Recommend that VS Recommend to

Question

I`ve been taught for years that the verb recommend is one of those verbs of advice that cannot be followed by the more usual pattern of object + infinitive but has to be followed by a that-clause with should + infinitive or with past, present or subjunctive form verbs. Recently, however, I found an entry in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary which states that the object + infinitive pattern is indeed possible with the recommend verb. Am I missing something here?

Below I enclose the link to the entry:

Oxford Learner's Dictionary: recommend

Answer 1

From your link:

We'd recommend you to book your flight early.

Maybe that's a British English thing. It's sounds very odd to this American.

In the US, we'd say "We'd recommend [that] you book your flight early."

No "to".

Answer 2

Michael Swan — Practical English Usage, lists some of the verbs which can be used with the object + infinitive structure.
These are: advise, allow, ask, bear, beg, cause, command, compel, encourage, expect, forbid, force, get, hate, help, instruct, instruct, intend, invite, leave, like, love, mean, need, oblige, order, permit, persuade, prefer, recommend, remind, request, teach, tell, tempt, trouble, want, warn, wish.

Some verbs cannot be followed by this structure, they need a that clause. For instance, suggest:

I suggested that she should go home.

However, many other verbs listed above can also be followed by that clauses, for example, but it seems you'll have to use a dictionary for more reference.

Answer 3

I recommend to infinitive

directly dives into what you are recommending without delay by mentioning the infinitive

I recommend that

introduces a clause that qualifies what you are recommending

I recommend to go, now!
I recommend that we leave at the earliest possible time which is convenient, like right now!