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Using: to suggest

Pay great attention to the verb «to suggest»! It is «transparent» but deceives French speakers

 - and perhaps others - pushing them to imitate its construction!  Traitor!  

There are several ways to build a correct sentence using «to suggest».  

This verb is used with a noun phrase (or a noun), a «that-clause», with a verb in the -ing form,

or a WH- question word (where/ what/ when/ how/).

What a story!   It's somewhat complex, indeed! 

1) Suggest + noun/ a noun phrase: the noun phrase can be the direct object of "suggest":  

- "I suggest a cold drink and a snack; let's make it quick, we're already late!"

-> To mention the person who receives suggestion, use the preposition «to»:

- "I suggest a takeaway coffee to you! That will be quicker!"

    BUT NOT : I suggest you a takeaway coffee

2) Suggest + «that-clause».

To express a suggestion, a «that-clause» is frequently used. 

In informal discussions, the pronoun «that»  is often omitted. In formal English,

in the past, the modal auxiliary «should» can be used (especially in American English). 

To suggest+ (that)+ subject+ (should)+ subjonctive: 

The subjonctive has the same form as the infinitive without the particle to, (the bare form). 

- I suggest you go to work by car today. That will be quicker. 

- Paul's doctor suggested he should exercise more...

3) To suggest+ V-ing: when the subject is included in the action: 

 - He suggested going for a walk, which was a very good idea! 

4) To suggest+ WH-question word... such as "where","what", "who", "how"... 

- Could you suggest where I might buy a second-hand scooter?

- Can anyone suggest how we might attract more volunteers?

As you have seen, we have resisted the temptation of using an infinitive clause! 

Keep in mind that "suggest" cannot be followed by an infinitive clause.

... and go for the test! 

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1. 'I suggest going to visitto go and visitto go visitingI don't know our grandmother now… Thus, we’ll have more time to entertain her!'



2. My Mum suggested I should spendme to spendto spendI don't know Christmas with my family but I said I had already planned going to the mountains with friends…



3. 'Can you suggest us a good restauranta good restaurant to usus to go to a good restaurantI don't know in this town? We don’t know it at all…'



4. Your teacher suggested to do a new researchyou a new researcha new research to youI don't know, and I think you should accept with enthusiasm…



5. When I suggested he goeshim to gothat he goI don't know to Italy now, he said he couldn’t because he was still expecting to get his new passport…



6. 'I suggest we leaveto us to leaveus to leaveI don't know here around 4 o’clock to avoid the traffic jams when we get to London…'



7. Joan's doctor suggested her to loselosingthat she should loseI don't know 10 pounds… It’s more easily said than done!



8. Our guide suggested travelto traveltravellingI don't know together for safety because the area was still dangerous.



9. Can any of you suggest how hirehow we might hirehow hiringI don't know two new managers without threatening the financial balance of our firm?



10. Trevor’s parents suggested applyingto him that he applythat he should applyI don't know for a job in a bank…