ASKING AND GIVING SUGGESTION

Asking suggestion means to ask other people’s opinion when we need a kind of advice about something. While giving suggestion functions to give other people suggestion, opinion or advice about something they ask. To ask a suggestion means to ask an idea or plan from other people to think about. And to give a suggestion means to offer an idea or plan for someone to think about.

I. Asking for Suggestion

To ask for suggestions you can use the following expressions:

  1. What should I do?
  2. Do you have any ideas?
  3. Do you have any suggestions for me?
  4. Can you tell me what I should do?
  5. Do you have any advice for me?
  6. Will you give me some suggestion, please?
  7. Any idea?
  8. Can you give me some advice about…?
  9. What do you recommend………?
  10. Please tell me what I should do.

II. Giving Suggestion

To give a suggestion to other people, we can use the following expressions:

  1. Should

Examples:

-You should go now if you don’t want to miss the train.

-You should visit your parents frequently so that they don’t feel sad.

The pattern of the sentence is==>You+should+simple verb form.

2. How about…?

Examples:

-How about we have dinner together tonight?

-How about going fishing in the lake again?

The first sentence uses pattern ==>How about+ Subject+simple verb form?

The second sentence uses pattern ==>How about+gerund?

When we ask a question using How about, it means we are asking someone if he/she agrees with our suggestion.

3. What about…?

What about is used in the same way with how about.

Examples:

-What about you come here and we cook together?

-What about cleaning the garden today?

4. Why don’t..?

Examples:

-Why don’t you wait for him for 10 minutes longer?

-Why don’t you stay here with me?

The pattern of the sentences is Why don’t + subject + simple verb form?

5. Why not..?

Examples:

-Why not try this product?

-Why not buy this skin care to treat your face?

The sentences use this pattern Why not + simple verb form?

6. ought to

Examples:

-You ought to wash the tools soon after you use them.

-You ought to study harder to pass the exam.

The pattern of the sentence is S+ought to+simple verb form

7. If I were you, I’d…

Examples:

-If I were you, I’d join the club.

-If I were you, I’d let him go.

The pattern of the sentence is ==>If I were you, I’d+simple verb form

8. Shall…?

If we use shall, the suggestion we make will sound more formal.

Examples:

-Shall we go camping next weekend?

-Shall I pick you up at the station?

The pattern is shall + subject + simple verb form?

9. Let’s…

We can also express suggestions in statements instead of questions, such as using the phrase Let’s.

Examples:

-Let’s start working now so that we can finish on time.

-Let’s pray together so that we can solve this complicated problem soon.

The pattern is Let’s + simple verb form.

Next we’ll learn how to accept and refuse suggestions.

III. Accepting Suggestions

To accept suggestions, we can use the following expressions:

-That’s a good/great idea!
-That sounds good/great.
-Perfect!
-Thanks! I’d love to.

IV. Refusing Suggestions

To refuse suggestions we can use the following expressions:

-I’d prefer…
-That’s a good idea but…
-I’m not sure.