I suggested dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I suggested dinner" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that you proposed having dinner as an option or plan. Example: "After discussing our options for the evening, I suggested dinner at the new Italian restaurant downtown."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Instead of a visit to the house, I suggested dinner.

The New York Times - Magazine

To all three, and mostly through a lack of imagination, I suggested dinner minus the wives.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

(If you go, I suggest dinner lakeside at Le Vieux Manoir; the equivalent of about $120 for two and worth every Swiss franc).

The New York Times

DM v. good about whole thing, suggested dinner at little coven by coast.

The Guardian - Books

That night, Michael Moye suggested dinner at Beluga, the sharpest salient of the city's cutting edge.

The New York Times - Magazine

Judge Olson, who had been divorced the previous year, suggested dinner.

The New York Times

She also suggested dinner at Vestibul (vestibuel.at) in the Burgtheater.

The New York Times

Since Mr. Shea had never seen the Barclays Center, which colonized their old neighborhood, Mr. Spector suggested dinner and a game.

The New York Times

Cover: $50, with dinner required for early shows on Fridays and Saturdays; $15 minimum for other shows; suggested dinner arrival for early show is 7. Through Saturday.

The New York Times - Arts

The lady pointed out that nobody could be expected to feel romantic at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and suggested dinner - after which, who knows.

The New Yorker

Today and tomorrow at 9 and 11 30 p.m. Cover: $50, with dinner required for early shows on Fridays and Saturdays; $15 minimum for other shows; suggested dinner arrival for early show is 7. Sunday brunch at 2 p.m., Judy Barnett, singer.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I suggested dinner" when you want to clearly indicate that you were the one who proposed the idea of having dinner.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary prepositions after "suggested". It's grammatically incorrect to say "I suggested for dinner" or "I suggested about dinner". The correct usage is simply "I suggested dinner".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I suggested dinner" primarily functions as a statement where the speaker is recounting a past action of suggesting dinner. It serves to inform the listener or reader about the speaker's proposal. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Arts

20%

Travel

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I suggested dinner" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood phrase used to indicate that the speaker proposed having dinner. Ludwig's analysis shows that this phrase functions as a statement of a past action, serving the communicative purpose of informing someone about the speaker's suggestion. The phrase maintains a neutral register and is often found in news and media contexts. While not overly frequent, it's a clear and direct way to convey the act of suggesting dinner. Understanding its usage and alternatives, as well as avoiding common errors, can help improve clarity and precision in both writing and conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I proposed dinner

Replaces "suggested" with "proposed", indicating a more formal suggestion.

I recommended dinner

Substitutes "suggested" with "recommended", implying a stronger endorsement.

I suggested we have dinner

Adds "we have" to clarify the action being suggested.

I thought dinner would be a good idea

Expresses the suggestion as a personal thought or opinion.

I put forward the idea of dinner

More verbose, emphasizing the introduction of the dinner plan.

I floated the suggestion of dinner

Uses "floated" to imply a less assertive suggestion.

I offered a dinner invitation

Focuses on extending an invitation rather than a general suggestion.

I broached the subject of dinner

Indicates the start of a discussion about dinner.

I gave the idea of dinner

A more casual way to suggest dinner.

Dinner was my suggestion

Shifts the focus to dinner being the speaker's idea.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "I suggested dinner"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "I proposed dinner" or "I recommended dinner". The choice depends on whether you're simply putting forth an idea or actively endorsing it.

How can I rephrase "I suggested dinner" to sound less assertive?

You could use phrases like "I floated the suggestion of dinner" or "I thought dinner would be a good idea". These soften the suggestion, making it less direct.

Is it correct to say "I suggested for dinner" instead of "I suggested dinner"?

No, it's not correct. The phrase "I suggested dinner" is grammatically correct. Adding "for" creates an unnecessary prepositional phrase.

What other activities can I "suggest" besides dinner?

You can suggest any activity, such as a movie, a walk, or a meeting. For instance, "I suggested a "movie"", "I suggested a "walk"", or "I suggested a "meeting"".