'Suggest Doing' or 'Suggest to Do'? Which One Is Correct? | Mastering Grammar

(Last Updated: 30 January 2023)

Suggest Doing or Suggest to Do: Which One Is Correct?

The verb suggest is never followed by an infinitive. Use the pattern suggest doing something:

✅ What did the teacher suggest doing?
❌ What did the teacher suggest to do?

✅ My brother suggested playing football.
❌ My brother suggested to play football.

✅ Chris suggested taking a bus to the city centre.
❌ Chris suggested to take a bus to the city centre.

✅ I would suggest contacting the company directly for a quicker response.
❌ I would suggest to contact the company directly for a quicker response.

Examples from the Media

Finland's border guard last month suggested building a fence several metres high, topped with razor wire and equipped with surveillance cameras and sensors along 160 miles of the border—roughly 20% of its total. —The Guardian (2022)

Don't expect any politician in this campaign, though, to even suggest changing the policy—too many voters would resent it. —The Sydney Morning Herald (2013)

And, of course, we want to do this safely, smartly and responsibly. We wouldn't even suggest doing it any other way. Public health is the priority. Period. —Toronto Star (2020)

I suggest using a meat thermometer to get the perfect cook. —Belfast Telegraph (2021)

Real-World Examples of Misuse

Suggest should be followed by a gerund (setting), not an infinitive.