Complete Guide to Using Recommend in English Grammar

Structure

Meaning

Example

S + recommend + somebody/ something + to + somebody.

Introduce or suggest someone to someone else or something they should experience

Mary recommended some local beauty stores in her country to me. 

S + recommend + (that) + somebody + should + V-inf. 

She recommended that he should go out to play with his friend more often. 

S + recommend + somebody/ something + for/ as something.

Propose a job or position that suits someone.

He recommends her for the marketing manager position. 

S + recommend + against + something/ V-ing.

Advise someone against doing something or avoiding something for their benefit.

My doctor recommended against fatty foods. 

S + recommend + V-ing/ something.

Suggest an activity that they think will be enjoyable or beneficial.

They recommend traveling to America. 

S + recommend + (that) + something + should + be + V-ed/ 3.

Use "recommend that..." to emphasize the thing or action being proposed.

They recommended that this kind of food should be tried.

Synonyms of Recommend

Meaning

Example

Give advice

/ɡɪv ədˈvaɪs/

to tell someone what they should do or how they should behave in a particular situation

He gave me some advice on how to survive in the jungle.

Counsel

/ˈkaʊn.səl/

to give advice, especially on social or personal problems

He counseled me on my job position. 

Advocate

/ˈæd.və.keɪt/

to publicly support or suggest an idea, development, or way of doing something

She advocated an ethical foreign policy. 

Suggest

/səˈdʒɛst/

to mention an idea, possible plan, or action for other people to consider

I suggest (that) we take a break and find something to eat. 

Instruct

/ɪnˈstrʌkt/

to order or tell someone to do something, especially in a formal way

I’ve instructed him to keep the room unlocked.

Antonyms of Recommend in English

Meaning

Example

Dissuade

/dɪˈsweɪd/

to persuade someone not to do something

His friends tried to dissuade him from playing truant. 

Disadvise

/ˌdɪs.ədˈvaɪz/

to suggest that someone should not do something; to recommend against a particular action

I disadvise to take a long walk.

Urge not to

/ɜrdʒ nɒt tu/

to strongly advise someone against doing something; to encourage someone to refrain from a specific action

He urged me not to do something carelessly. 

Disapprove of

/ˌdɪsəˈpruːv əv/

to think that something is wrong, or to have a bad opinion about someone

I strongly disapprove of smoking. 

Persuade against

/pərˈsweɪd əˈɡɛnst/

to convince someone not to do something; to argue or influence someone to avoid a particular course of action

I persuade myself against wasting money. 

Related words/phrases to Recommend in English

Example

Recommendation

The committee put forward thirty recommendations for improvement. 

Recommended

The doctor advised me to take the recommended daily intake of vitamins. 

Recommended daily allowance

The company provides the recommended daily allowance. 

Recommended retail price

The manufacturer offers a recommended retail price for Mary to quickly sell to the market. 

Words

Usage

Example

Recommend

• Used to introduce or propose something to someone that you believe they would find interesting and should experience. 

• The suggestion is entirely personal opinion; the speaker may or may not have expertise in the discussed area.

I recommend you should watch this movie. 

Advise

• Used to give counsel in a specialized field. 

• The advice comes from someone who has experienced the issue. 

• This suggestion is often valuable and useful, so it should be heeded.

My teacher advised me that I should play with more friends. 

Introduce

Used to present or suggest someone or something to a person or group.

My friends introduced her to me because she is really kind. 

Suggest

• It involves introducing someone to an idea or experience based on the speaker's personal opinion. 

• The person making the recommendation may or may not have experience. 

• The suggestion can carry either a positive or negative connotation.

They suggest eating out.