Suggestions
The following English phrases and expressions are all used to make suggestions and give advice to people.
Making suggestions
- Let’s revise our lessons.
- What about going to the cinema tonight?
- How about playing cards?
- Why don’t we do our homework?
- Couldn’t we invite your grandmother to our party?
- Shall we have a walk along the river?
- What would you say to a cup of coffee?
- Don’t you think it is a good idea to watch TV?
- Does it matter if we use your car?
Accepting suggestions
- Yes, let’s.
- Yes, I’d like to.
- Yes, I’d love to.
- What a good idea!
- Why not?
- Yes, with pleasure.
- Yes, I feel like taking a walk.
- That sounds like a good idea.
Refusing suggestions
- No, let’s not.
- No, I’d rather not.
- I don’t feel like it.
- I dislike going for a walk.
- What an awful / bad idea!
Things to remember about suggestions
1.The verb “suggest” can be followed by either:
- should + verb= I suggest (that) we should go to the theater.
- a verb (in the subjunctive form)= I suggest (that) we goto the movies.
2.”That” is optional:
- “I suggest thatwe should visit Paris.”
- “I suggest we should visit Paris.”
Dialogue
Two friends talking about where to go this evening:
| Alice: | You know Alan, why don’t we go to the cinema to watch Titanic? |
| Alan: | No, let’s not. We’ve seen the film many times before. What about going to the library? We have to finish our school project! |
| Alice: | That sounds like a good idea. But when we finish let’s go to the cafè. |
| Alan: | Yes, I’d love to. |
