15 Feb To Suggest

I usually stress the importance of verb patterns to my students because I consider it to be one of the weakest spots for Spanish-speaking learners. The verb “to suggest” illustrates my point.

How should we use it?

1) SUGGEST + THAT SOMEONE  + DO SOMETHING (subjunctive)

I suggest that she go to the supermarket with you

The subjunctive mode is the base form (infinitive form without “to”)

2) SUGGEST + GERUND (-ing form)

I suggest going to the cinema tonight.

3) SUGGEST + NOUN (SOMETHING)

Can you suggest some interesting places to visit?

IMPORTANT!!  The gerund is a noun equivalent so that means either of the two grammatical categories can come after the verb suggest.

4) SUGGEST+ THAT SOMEONE + DID SOMETHING

I suggested that she went to the hospital.

5) SUGGEST + THAT SOMEONE + SHOULD DO SOMETHING

She suggested that they should call him immediately.

Some of these uses are more frequent among American English speakers and some among British English speakers.