not traveling during the storm.
- My doctor recommended not exercising with a fever.
- The lawyer recommended not signing the contract immediately.
6. Examples Section
6.1 Affirmative Past Simple Examples
- The doctor recommended rest.
- My teacher recommended that I read more novels.
- Our manager recommended a new strategy.
- The mechanic recommended replacing the brakes.
- She recommended the Italian restaurant on Main Street.
- They recommended arriving early.
- He recommended joining the club.
- My parents recommended this university.
- His friends recommended that he apply for the position.
- The chef recommended the seafood platter.
6.2 Negative Past Simple Examples
- She didn’t recommend that hotel.
- They didn’t recommend changing the plan.
- My lawyer didn’t recommend settling quickly.
- He didn’t recommend taking that course.
- We didn’t recommend traveling alone.
- The teacher didn’t recommend those resources.
- My doctor didn’t recommend surgery.
- They didn’t recommend buying that house.
- She didn’t recommend eating there.
- He didn’t recommend investing in that company.
6.3 Questions in Past Simple
- Did your lawyer recommend settling the case?
- Did he recommend a different medication?
- Did they recommend hiring her?
- Did the consultant recommend any changes?
- Did your friend recommend this book?
- Did the dentist recommend braces?
- Did your parents recommend that school?
- Did she recommend visiting the museum?
- Did they recommend attending the conference?
- Did your coach recommend extra training?
6.4 Passive Voice Examples
- The software was recommended by many users.
- This film wasn’t recommended by the critics.
- The treatment was recommended by my doctor.
- That hotel was highly recommended by several friends.
- The plan wasn’t recommended by the advisors.
- The course was recommended in the brochure.
- His book was recommended by the professor.
- The recipe was recommended on the website.
- That product was not recommended by consumer reports.
- The novel was recommended by my sister.
6.5 Past Perfect Examples
- They had recommended the restaurant before it became popular.
- She had never recommended such a drastic measure before.
- By the time I arrived, he had recommended a different approach.
- I had already recommended her for the job.
- We had recommended buying insurance before the trip.
- He had recommended reviewing the document carefully.
- They had recommended several options by then.
- She had recommended talking to the manager first.
- The lawyer had recommended settling out of court.
- My friend had recommended that movie a long time ago.
6.6 Continuous Past Examples
- He was recommending a new training method during the meeting.
- They were recommending several possible solutions.
- She was recommending the same book to everyone.
- At that time, the manager was recommending major changes.
- The consultant was recommending a different approach.
6.7 Indirect Speech Examples
- He said he recommended the cheaper model.
- They told me they recommended waiting.
- She mentioned she recommended the new policy.
- My teacher said she recommended more practice.
- He explained that he recommended an alternative solution.
- The doctor told me he recommended rest over medication.
- My friend said he recommended that movie.
- The guide said she recommended the earlier tour.
- They said they recommended not investing at that time.
- She told me she recommended applying early.
6.8 Conditional Past Examples
- If you had recommended it earlier, I would have bought it.
- If they had recommended that course, I might have enrolled.
- If the doctor had recommended surgery sooner, I would have agreed.
- If she had recommended the book, I would have read it.
- If he had recommended that hotel, we would have stayed there.
6.9 Table 1: Affirmative, Negative, Question Forms
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Affirmative | She recommended the new policy. |
| Negative | She didn’t recommend the new policy. |
| Question | Did she recommend the new policy? |
6.10 Table 2: Active vs. Passive Sentences
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| The teacher recommended the book. | The book was recommended by the teacher. |
| They didn’t recommend the plan. | The plan wasn’t recommended by them. |
| Many users recommended the app. | The app was recommended by many users. |
| My friend recommended this cafe. | This cafe was recommended by my friend. |
6.11 Table 3: Direct vs. Reported Speech Examples
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|
| She said, “I recommend the pasta.” | She said she recommended the pasta. |
| He said, “I don’t recommend this movie.” | He said he didn’t recommend that movie. |
| They said, “We recommend applying early.” | They said they recommended applying early. |
| My teacher said, “I recommend more reading.” | My teacher said she recommended more reading. |
6.12 Table 4: Past Tenses Comparison (Simple, Continuous, Perfect)
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | recommended | He recommended a new strategy. |
| Past Continuous | was/were recommending | He was recommending a new strategy during the meeting. |
| Past Perfect | had recommended | He had recommended a new strategy before the project started. |
6.13 Table 5: Examples with and without Object Clauses
| With Object | With ‘that’ Clause |
|---|---|
| She recommended the soup. | She recommended that I try the soup. |
| They recommended the new policy. | They recommended that we adopt the new policy. |
| He recommended extra training. | He recommended that the team receive extra training. |
| My doctor recommended rest. | My doctor recommended that I rest. |
7. Usage Rules
7.1 When to Use the Past Tense of ‘Recommend’
- When the recommendation was made at a specific, finished time in the past
- When narrating conversations or events that have ended
- When reporting what someone suggested previously
7.2 Common Sentence Patterns
- recommend + noun: He recommended the book.
- recommend + gerund (-ing form): She recommended taking the test early.
- recommend + that + clause (subjunctive or indicative):
- She recommended that he see a doctor. (subjunctive, common in American English)
- She recommended that he saw a doctor. (informal, regional)
7.3 Subjunctive Use after ‘Recommend’
After recommend, the base form is often used in that clauses, especially in American English:
They recommended that he go home.
7.4 Using ‘Recommend’ with Infinitives
Using the infinitive (to + verb) after recommend is usually incorrect:
- Incorrect: *She recommended to go.*
- Correct: *She recommended going.* or *She recommended that we go.*
7.5 Choosing Between Past Simple and Past Perfect
- Past Simple: The recommendation happened at a specific past time.
- She recommended the restaurant yesterday.
- Past Perfect: The recommendation happened before another past event.
- She had recommended that restaurant before I arrived.
7.6 Exceptions and Special Cases
- Omission of ‘that’ is common in informal speech:
- She recommended I try it.
- Reported speech tense may shift depending on the reporting verb:
- She says she recommends… (present)
- She said she recommended… (past)
8. Common Mistakes
8.1 Incorrect Past Forms
- Incorrect: *recommendinged*
- Incorrect: *recommendated*
- Correct: recommended
8.2 Wrong Negative Structure
- Incorrect: *She didn’t recommended*
- Correct: *She didn’t recommend*
- Explanation: After didn’t, use the base form.
8.3 Using Present Instead of Past
- Incorrect: *She recommend I see a doctor yesterday.*
- Correct: *She recommended I see a doctor yesterday.*
8.4 Misusing Gerunds and Infinitives
- Incorrect: *She recommended to see a doctor.*
- Correct: *She recommended seeing a doctor.* or *She recommended that I see a doctor.*
8.5 Reported Speech Tense Errors
- Incorrect: *She said she recommends the pasta.* (when reporting past)
- Correct: *She said she recommended the pasta.*
8.6 Passive Voice Confusion
- Incorrect: *The hotel recommended by us.* (fragment)
- Correct: *The hotel was recommended by us.*
8.7 Summary Table: Common Errors and Corrections
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| didn’t recommended | didn’t recommend | Use base form after “didn’t” |
| She recommend yesterday | She recommended yesterday | Use past tense for past events |
| recommendated | recommended | Correct regular past form |
| She recommended to go | She recommended going | Use gerund or “that” + clause |
| She said she recommends | She said she recommended | Reported speech matches past tense |
| The hotel recommended by us | The hotel was recommended by us | Needs auxiliary “was” for passive |
9. Practice Exercises
9.1 Fill-in-the-Blank
Complete the sentences with the correct past form of recommend.
- Yesterday, my boss _______ (recommend) a new strategy.
- They _______ (not recommend) that movie.
- Did she _______ (recommend) the seafood dish?
- My friend _______ (recommend) trying yoga.
- The mechanic _______ (not recommend) fixing the old car.
Answers:
- recommended
- did not (didn’t) recommend
- recommend
- recommended
- did not (didn’t) recommend
9.2 Identify the Error
Find and correct the mistakes:
- He didn’t recommended the book.
- She said she recommends the pasta during her trip last week.
Answers:
- Corrected: He didn’t recommend the book.
- Corrected: She said she recommended the pasta during her trip last week.
9.3 Sentence Transformation
Change as instructed.
Active to Passive:
- My friend recommended this laptop. → This laptop was recommended by my friend.
Direct to Indirect Speech:
- She said, “I recommend the soup.” → She said she recommended the soup.
9.4 Create Sentences
Make full sentences using the prompts.
- a teacher / recommend / new book / last semester
- doctor / not recommend / surgery
Possible answers:
- The teacher recommended a new book last semester.
- The doctor didn’t recommend surgery.
9.5 Multiple Choice
Which is correct?
- a) She recommended to take the train.
b) She recommended taking the train.
c) She recommended took the train.
Answer: b) She recommended taking the train.
9.6 Advanced Error Correction
Correct the sentence:
*If he would have recommended it, I try it.*
Corrected: If he had recommended it, I would have tried it.
10. Advanced Topics
10.1 Subjunctive Mood in ‘That’ Clauses
After verbs like recommend, the subjunctive uses the base form of the verb in that clauses. This is common in American English:
They recommended that he go home.
In British English, the indicative (he goes or he should go) is also acceptable.
10.2 Using Modal Verbs with Past Recommendations
Modal verbs add nuance to past recommendations:
- should have recommended: expressing obligation or criticism
- The doctor should have recommended more tests.
- could have recommended: expressing possibility
- They could have recommended other options.
- might have recommended: expressing uncertainty
- She might have recommended that restaurant.
10.3 Nuances in Passive Reporting
The passive voice can add formality or shift focus:
- Formal: The course was recommended by the committee.
- Informal: My friend recommended the course.
- Emphasis on action: The new policy was recommended. (who recommended is less important)
- Emphasis on agent: The new policy was recommended by experts.
10.4 Contrast with Similar Verbs in Past Tense
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| recommended | Suggested as good or suitable | She recommended the new restaurant. |
| suggested | Offered an idea or plan | She suggested trying the new restaurant. |
| advised | Offered guidance based on expertise | She advised us to book in advance. |
10.5 Sequence of Tenses in Reported Speech
When reporting past speech, tense usually shifts back:
- Direct: She said, “I recommend the pasta.”
- Reported: She said she recommended the pasta.
But when the reporting verb is present, the tense can stay present:
- She says she recommends the pasta.
11. FAQ Section
- What is the past tense of recommend?
Answer: The past tense is recommended. - Is recommended both the past simple and past participle?
Answer: Yes, recommended serves as both the simple past and past participle form. - When do I use recommended vs. recommend?
Answer: Use recommended for actions completed in the past. Use recommend for present or general advice. - Can I say recommend to do something?
Answer: No, it’s incorrect. Use either recommend doing or recommend that someone do. - How do I use recommend in reported speech?
Answer: Change the tense if reporting a past statement: She said she recommended the soup. - Should I use that after recommended?
Answer: It’s optional. Both She recommended I try it and She recommended that I try it are correct. - Is recommended a regular or irregular verb?
Answer: It’s a regular verb. - Can recommend be used in passive voice in the past tense?
Answer: Yes. Example: The book was recommended by my friend. - What is the difference between recommended and had recommended?
Answer: Recommended is past simple; had recommended is past perfect, showing an action before another past event. - What prepositions go with recommended?
Answer: Commonly by (in passive), sometimes for. Example: Recommended by experts. - How do I make a question with recommended?
Answer: Use did: Did she recommend this? - What are common mistakes with the past tense of recommend?
Answer: Using didn’t recommended (should be didn’t recommend), or recommendated instead of recommended.
12. Conclusion
In this comprehensive guide, you learned how to properly use recommend in the past tense, including its forms (recommended), sentence structures, passive voice, reported speech, and advanced nuances. We covered over 50 examples, detailed tables, rules, typical errors, advanced topics, and practice exercises to deepen your understanding.
Mastering the past tense of recommend is essential for narrating past events, reporting others’ advice, and expressing previous suggestions clearly and professionally. This knowledge will enhance your fluency in academic writing, professional communication, and everyday conversations.
Keep practicing with the examples and exercises. Review the rules regularly, and consult the FAQ whenever in doubt.
With consistent effort, expressing past recommendations will become natural and accurate.
Remember: understanding subtle differences in expressing past advice improves both your speaking and writing skills. Happy learning!
This guide aims to equip you with the knowledge and practice needed to confidently and correctly use the past tense of recommend in any situation.