Explain / Recommend / Suggest

It's common to see mistakes with the verb 'explain', 'recommend' and 'suggest'. These verbs have
slightly tricky verb patterns.

Explain

Explain something (to someone).

• Please explain this exercise to me.

• She explained the rules.

Explain (to someone) how / where / what / why

• He explained to everyone how to use the coffee machine.

Explain (to someone) (that) + clause

• They explained that the train had been late.

• He is explaining to everyone that he has lost his keys.

NOT: Please explain me this.

NOT: He explained her the rules.

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Recommend

Recommend + something or someone (to someone)

• I recommend the Italian restaurant.

• She recommended her hairdresser to us.

Recommend + (that) + clause

• He recommended that we leave early.

Recommend + verb-ing

• I recommend going to the lake.

• He recommended arriving early.

Suggest

Suggest something (to someone)

• He suggested the course to me.

Suggest + (that) + clause

• She suggested that we go home.

• They suggested I see you.

Suggest + verb-ing

• The teacher suggested doing lots of grammar exercises.

• The children suggested getting an ice cream.

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Let's review! Make a sentence using the words.

1. He / that / we all go / suggested / home

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2. Could you / to / the present perfect / me / explain?
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3. Please / to / a good camera / could you / me / recommend?
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4. They / getting / suggested / a pizza
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5. She / the game / explained / to the children.
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6. He / on the first train / recommended / getting
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7. Could / a good gym / recommend / you ?
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8. Please / this question / to / explain / me
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9. He's going to / find a new teacher / that / suggest / they
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10. They will / how / explain / to get to their house.
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Answers

1. He suggested that we all go home.

2. Could you explain the present perfect to me?
3. Please could you recommend a good camera to me?
4. They suggested getting a pizza.
5. She explained the game to the children.
6. He recommended getting on the first train.
7. Could you recommend a good gym?
8. Please explain this question to me.
9. He's going to suggest that they find a new teacher.
10. They will explain how to get to their house.

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