83.- Subjunctive. Suggest. Grammar C2. Proficiency.

Subjunctive. Suggest.

 

A lot of English learners struggle with the verb suggest because suggest is an unusual English verb. It is not used in a sentence the same way that other verbs are.

 

Suggest means mention or recommend something to think about, or something someone should do. You suggest a thought or an idea.

 

 

  1. “I suggest that you call him.”

 

suggest that someone do something…. Y no someone does,,, ¡!!

 

This is the most difficult use of suggest for English learners to understand, so take some time to read this part of the lesson carefully.

 

You want to tell someone your opinion. You want to tell them to do something.

 

Don’t use me, us, you, etc. as indirect object pronouns after suggest. Use a that-clause after suggest.

 

What is a that-clause?

A clause is any part of a sentence that has a subject and a verb. A sentence is one or more clauses joined together. A that-clause is a clause that starts with the conjunction that. A conjunction joins two clauses or sentences together into one longer sentence.

 

Start your sentence with this specific structure:

 

I suggest that…

 

The next part of the sentence needs a subject and a verb, because it’s a clause.

 

I suggest that someone do something

 

“Someone” is the subject of the clause. The subject is followed by the verb phrase “do something.”

 

REMEMBER: Don’t use an infinitive after suggest. Don’t say “I suggest to do something.”

 

 

Example sentences

 

I suggest that you memorize sentences instead of grammar rules!

 

Emily suggests that we go out for dinner after the movie.

 

My mom suggested that I get a summer job.

 

Her brother suggests that she study harder so she can get into a good university.

 

 

Hmmmmm. Let’s look at that last sentence. Do you notice something strange about the verb?

 

Her brother suggests that she study harder so she can get into a good university.

 

Shouldn’t it be “that she studies“? No. This is what makes the English verb suggest different from other verbs.

 

Remember, in this structure, I suggest is followed by a that-clause. A clause contains a subject and a verb.

 

The verb tense in the that-clause is the subjunctive.

 

Don’t let the word subjunctive scare you! It is not a verb tense that you need to learn. It’s a verb tense leftover from Old English and it’s not used in English today. In fact, there are only two sentences in the entire English language that use the subjunctive. The first sentence is “suggest that.”

 

(The other sentence is a conditional sentence in which you use phrase “if I were.”)

 

That’s it! You don’t need to know the subjunctive verb tense. I don’t know the subjunctive verb tense in English. If you stopped a native speaker on the street and asked her “What is the subjunctive verb tense in English?” She would say “The what? I don’t know!”

 

Just remember that in this sentence structure, you don’t need to change the verb to match the subject. Use the the base form of the verb.

 

Her brother suggests that she study harder so she can get into a good university.

NOT: Her brother suggests that she studies harder so she can get into a good university.

 

 

NOTE: You cannot use another verb tense in the that-clause. You cannot use the simple past. You must use the subjunctive verb tense.

 

More example sentences

 

She suggests that he go to France instead of Italy this summer.

 

I suggested that she be Queen Elsa from Frozen for Halloween!

 

I suggested that he ask someone else for help.

 

 

Tip: You don’t need to include “that” in the sentence. It is still a that-clause even if you don’t say or write that in this sentence structure

 

I suggest you memorize sentences instead of grammar rules!

 

Emily suggests we go out for dinner after the movie.

 

My mom suggested I get a summer job.

 

Her brother suggests she study harder so she can get into a good university.

 

I suggest you go to the doctor!

 

She suggests he go to France instead of Italy this summer.

 

He suggested I ask someone else for help.

 

 

Tip: Make the that-clause negative by adding not in front of the verb.

 

The teacher suggests we not waste time playing video games after school.

 

 

REMEMBER: You suggest that someone do something.

 

 

  1. “He suggested going for a walk together.”

 

suggest doing something

 

suggest + gerund

 

I suggest memorizing sentences instead of grammar rules!

 

Don’t use an infinitive after suggest! If you use a verb after suggest, use a gerund!

 

What is a gerund? A gerund is a noun that is formed by adding -ing to a verb.

 

Example sentences

 

Her brother suggests studying harder so she can get into a good university.

 

My doctor suggests eating less and exercising more.

 

Her family suggested waiting a few years before she gets married.

 

I suggest not waiting so long to go to the doctor.

 

The meaning of this sentence is the same as suggest that someone do something.

 

 

  1. Suggest an idea for a grammar lesson!

 

suggest something

 

suggest + noun

 

Can you suggest a good hotel in Paris?

 

I can suggest some interesting apps.

 

I really love this app and will suggest it to everyone.

 

No politician has suggested a way to improve the economy.

 

He suggested several different things to do after dinner.

Y aquí unos cuantos ejemplos de la literatura en lengua inglesa que hemos seleccionado para ti:

“…..I concluded , and suggested that Atticus lose no time packing her off” (To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee )

  1. “…suggested that he be reappointed…”(The Guns of August page 138)

 

 

 

 

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