Recommend to + infinitive

[Torsten]

Hi, can recommend be followed by 'to + infinitive'? According to Google, it can but shouldn't it be followed by an infinitive without 'to'?

We recommend you use our new software.
not:
We recommend you to use our new software.

Any ideas?
Thanks,
Torsten
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Conchita]

As far as I know, both ways of using 'recommend' are good English. Now the use of the subjunctive as in your second sentence 'We recommend (that) you use...' (and as with the verb 'suggest') is far more common.

Here's an old thread on the subject:

Recommend with or without 'to'
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic6165.html

[Tamara]

I remember that several months ago I wrote here the phrase that I heard (and still hear) quite often:
'What would you recommend me (to buy/to try/…)'

That time I had been given an answer that the only correct way is 'recommend to me to'
(with the argument that 'recommend me' in English literally means that someone recommend me, for example, to some another person for whatever it is.

Amy's explanation for 'recommend to me'
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic9900.html
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It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

We recommend (that) you use our new software. (recommend + clause; 'use' is subjunctive)
We recommend using our new software. (recommend + what is recommended -OR- a gerund)

We recommend you to use our new software. This sounds horrible to me.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Alan]

Hi,

Funny how ears react in different ways. Recommend someone to do something doesn't assault my ears or even make them twitch. On the other it doesn't make them jump for joy, either. On the related use of 'recommend' it is worth noting that if someone has told you it would be a good idea to use a certain person for a particular job, your opening gambit could be: Hello. You were recommended to me as someone who might be able to help me with a plumbing problem.

A
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Here comes 2004...

[Yankee]

.
Yes, and if I think 'you' would be an excellent choice for a job-opening that John has, I might say: I'll recommend you to John.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English