SUGGEST

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Coachpotato  #138046  Fri, 16 Sep 05 11:09 AM

Are these three sentences correct? - which one would you say?

I suggested to Brian that he went and saw the doctor.

I suggested to Brian that he go and see the doctor.

I suggested to Brian that he should go and see the doctor.

 

Thanks for your help.

  
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Mister Micawber  #138062  Fri, 16 Sep 05 11:53 AM

The first is awful-- the other two are fine.  The third is more frequent in BrE.


  
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Coachpotato  #138069  Fri, 16 Sep 05 12:16 PM

Thanks Mister Micawber. Can you tell me what's wrong with the first one?

Can't you say 'I suggested we went to the beach' ?

  
Mister Micawber  #138084  Fri, 16 Sep 05 01:37 PM

No, sorry-- you cannot if you want to use 'correct' English, CP.  Suggestion and advice are situations in which we use either the subjunctive or 'putative' should:

I suggest/suggested/will suggest (that) you go/should go home.
I suggest/suggested/will suggest (that) he go/should go home.


  
Coachpotato  #138124  Fri, 16 Sep 05 03:50 PM

Actually, I saw this example in a grammar book called 'First Certificate Language Practice':

I suggested going to the beach.

I suggested that we went to the beach.

 

 

 

  
Mister Micawber  #138304  Sat, 17 Sep 05 02:25 AM

I still don't like it.  Wait for a Brit; maybe s/he will.


  
davkett  #138311  Sat, 17 Sep 05 02:52 AM
 Coachpotato wrote:

I suggested that we went to the beach.

I'm not a Brit, and I like the second one (above, at the top of the thread).  

As to, 'I suggested that we went to the beach', it might be expressed that way by someone who uses the word 'suggested' to mean 'indicated' ( by hinting, winking, nodding or by giving some such non-verbal clue).  It's kind of a far-fetched explanation, though.

  
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