suggest
/səˈdʒest/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈdʒest/ (ame, ipa) · /səg-ˈjest sə-ˈjest/ (ame, mw)
suggest — verb
- suggest,present simple I / you / we / they
- suggestpresent simple I / you / we / they
- suggests,he / she / it
- suggestshe / she / it
- suggested,past simple
- suggestedpast simple
- suggesting,-ing form
- suggesting-ing form
1. To offer someone a thought, possibility, or course of action for them to think a
To offer someone a thought, possibility, or course of action for them to think about and decide on.
Sofie suggested going to the beach instead of the museum on Saturday.
suggest + gerund (suggested going)
Christopher suggested that we take the earlier train to avoid the crowd.
suggest + that-clause with subjunctive
Nora suggested a new restaurant near the park for her birthday dinner.
Several different solutions were suggested during the team meeting, but none were chosen.
Nkechi suggested where we could find affordable furniture for our new apartment.
- dissuade
to advise someone against doing something
文法句型
suggest + gerund
suggest + that-clause
suggest + wh-clause
suggest + noun phrase
用法筆記
Never followed by a to-infinitive or by 'someone + to-infinitive'. ❌ 'She suggested to go' / 'She suggested me to go' are incorrect. ✅ 'She suggested going' or 'She suggested that I go.' The that-clause often uses the subjunctive form of the verb (no -s for third person).
常見錯誤
2. To express a thought or emotion in a way that is not clear or direct, leaving th
To express a thought or emotion in a way that is not clear or direct, leaving the listener to guess what is meant.
The look on Yael's face suggested she was not happy with the decision.
suggest + that-clause (without 'that')
Ari's slow replies suggested that he had lost interest in the project.
suggest + that-clause (inference from behaviour)
The dark clouds suggested a storm was coming, so we took the boat back early.
Heather's silence during the discussion suggested that she disagreed but did not want to argue.
文法句型
suggest + that-clause
suggest + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often paired with modal verbs ('may', 'might', 'could') to soften the claim: 'His tone may suggest anger, but he did not say so directly.' The that-clause can omit 'that' in informal contexts.
常見錯誤
3. To make someone think of a particular image, memory, or idea because of a connec
To make someone think of a particular image, memory, or idea because of a connection or resemblance.
The smell of freshly baked bread suggested warm kitchens and family gatherings.
suggest + noun phrase (sensory trigger)
The painting's soft colours suggested a calm and peaceful morning by the sea.
suggest + noun phrase (evocative quality)
The empty streets during the holiday suggested a town where everyone celebrated at home.
That old photograph of the harbour suggested summers spent fishing with Lucía's grandfather.
- evoke
to call up a strong feeling, memory, or image, often through art or sensory experience
- call to mind
more formal; focuses on the act of bringing a memory into conscious awareness
- bring to mind
the most common everyday equivalent; interchangeable in most contexts
- suppress
to stop a thought or memory from appearing
文法句型
suggest + noun phrase
suggest + that-clause
用法筆記
The subject is usually a thing (a sight, sound, smell, scene, or object) rather than a person. The focus is on what the thing makes someone think of, not on a conscious intention to communicate.