I suggest vs I'm suggesting (2024)

Can you please tell me in what context you would say "I suggest" as opposed to "I'm suggesting"? For example:

I suggest you call it day and finish the work tomorrow as it's very late.

I'm suggesting you call it day and finish the work tomorrow as it's very late.

Is there a nuance of difference between the sentences?

I suggest = My suggestion is … / What I would suggest is …

I’m suggesting = I intend to suggest
I’m suggesting = I’m in the process of suggesting

lingobingo said:

I suggest = My suggestion is … / What I would suggest is …

I’m suggesting = I intend to suggest
I’m suggesting = I’m in the process of suggesting

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Do you think "I'm suggesting" sounds a little more tentative?

To my ear, “I suggest…” sounds more like an order than a suggestion.

It can be seen as confrontational.

I suggest you find another way to amuse yourself. Continuing to annoy me is not going to end up being as much fun as you seem to think.

In the sample sentence I created above, that “suggest” is a warning, not a real suggestion.

Dmytro said:

Do you think "I'm suggesting" sounds a little more tentative?

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Where I live, "I suggest" is what's more commonly used for introducing a suggestion.

I would only say "I'm suggesting" if I've already made a suggestion and I'm bringing it to the listener's attention once again, or else directed at someone new who has just entered the conversation and needs to be brought up to speed.

Packard said:

To my ear, “I suggest…” sounds more like an order than a suggestion.

It can be seen as confrontational.

I suggest you find another way to amuse yourself. Continuing to annoy me is not going to end up being as much fun as you seem to think.

In the sample sentence I created above, that “suggest” is a warning, not a real suggestion.

Click to expand...

I agree that the phrase can be used aggressively, usually when it's directed at someone else: "I suggest you...". When it's a suggestion that includes the speaker, however, it's neutral: "I suggest we stop by the store on our way home".

pachanga7 said:

Where I live, "I suggest" is what's more commonly used for introducing a suggestion.

I would only say "I'm suggesting" if I've already made a suggestion and I'm bringing it to the listener's attention once again, or else directed at someone new who has just entered the conversation and needs to be brought up to speed.

I agree that the phrase can be used aggressively, usually when it's directed at someone else: "I suggest you...". When it's a suggestion that includes the speaker, however, it's neutral: "I suggest we stop by the store on our way home".

Click to expand...

Do you think "I'm suggesting" can sound a little more tentative"?

pachanga7 said:

Where I live, "I suggest" is what's more commonly used for introducing a suggestion.

I would only say "I'm suggesting" if I've already made a suggestion and I'm bringing it to the listener's attention once again, or else directed at someone new who has just entered the conversation and needs to be brought up to speed.

I agree that the phrase can be used aggressively, usually when it's directed at someone else: "I suggest you...". When it's a suggestion that includes the speaker, however, it's neutral: "I suggest we stop by the store on our way home".

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I agree. “May I suggest …” would not sound aggressive either. But I think language learners should be aware that in some instances “suggest” can sound aggressive.

Dmytro said:

Do you think "I'm suggesting" can sound a little more tentative"?

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I would need more context to answer that question.

pachanga7 said:

I would need more context to answer that question.

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For example:
I suggest we pop into this coffee shop. They serve delicious coffee.

I'm suggesting we pop into this coffee shop. They serve delicious coffee.

Dmytro said:

Do you think "I'm suggesting" sounds a little more tentative?

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No. The present continuous is not about being tentative – it’s used to indicate that the action described is in progress, happening as you speak. You’re probably confusing it with saying I would suggest rather than the more direct, and sometimes blunt, I suggest? That use is intended to denote hesitancy or politeness, or both.

Dmytro said:

For example:
I suggest we pop into this coffee shop. They serve delicious coffee.

I'm suggesting we pop into this coffee shop. They serve delicious coffee.

Click to expand...