Syntax

Verb patterns: verb + -ing

Three verbs with similar meaning that take the pattern verb + -ing are recommend, advise and suggest.

• She advises keeping an egg timer by the computer.
• They recommend arriving on time for the performance.
• She suggests ringing him to find out what has happened.

The pattern changes if the person who is receiving the recommendation is mentioned.

	Recommend/ suggest	+ noun	+ verb
They	recommend (that)	the audience	arrive	on time for the performance.
She	suggests (that)	we	ring	him to find out what has happened.

Note that advise cannot be used with this pattern.

• She advises that addicts keep an egg timer by the computer.

Instead, with advise, we can use the infinitive.

• She advises addicts to keep an egg timer by the computer.

We can use passive forms of recommend and advise.

• Addicts are recommended to keep an egg timer by the computer.
• Addicts are advised to keep an egg timer by the computer.

Note that suggest cannot be used with this pattern.

• Addicts are suggested to keep an egg timer by the computer.