We can use the verbsuggestwith a noun phrase, athat-clause, the -ingformof a verb or awh-question word(where,what).
Suggest+ noun phrase
We can use a noun phrase as the object ofsuggest:
Can yousuggesta good restaurant in this part of town?
If we need to mention the person who receives the suggestion, we use ato-construction:
My teachersuggestedan exam I could take at the end of the year.(orMy teachersuggestedan examto mewhich I could take at the end of the year.)
Not:My teacher suggested me an exam…
Suggest+that-clause
When we suggest an action to someone, we can use athat-clause. In informal situations,thatis often left out:
Isuggest(that) you leave here around four o’clock. The traffic gets very bad from about 4.30 onwards.
Whensuggestis in the past, we can useshouldin thethat-clause:
Her doctorsuggestedthatsheshouldreduce her working hours and take more exercise.
Suggest+ -ingform
We can usesuggestwith the -ingform of a verb when we mention an action but do not mention the person who will do it, because it is understood in the context:
Shesuggestedtravellingtogether for safety, since the area was so dangerous.
Suggest+wh-question word
We can usesuggestwith a question word such aswhere, what, who, how:
Could yousuggest whereI might be able to buy a nice sweater for Mark?
Can anyonesuggest howwe might attract more people to the next event?
Typical errors
We don’t usesuggest+ indirect object +to-infinitive when we suggest an action to someone:
HesuggestedthatI should apply for a job in a bank or insurance company.
Not:He suggested me to apply…
We don’t usesuggest+to-infinitive:
Henry wanted to tell everyone, but Dorasuggestedwaitinguntil the news had been announced officially.
Not:Dora suggested to wait…