The thing to remember is that you suggest an idea, not the person that you’re making your suggestion to. In other words, this is incorrect:

I suggest you to buy that car.

Instead, say one of these:

I suggest buying that car.

I suggest that you buy that car.

You may also hear sentences that are similar to the last one, but without “that”:

I suggest you buy that car.

In this sentence, it may seem like you’re suggesting a person instead of an idea. But if you examine it more closely, you’re suggesting the complete idea that “you buy that car”:

I suggest (you buy that car).

One other thing to remember: don’t use “to” after suggest:

I suggest to buy that car.

Here are some other examples which use “suggest” correctly:

I would suggest calling them right now.

He suggested I decorate your room for the party.

Didn’t you suggest going on a diet?!

So do you suggest that we learn Spanish instead?

Have you already suggested that your friends subscribe to IELTS Juice lessons?

Now that you know how to use “suggest”, here’s a bonus tip: the word “recommend” works exactly the same way! 🙂