to suggest an enjoyable weekend

[diamondcutter]

Every Friday, the hosts and guests on the programme share movies, TV, music, and books to suggest an enjoyable weekend.
(By me)

I use “suggest an enjoyable weekend” to mean “to give audience advice on how to have an enjoyable weekend”. Do I use the verb “suggest” correctly in that context?

 

[tedmc]

No.
...share TV, music and books to give/provide ideas for an enjoyable weekend.

"Have I used the verb correctly?'

 

[diamondcutter]

In fact, the sentence in #1 is reworded from this question.

Every Friday, the hosts and guests on Pop Culture Happy Hour share movies, TV, music, and books that brought them joy. They suggest some for you to enjoy this weekend. Here’s the list.
...

Why does Pop Culture Happy Hour share the list?
A.To recall people’s happy hours.
B.To suggest an enjoyable weekend.
C.To make American culture popular.
D.To bring joy to the hosts and guests.
Source: https://zujuan.xkw.com/3p1202700.html

The answer key is option B. Does this option make sense?

 

[tedmc]

"To suggest an enjoyable weekend" doesn't sound right to me.

 

[Tarheel]

They are suggesting things to do for the weekend. Those things will presumably make the weekend more enjoyable.

 

[emsr2d2]

Of the four possible answers, and given the context, B is the only one that makes sense but it's very badly worded. We might say "To suggest some enjoyable things to do at the weekend" but we don't "suggest an enjoyable weekend". Incidentally, A is poorly worded as well.

I've just had a look at the source page. Those aren't the only examples of poor English on it:
2D. It wasn't the first time for Sam to watch it. (Should be "It wasn't the first time Sam had watched it.)
3. Which of the following can best describe Dream Girl. (Should be "... of the following words best describes ...".)
4C. Your parents can be your big fans. (I can't reword this because I don't know what the writer meant but it's not natural.)

Diamondcutter, are you using that source because you have to or by choice?

 

[diamondcutter]

Hi, Emsr2d2.

I’m not using that source. One of my students showed a test paper and I found there are many problems. So I searched on the Internet and found the source on this site. I have advised him not to do this test paper.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi, Emsr2d2.

I’m not using that source. One of my students showed me a test paper and I found saw/noticed that there are many problems with it, so I searched on the internet and found the source. on this site. I have advised him not to do this test paper.

 

[diamondcutter]

For the sentence--it wasn't the first time Sam had watched it, what about these two versions?

1. It wasn't Sam's first time to watch it.
2. It wasn't Sam's first time watching it.

 

[tedmc]

For the sentence--it wasn't the first time Sam had watched it, what about these two versions?

1. It wasn't Sam's first time to watch it.
2. It wasn't Sam's first time watching it.

I prefer 2, using the gerund (tense-free) rather than the infinitive or past perfect tense.

 

[emsr2d2]

For the sentence "It wasn't the first time Sam had watched it", what about these two versions?

1. It wasn't Sam's first time to watch it.
2. It wasn't Sam's first time watching it.

#2 is OK. #1 is not grammatical (in BrE at least).

 

[diamondcutter]

1. Which of the following words can best describe Dream Girl?
2. Which of the following words best describes Dream Girl?

Sentences similar to #1 are so common in English test papers in China. Thank you, Emsr2d2 for pointing out that’s not correct. Let me try to explain why.
Sentence #1 is grammatically correct and understandable but the fact is that native speakers don’t say it in that context. Is my understanding correct?

 

[Tarheel]

1. Which of the following words can best describe Dream Girl?
2. Which of the following words best describes Dream Girl?

Sentences similar to #1 are so common in English test papers in China. Thank you, Emsr2d2 for pointing out that’s m correct. Let me try to explain why.
Sentence #1 is grammatically correct and understandable but the fact is that native speakers don’t say it in that context. Is my understanding correct?

I don't know why you would use "can" (in the first one).

 

[diamondcutter]

I think it's influenced by Chinese. When we put the two sentences into Chinese, we'll use "can" (能) for both of them.

 

[Tarheel]

I wouldn't use "can" there. Words are tools. The words themselves don't do anything. (My opinion.)

 

[tedmc]

I think it's influenced by Chinese. When we put the two sentences into Chinese, we'll use "can" (能) for both of them.

I think it is not incorrect to have the "can", but superfluous and unnatural. There's no doubt that the phrase "best describe" is about capability.

 

[Tdol]

The page is a bit of a mess.