[Grammar] suggest + that + past simple

[denismurs]

Hello,

I have doubts if the construction: suggest + that + past simple refers to the present tense or to the past one?

Denis.

 

[bhaisahab]

Please provide a sample sentence.

 

[denismurs]

I have been looking up the information in my course book about how to form suggestions. And I've found the parragraph about Reported Suggestions. There are another regulations which I undestand, but I'm not sure about this one:
suggest + that + past simple.
And the sample sentence given by the book is: She suggested that we paid half each.
But this is Reported Speech and they don't give more samples.

And I'd like to know whether I can use suggest + that + past simple in the present tense in Direct Speech?

E.g.: I suggest that my brother came to the party. So, does this sentence mean about the present tense, as if I were advising my brother that he would come to the party today?
I know that such form like "would rather + somebody + past simple" speaks about the present tense. I would rather you came earlier today. The action here happens in the present. And if I want to tell that the action happened in the past tense I must use: I would rather you had come earlier yesterday.

So, suggest + that + past simple has the same time constraint as would rather + object + past simple?
And should I use: "I suggested yesterday that you had gone over the text twice." to make a suggestion in the past?

 

[bhaisahab]

And I'd like to know whether I can use suggest + that + past simple in the present tense in Direct Speech?

E.g.: I suggest that my brother came to the party. So, does this sentence mean about the present tense, as if I were advising my brother that he would come to the party today? No, that doesn't work.
"I suggest that my brother goes to the party today."

So, suggest + that + past simple has the same time constraint as would rather + object + past simple?
And should I use: "I suggested yesterday that you had gone over the text twice." to make a suggestion in the past?

"I suggested yesterday that you went over the text twice."

 

[Raymott]

E.g.: I suggest that my brother came to the party.

You might hear something like this in the courtroom.

Witness: "Your brother was helping us rob the bank."
Defendant's brother:"I suggest [to you] that my brother came to the party [and could therefore not have been robbing the bank]".

"I suggest that my brother come to the party." I suggest to you that my brother should come to the party.

Neither of these are common.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The first, with the present subjunctive, is common in AmE. The second is more common in BrE.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Denismurs:

I have made up three sentences that sound felicitous (pleasant) to my American English ears. Of course, I cannot speak for anyone else.


1. TheParser is always late to school, but he came on time today. Why? Because the teacher yesterday suggested that he be here on time, or he would be expelled.

2. Mona was very sad yesterday because Mr. ____ had written a rude note to her. I suggested that she simply ignore his rude note. I guess that she took my advice, for she is all smiles today.

3. I told the doctor yesterday that I didn't want a paunch (an abdomen/stomach that sticks out). She suggested that I eat less ice cream. I will try to limit my ice cream in the future to only one bowl each day.

 

[MikeNewYork]

More examples:

The boss demanded that she be there at eight o'clock.
I insisted that she bring the laptop back.
It is important that she study for the exam.

These are called the mandative subjunctive.