Making and responding to suggestions

 

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:

• Ok. 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 go to the movies.

2."That" is optional:

• "I suggest that we 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.