使用 suggest 時常見的錯誤

Suggest 是個及物動詞，主要意為「建議，提議」。這個動詞使用頻率之高自不待言，幾乎可以說是「無日無之」。Suggest 後面可以接名詞 (片語)、動名詞、that 子句 (由連接詞 that 所引導的名詞子句) 或 what/who/where 等 wh-字所引導的名詞子句。

Suggest 可接名詞 (片語) 當受詞。例如：

• John suggested an inexpensive restaurant near the school for the party. (約翰建議在學校附近一家平價餐廳舉行聚會)
• He suggests a little walk. (他建議去散會一下)

Suggest 可接動名詞當受詞，但不可接不定詞。這種句型意為「建議做某事」，但不必提及行動或動作的執行者，因為行動或動作的執行者在上下文中不言可喻。但若在動名詞的前面加上所有格，即可明確指出行動或動作的執行者。例如：

• Phil suggested going in his car. (菲爾提議坐他的車子去) (正)
  Phil suggested to go in his car. (誤)
  Phil suggested our going in his car. (菲爾提議我們坐他的車子去) (正)
• I suggest going to the library on Sunday. (我建議禮拜天上圖書館) (正)
  I suggest to go to the library on Sunday. (誤)
  I suggest our going to the library on Sunday. (我建議我們禮拜天上圖書館) (正)
• I suggested putting the matter to the school. (我提議把這件事交給學校處理) (正)
  I suggested to put the matter to the school. (誤)
• If there is a mechanical problem, I suggest contacting the manufacturer directly. (若發生機械故障，我建議直接與製造廠商聯繫) (正)
  If there is a mechanical problem, I suggest to contact the manufacturer directly. (誤)

Suggest 不可接雙受詞 (間接受詞 + 直接受詞)，亦即 suggest 不可接間接受詞當受詞。當我們需要提到被建議或接受建議的對象時，我們須使用「suggest + 直接受詞 (事物) + to + 間接受詞 (人)」。例如：

• If this happened to your daughter, what would you suggest her? (如果這件事發生在你女兒身上，你會給她什麼建議？) (誤)
  If this happened to your daughter, what would you suggest to her? (正)
• The specialist suggests parents that they should adopt a different way of bringing up their children. (這位專家建議父母應採取不同的教養子女方式) (誤)
  The specialist suggests to parents that they should adopt a different way of bringing up their children. (正)

在上述 suggest 接動名詞當受詞的句型中，顯然地 suggest 的主詞和動名詞的主詞 (即行動或動作的執行者) 是不同人。這種句型可以改寫為 suggest + that 子句 (在非正式情況中，that 通常省略)。Suggest 後接動名詞的意思是「建議做某事」，而 suggest 後接 that 子句的意思則是「建議某人做某事」。例如：

• I suggest having dinner first and then watching the film. (我建議先吃晚飯再看電影) (正)
• I suggest (that) we have dinner first, and then watch the film. (我建議我們先吃晚飯再看電影) (正)
• I suggest going there around five o’clock. They usually go for a jog at six o’clock. (我建議五點左右去那裡。他們通常六點去慢跑) (正)
• I suggest (that) you go there around five o’clock. They usually go for a jog at six o’clock. (我建議你五點左右去那裡。他們通常六點去慢跑) (正)

在 suggest 接 that 子句的句型中，如果 suggest 為過去式，而 that 子句是要表示應該做但還未做的意思，那麼該子句要用假設語氣，即主詞 + (should) 原形動詞 + …。Demand、insist 和 order 等表示要求或命令的動詞亦有相同的用法。例如：

• The company suggested that she (should) resign. (公司建議她辭職) (正)
  The company suggested that she resigned. (誤)
• He suggested that we (should) accept these gifts. (他建議我們收下這些禮物) (正)
  He suggested that we accepted these gifts. (誤)
• Mary suggested that John be present. (瑪麗建議約翰要出席) (正)
  Mary suggested that John was present. (誤)
• Helen suggested (that) I should try the shop on Nanjing East Road. (海倫建議我去南京東路的那家店看看) (正)
  Helen suggested (that) I tried the shop on Nanjing East Road. (誤)

所以，若要表達「建議做某事」的意思，就用 suggest + 動名詞；若要表達「建議某人做某事」的意思，則用 suggest + that 子句，亦即 suggest (that) somebody (should) do something，但千萬不可使用 suggest somebody to do something (上面已說過，suggest 不可接間接受詞當受詞！)。例如：

• The company suggested her to resign. (誤)
• He suggested us to accept these gifts. (誤)
• Mary suggested John to be present. (誤)
• Helen suggested me to try the shop on Nanjing East Road. (誤)

Suggest 可接 wh-子句當受詞。例如：

• Can anyone suggest what we should do to improve computer performances? (有人能給個建議，要如何提升電腦效能嗎？)
• Can anyone suggest how we might attract more customers? (有人能給個建議，要如何才可以吸引更多的顧客嗎？)
• Could you suggest where I might be able to buy a high-end engagement ring? (哪裡可以買到高檔的訂婚戒指，你能給個建議嗎？)