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to recommend a book

to recommend a book

1 2.7
To suggest a book someone will like or find useful
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : recomendar un libro
  • I recommend a book, "People of the Lie" by Scott Peck, for some of the best insight into evil in the non-fiction genre.

And a friend of mine, PhD in neuroscience, really tough on herself, recommended a book called Radical Acceptance by Tara Brock.

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Examples

  • Perhaps you could recommend a book?

  • I recommend a book about Americans finally taking a stand against federal tyranny because it's so real and about each of us.

    Blog text (12)
  • When a university professor wanted his students to learn more about the subject of the course, he recommended a book he thought worthy of reading.

    Blog text (32)
  • Nick Well, I will recommend a book called The Declaration of Independence.

  • Often, at the conclusion of these talks, Hall would recommend a book to the student based on their shared appreciation of this pop cultural material.

    Academic text (2014)
  • And since you're a reader, I'll recommend a book.

    Blog text (13)
  • I recommend a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility, and I charted with an app called Fertility Friend.

    Blog text (27)
  • I recommend a book that I just read: The Immorality of Illegal Immigration by Father Patrick Bascio.

    Blog text (8)
  • I recommend a book, "The Impossible Mourning of Jacques Derrida," especially page 33.

    Blog text (18)
  • Can you recommend a book that will help me improve my writing skills?

Synonyms

to recommend
vsto recommend a book
2.1

To suggest someone or something as a good choice

focuses on suggesting a specific item for personal enjoyment or use

Antonyms

257 3.5

To try to stop something by making people less willing to do it

35 6.0

To try to stop someone from doing something by talking to them

How Recommended

to rave
68 4.6
to recommend a book
1 2.7
to praise
331 1.0

Surface Forms

recommend a book infinitive
recommended a book past participle
recommending a book present participle
recommends a book third person singular

Morphology

recommend + a + book

The meaning 'to suggest a book' is directly compositional from 'recommend' (to suggest) + 'a' (indefinite article) + 'book' (a published work); knowing the constituent words gives the full sense. This is a common, literal verb + object construction found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will readily understand it.

Etymology

Recommend a book comes from the simple image of someone holding out a favourite book and saying 'recommend' or 'you should read this', as if pointing you to a good choice. So, to recommend a book means 'to suggest a book that someone might enjoy or find useful'.