Acordar/Recordar

Acordar/Recordar
 

Figuring out how to use acordar and recorder is a problem. At times, only one is correct, but sometimes, both are correct. Often my answer is correct, but an alternative correct answer is presented, with the verb other than the one that I used. It doesn't seem to be as simple as agree/remember. What I have picked up is that recordar is never reflexive and that acordar is always so.

Translate: You have to remember that.

My error: ¡Tienes que recordar de eso!

Correct solution: ¡Tienes que acordarte de eso!

Acordar, when not used reflexively, means 'agree'.
To help solidify that meaning in your mind, think about the English question, "Do we have an accord?" We can substitute 'agreement' for 'accord' and not sound so quaint. The Spanish verb acordar ultimately came from Vulgar Latin. And the Normans introduced its noun derivative into English.

Acordarse de algo/alguien means 'remember something/one'.
Note that the preposition 'de' must precede the object (the 'something/one' remembered).

Recordar algo/a alguien means 'remember something/one'.
Note that there is no preposition when an inanimate object is specified. However, the preposition 'a' must be used when the object is a person. The preposition has no translation into English.
You've already learned that recordar is not reflexive.

I agree with Rusty.
Also, something to remember is that "acordarse" and "recordar" mean the same thing (to remember) but they are constructed differently:

- Tienes que recordar eso.
- Tienes que acordarte de eso. -> Your answer would have been correct, but you mixed both constructions. ;)

Some more examples:
- ¿Te acuerdas de mí? :approx: ¿Me recuerdas?
Do you remember me?
- Nos acordamos de hacer la tarea. :approx: Recordamos hacer la tarea.
We remembered doing homework
- ¿Quién se acuerda de la pandemia? :approx: ¿Quién recuerda la pandemia?
Who remembers the pandemic?
- Ya nadie se acuerda de los libros. :approx: Ya nadie recuerda los libros.
Nobody remembers books anymore.
- No me acuerdo de mi contraseña. :approx: No recuerdo mi contraseña.
I can't remember my password.

Thank you for the examples Angelica. The contrasting colours provide a helpful visual aid.

Glad it helps. :)