German Phrase
Wir empfehlen dir, im Voraus zu buchen.
Meaning
‘We recommend that you book in advance.’ The sentence is a polite suggestion, often used when giving travel or event advice. It carries a friendly, helpful tone rather than a strict command.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to advise someone—friends, customers, or colleagues—to secure a reservation early, such as for flights, hotels, concerts, or restaurant tables.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WirempfehlendirimVorauszubuchen
Verb + Dative
The verb ‘empfehlen’ takes a dative object, so ‘dir’ (to you) is used instead of ‘dich’.
‘im Voraus’
‘im Voraus’ (literally ‘in advance’) is a fixed adverbial phrase that means ‘ahead of time’.
Infinitive with ‘zu’
When a verb follows a recommendation or suggestion, the infinitive is introduced with ‘zu’ (zu buchen).
Comma placement
In German, a comma separates the main clause from the infinitive clause: ‘Wir empfehlen dir, im Voraus zu buchen.’
🗨In Conversation
Wir empfehlen dir, im Voraus zu buchen.
We recommend you book in advance.
Danke, das mache ich gleich.
Thanks, I’ll do that right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Wir empfehlen dich, im Voraus zu buchen.
‘empfehlen’ requires the dative case, so ‘dir’ is correct, not the accusative ‘dich’.
Wir empfehlen dir, im Vorraus zu buchen.
The correct spelling is ‘Voraus’ (one ‘r’).
Wir empfehlen dir, im Voraus buchen.
When the infinitive follows ‘empfehlen’, the ‘zu’ is mandatory.
↔Alternatives
Wir raten dir, frühzeitig zu reservieren.
We advise you to reserve early.
Es ist besser, wenn du vorher buchst.
It’s better if you book beforehand.
Buch am besten schon jetzt.
It’s best to book right now.
Cultural Tip
In German, recommendations are often phrased with ‘empfehlen + dative + zu‑Infinitiv’. The adverbial ‘im Voraus’ is common in travel and service contexts. Using the polite dative form shows respect and keeps the tone friendly. Avoid the accusative ‘dich’ after ‘empfehlen’, as it would be grammatically incorrect.