The English verb SUGGEST

“suggest” is a verb.
Pronunciation: /səˈdʒest/

Meaning: To propose an idea, thing, or action for other people to consider.

Example:
Mark: I can’t decide what dessert to have.
Waiter: I suggest the chocolate cake.

In this lesson, you will learn 4 ways to use “suggest“:

“suggest” + direct object
“suggest” + direct object + indirect object
“suggest” + ING form of verb
“suggest” + that clause

“suggest” with a direct object

Form:
“suggest” + direct object

The direct object indicates what we are suggesting. This simple structure does not indicate to whom we are suggesting something. But it is often obvious from the context.

Example:
Mark: What shall we eat tonight?
Jane: I suggest a pizza!

(It is obvious that Jane is suggesting pizza to Mark. Therefore, it is not necessary to specify it.)

“suggest” with a direct and indirect object

Form:
“suggest” + direct object + “to” + indirect object

The direct object indicates what we are suggesting.
The indirect object indicates the person to whom we are suggesting something.

Examples:

I suggested a hotel to Mark.
Jane suggested a good shop to my parents.
Can you suggest a nice restaurant to us?

“suggest” with ING form of verb

Form:
suggest + ING form of verb

The ING form of the verb indicates what action we are suggesting. This simple structure does not indicate to whom we are suggesting something. But it is often obvious from the context. The ING form of the verb is called a gerund.

We do not use the infinitive after “suggest“.

Examples:

Mark: How will I travel to London?
Jane: I suggest driving.
Jane: I suggest to drive.

Jane: I am very tired. What should I do?
Mark: I suggest sleeping.
Mark: I suggest to sleep.

“suggest” with a “that clause”

We use a “that clause” when the subject of the person to whom we are suggesting something is different to the subject of “suggest”

Form:
suggest + “that” + different subject + verb

The “that clause” indicates what action we are suggesting. The “that clause” also indicates the person doing the action.
In British English, we may use both the present simple and past simple tenses.

Examples:
I suggest that you drive.
Mark suggested that I called him.
Andrew suggests that we share his Youtube channel with our friends. (Please do this!)

Omission of “that”

In informal English, it is very common to omit the word “that”:

suggest + different subject + verb

I suggest you drive.
Mark suggested I called him.

“suggest” with subjunctive in a “that clause”

This is an advanced grammar rule.

In formal English, we may use the subjunctive for the verb in the “that clause”.

Form:
suggest + “that” + subject + verb in the present subjunctive

Below is the form of the present subjunctive, compared to the present indicative. I have underlined the only difference.

Present indicative	Present Subjunctive
I walk	I walk
you walk	you walk
he/she/it walks	he/she/it walk
we walk	we walk
you walk	you walk
they walk	they walk

Therefore, there is only a difference in the 3rd person singular. The indicative ending has an “s”. The subjective ending does not have an “s”. For all the other subjects, there is no difference in form.

Example:

Formal (with subjunctive):
I suggest that he walk to school.