suggest
In English, there is an underlying structure with many words that might change in speech or written form. Suggest is a good example.
The base structure is:
suggest (that) someone (should) do something
On the surface level, when we talk or write, we can use this structure, or we can delete the words in parentheses, so you could have:
She suggested that I should listen to the new song by Sharma.
She suggested (that) I listen to the new song by Sharma.
She suggested I (should) listen to the new song by Sharma.
She suggested I listen to the new song by Sharma.*
Notice that there isn’t a direct object person in this case because the object is the thing that she suggested - a phrase [that I should listen to the new song by Sharma.]
If you want to say specifically the person TO WHOM she made the suggestion, you could use TO ME:
She suggested to me (that) I (should) listen to the new song by Sharma.
However, the TO ME is redundant (not necessary) because the sentence says “I (should) listen…”.
Another use of SUGGEST is, for example, when you are nominating someone to fill a role. The person nominated is the object in the sentence.
I suggest Ranji for team captain.
In this case, you could say:
I suggested HER for team captain because…
If you’re offering an idea for something, you use SUGGEST + DOING you could say:
We haven’t finished the meeting, but I’m hungry. I suggest ordering pizza.
Finally, you can suggest SOMETHING. You don’t need to say to whom.
They suggested the noodle shop on the corner. It’s fast and cheap. (We understand that the speaker is the person “they” were talking to.)
Quiz
What would you use in these examples?
- I suggested (a. to you/b. ∅/c. him) the supermarket on State Street.
- I suggest (a. you/b. you to/c. ∅) go to Nagano if you want goodski slopes.
- I suggest (a. John to/b. to John to/c. John) order pizza for everyone - and pay for it!
Answers: 1. b 2. a 3. c
