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suggest

Infinitive not used​

Suggest is not followed by object + infinitive. That-clauses and -ing structures are common.

  • Her uncle suggested that she (should) get a job in a bank.
  • Her uncle suggested getting a job in a bank.
  • (not Her uncle suggested her to get a job in a bank.)

Indirect object not used​

Suggest is not normally followed by an indirect object without a preposition.

  • Can you suggest a restaurant to us? (not Can you suggest us a restaurant?)

Verb forms in that-clauses​

In that-clauses after suggest, various verb forms are possible when we suggest what people should do.

Ordinary present and past tenses can be used.

  • Her uncle suggests that she gets a job in a bank.
  • He suggested that she got a job in a bank.

Should + infinitive without to is common.

  • He suggests that she should get a job in a bank.
  • He suggested that she should get a job in a bank.

Subjunctives (see here) are also used, especially in American English.

  • He suggests that she get a job in a bank.
  • He suggested that she get a job in a bank.

Direct suggestions​

In direct suggestions (‘I suggest …’), should is not generally used.

  • I suggest (that) you get … (not I suggest that you should get.)