suggest his / him Ving

Question

I'd like to know your judgments on the following sentences. Are they well-formed?

Mary suggested him buying a laptop.
Mary suggested his buying a laptop.
What did Mary suggest him buying?
What did Mary suggest his buying?
What did Mary suggest buying?

Next, consider the following:

Mary suggested him going to Boston.
Mary suggested his going to Boston.
Where did Mary suggest him going?
Where did Mary suggest his going?
Where did Mary suggest going?

I am considering whether there is a transitive vs. intransitive asymmetry between 1 and 2 on the one hand and 8 and 9 on the other; and between 3 and 4 on the one hand and 10 and 11 on the other.

I'd appreciate your help.

5 and 12 are good, the rest are not. You don't "suggest someone V-ing", you "suggest that someone V": What did Mary suggest that he buy? and Mary suggested that he buy a laptop. (When there is no third party involved, you can "suggest V-ing".) — Hellion, Aug 21 '16 at 04:26
I suppose I could accept 11 by making it into 9. But it changes it from your intended meaning: “Mary suggested his going to Boston.” “Oh, where did Mary suggest his going?” “She was in Macy’s when she suggested his going.” — Jim, Aug 21 '16 at 16:40
All those ings are wrong. She suggested he buy or go. suggest cannot be followed by a pronoun like that. That would be French. lui suggérer etc. Only by a bare infinitive or gerund. — Lambie, Jan 13 '24 at 17:21
Does this answer your question? "...his parents' dream of *him* achieving a Cambridge degree." What is the function of "him" here? // 'Suggest [an idea, etc]' (eg 'I suggest you go to Rhyl on Sunday'; 'I suggest a holiday for us all') is certainly licensed, as one can suggest an idea. With POSS-ing it is very formal. — Edwin Ashworth, Jan 13 '24 at 18:34

suggest his / him Ving

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