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Dear Dr English

Is this sentence correct?

"The board suggested that we do a survey on consumer buying behaviour before making any marketing plan."

My senior colleague insisted that it was correct to use the infinitive verb form after "suggested", but she could not explain why. Can you please clear this matter up?

Sumalee Jaigrajang

The sentence is correct, but "do" here is not the infinitive but the subjunctive. When we suggest something to somebody we mention a plan or idea for them to consider.

In a sentence "suggest" can be followed by a noun or noun phrase or by a "that" clause.

The doctor suggested a trip to the sea.

We were asked to suggest a course of action to eliminate malpractice in the sales department.

In a "that" clause following "suggest" in the sense of "recommend", the subjunctive mood is used, so that the third person singular does not take the ending "-(e)s" and "be" and "have" replace "is" and "has".

The doctor suggested that I take enough rest and eat plenty of fresh fruit.

What happened was a work-related accident, and Mr Brighton suggested that Joan consult the HR department as soon as possible about the compensation she was entitled to.

The committee showed genuine concern and suggested that any change in the fringe benefits be carefully discussed with the staff representatives.

Or the modals "should" or "might" can be used:

The committee showed genuine concern and suggested that the sub-committee might discuss the matter with the staff representatives before changing their fringe benefits.

Mr Brown suggested that the labour union should consider a non-violent approach or the negotiations would never reach any fruitful result.

If "suggest" means "say it is probably the case" or "imply", the regular indicative mood is used:

Mr Brown suggested that the union was prone to violent measures.

Mr Brown's very presence suggests that the management takes the matter seriously.

How to use "no sooner … than"

Dear Dr English,

Could you please explain how to use "no sooner … than" in a sentence and under what circumstances it should be used?

Mullika Padungdej

"No sooner ... than" means that one event happens immediately after another. "No sooner" usually appears between the subject and the verb in the first clause with "than" at the beginning of the second clause.

I had no sooner hung up the phone than Bob knocked at the door.

"No sooner" may alternatively stand at the beginning of its clause, which then requires inversion of verb and subject, the same pattern normally used for questions:

No sooner had I hung up the phone than Bob knocked at the door.

By Dr English

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