I have read that suggest (the verb) is never followed by a pronoun and an infinitive verb.
Can suggesting (the gerund) be followed by a pronoun and an infinitive
verb?
I have read:
Adriana flew down to India despite all the words of caution she got at home, suggesting he could be fake or a con man, etc.
Thanks in advance.
Best Answer
The rule is actually that suggest (or suggesting) is never followed by an object pronoun. Nor is suggest followed by an infinitive verb. The sentence you quoted is perfectly correct. The key part:
This phrasing does comply with the first of three proper uses of suggest, thanks again to English Teacher Melanie:
The word that is omitted in your phrase, but it is there in spirit. As Melanie says it is optional.
He is the subject pronoun of the that-clause. The verb be is in the subjunctive mood, looking very similar to the infinitive form, but of course there is no to. Could is an auxiliary verb expressing possibility.