Jana's curious question: recommend

[Jana]

Hello!!!

It's about a week I asked an English teacher to check my essay. She said everything was ok, except for this sentence:

I strongly recommend you visit ... blah blah

She said I should have written "I strongly recommend you to visit..."

But I really think it was all right, because we say
I recommend that you should visit OR I recommend you visit OR I recommend visiting OR whatever BUT NOT I recommend you to visit.

Am I right? If not, would you be so kind as to tell me why? Thanks!

Jana

[Torsten]

Dear Jana,

As Alan pointed out yesterday you should take the diplomatic approach with your teacher and not argue with her. After all, these are rather minor things as language is constantly changing - English in particular.
Regarding your question - I also think that the verb 'to recommend' shouldn't be followed by 'to'.
You might also want to check this link: http://poets.notredame.ac.jp/cgi-bin/wn?cmd=wn&word=recommend

TOEIC listening, photographs: A dancing troupe

[Jana]

Torsten,

thanks for your reply.

Firstly, I fully agree with both you and Alan - I would never argue with my teacher!!! In fact, I'm said to be a calm, obedient girl, ha ha, really... All in all, my teachers like me - except for my disturbing questions - and I like them very much - except for the situations when they don't want to admit they've made a mistake!

Secondly, can I ask you how to handle the verb "insist"? Is it the same as recommend?

"I insist that you do something." ??

And what about "insist on"? Can I say "I insist on (your) doing something"? This sounds a bit strange, though.

Thank you very much.
Jana

[Torsten]

Dear Jana,

Please check this link - there are examples that show you how to use the verb 'insist': http://poets.notredame.ac.jp/cgi-bin/wn?cmd=wn&word=insist

TOEIC listening, photographs: An exotic performer

[Jana]

Dear Torsten,

thank you very much!!!

That's exactly what I need! Thanks a lot!

Jana