Using suggest
August 15th, 2014 in English Learning
Suggest is one of those verbs that cannot be followed by a to-infinitive.
Suggest can be followed by an –ing form or a that-clause.
- Activists suggested abolishing the plan to build the bridge.
- OR
- Activists suggested that the plan to build the bridge should be abolished. (NOT Activists suggested to abolish the plan to build the bridge.)
- The doctor suggested that he should quit smoking. (NOT The doctor suggested him to quit smoking.)
Suggest cannot be followed by a direct personal object. You should use a structure with to.
- Can you suggest a nice restaurant to me? (NOT Can you suggest me a nice restaurant?)
- I don’t know what I should suggest to her? (NOT I don’t know what I should suggest her?)
- He suggested to me that I should change my style of parenting. (NOT He suggested me that I should change my style of parenting.)
Suggest is one of those verbs that can be followed by a subjunctive structure.
- He suggested that I write to her as soon as possible.
- She suggested that I accompany her.
In British English, these structures are not very common.
In that-clauses, British people usually prefer should + infinitive.
- He suggested that I should write to her as soon as possible.
- She suggested that I should accompany her.