"Suggest" and "recommend" are grammatically similar but have subtle differences: NEVER followed by infinitive with TO ("suggest to do" = incorrect). They take a gerund or a "that" clause.
SUGGEST + grammatical structure. MOST IMPORTANT: SUGGEST IS NEVER FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE WITH TO. "She suggested to go" = INCORRECT. Correct structures: (1) SUGGEST + GERUND: "She suggested going to the new venue." (2) SUGGEST + THAT + clause (with present subjunctive in formal English or simple past in informal): "She suggested that we GO/WENT to the new venue." (3) SUGGEST + question word: "He suggested where we should eat." SUGGEST + SOMETHING (noun): "She suggested a different approach." NEVER: "She suggested us to go" = INCORRECT (no direct infinitive subject).
The consultant suggested restructuring the sales team into vertical industry groups rather than maintaining the current geographic model.
Several board members suggested that the company explore strategic partnerships before committing to building the capability in-house.
The project lead suggested a brief daily stand-up meeting to improve cross-team communication during the critical integration phase.
RECOMMEND: grammatically very similar to SUGGEST. Same structures: (1) RECOMMEND + GERUND: "I recommend reading the full report before the meeting." (2) RECOMMEND + THAT + clause: "I recommend that the team review the findings before deciding." (3) RECOMMEND + SOMETHING (noun): "I recommend this approach." DIFFERENCE from SUGGEST: RECOMMEND generally implies a higher level of AUTHORITY or EXPERTISE — the recommendation comes from someone with knowledge or position. SUGGEST is more neutral and equivalent to "proposing an idea." RECOMMEND implies the speaker endorses or validates the option. NEVER: "I recommend you to read this" = INCORRECT (same error as with suggest). Correct: "I recommend reading this" / "I recommend that you read this."
The external auditors strongly recommended that the company implement a dual-authorization process for all wire transfers above a certain threshold.
Based on the analysis, I recommend phasing the rollout over three quarters rather than attempting a simultaneous global launch.
The legal team recommends that all client-facing staff complete the updated data privacy training before the new regulation takes effect next month.
Common mistake
THE MOST COMMON ERROR: infinitive after SUGGEST or RECOMMEND. "She suggested to go" = INCORRECT. "I recommend you to do it" = INCORRECT. Reason: SUGGEST and RECOMMEND are verbs that DO NOT TAKE A DIRECT INFINITIVE as a complement (unlike want, ask, tell, invite). Correct: "She suggested GOING." "I recommend that you DO it." "She suggested that we GO." Other error: "She suggested us going" = awkward/incorrect. With explicit subject of the gerund: "She suggested our going" (formal) or restructure: "She suggested that we go."
Trick to remember it
THE INFINITIVE RULE: there are verbs in English that take an infinitive with TO ("She wants TO GO," "She told him TO GO," "She advised him TO GO"). SUGGEST and RECOMMEND are NOT on that list. Test: can I put "to" directly after the verb (without an object in between)? No = SUGGEST/RECOMMEND. Yes = WANT/TELL/ADVISE/INVITE. Correct alternatives: SUGGEST/RECOMMEND + gerund (going). SUGGEST/RECOMMEND + that + subjunctive (that we go). ADVISE + someone + infinitive: "I advise you TO read this" (advise CAN take infinitive + object). Confusing SUGGEST with ADVISE is the origin of the error: ADVISE + object + TO = correct; SUGGEST + object + TO = incorrect.
Quick rule
Suggest / recommend + gerund: "I suggest going." + that-clause: "I suggest that we go." NEVER + infinitive: "I suggest to go" = INCORRECT. If you need an infinitive = use ADVISE/URGE: "I advise you to go." Nuance difference: suggest = to propose (neutral). Recommend = to endorse with authority or expertise.
Did you know?
The error of "suggest to go" is one of the most documented in INTERLANGUAGE research (the intermediate linguistic system of language learners). Researchers have shown this error is especially persistent because in Spanish ("sugerir hacer algo" -> "sugerir ir") the structure resembles the English infinitive, and Spanish speakers transfer this structure. Fascinatingly, even C1 and C2 students make this error, especially in spontaneous production (unplanned speech). The distinction between verbs that take infinitives and verbs that take gerunds in English is one of the phenomena most resistant to formal instruction — learners learn the rule but forget it under pressure of fast production.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The risk management team has strongly _____ that all departments conduct a full data inventory before the new privacy regulation comes into effect.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The consultant _____ restructuring the customer success team into two specialized units based on the complexity of the accounts they manage.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Suggest / recommend + gerund: "I suggest going." + that-clause: "I suggest that we go." NEVER + infinitive: "I suggest to go" = INCORRECT. If you need an infinitive = use ADVISE/URGE: "I advise you to go." Nuance difference: suggest = to propose (neutral). Recommend = to endorse with authority or expertise.
THE MOST COMMON ERROR: infinitive after SUGGEST or RECOMMEND. "She suggested to go" = INCORRECT. "I recommend you to do it" = INCORRECT. Reason: SUGGEST and RECOMMEND are verbs that DO NOT TAKE A DIRECT INFINITIVE as a complement (unlike want, ask, tell, invite). Correct: "She suggested GOING." "I recommend that you DO it." "She suggested that we GO." Other error: "She suggested us going" = awkward/incorrect. With explicit subject of the gerund: "She suggested our going" (formal) or restructure: "She suggested that we go."
THE INFINITIVE RULE: there are verbs in English that take an infinitive with TO ("She wants TO GO," "She told him TO GO," "She advised him TO GO"). SUGGEST and RECOMMEND are NOT on that list. Test: can I put "to" directly after the verb (without an object in between)? No = SUGGEST/RECOMMEND. Yes = WANT/TELL/ADVISE/INVITE. Correct alternatives: SUGGEST/RECOMMEND + gerund (going). SUGGEST/RECOMMEND + that + subjunctive (that we go). ADVISE + someone + infinitive: "I advise you TO read this" (advise CAN take infinitive + object). Confusing SUGGEST with ADVISE is the origin of the error: ADVISE + object + TO = correct; SUGGEST + object + TO = incorrect.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy