Text 1: What Shall we do?

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1. Hi Chris, would you like to do something with me this weekend?

2. Sure. What shall we do?

1. I don't know. Do you have any ideas?

2. Why don't we see a film?

1. That's sounds good to me. Which film shall we see?

2. Let's see "Action Man 4".

1. I'd rather not. I don't like violent films. How about going to "Mad Doctor Brown"? I hear it's quite a funny film.

2. OK. Let's go see that. When is it on?

1. It's on at 8 o'clock at the Rex. Shall we have a bite to eat before the film?

1. Sure, that sounds great. What about going to that new Italian restaurant 'Michetti's'?

1. Great idea! Let's meet there at six.

2. OK. I'll see you at 'Michetti's' at six. Bye.

1. Bye.

 

Key Vocabulary

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Would you like to ...?
(What) shall we go...?
Let's go...
Why don't we go...
How about going...
What about going...

Note: 'Shall we', 'Let's', 'Why don't we' are all followed by the base form of the verb ('go' in the examples), 'How about' and 'What about' are followed by the '-ing' form of the verb ('going' in the examples.

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Text 2:

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Mark: Hi Chris, would you like to do something with me this weekend?
Chris: Sure. What shall we do?

Mark: I don't know. Do you have any ideas?
Chris: Why don't we see a film?

Mark: That's sounds good to me. Which film shall we see?
Chris: Let's see "Action Man 4".

Mark: I'd rather not. I don't like violent films. How about going to "Mad Doctor Brown"? I hear it's quite a funny film.
Chris: OK. Let's go see that. When is it on?

Mark: It's on at 8 o'clock at the Blue Cinema. Shall we have a bite to eat before the film?
Chris: Sure, that sounds great. What about going to that new Italian restaurant 'Italianni's'?

Mark: Great idea! Let's meet there at six.
Chris: OK. I'll see you at 'Italianni's' at six. Bye.

Mark: Bye.


Useful Phrases when Making Suggestions:

1. Would you like to ...?
2. Shall we go...?
3. Let's go...
4. Why don't we go...
5. How about going...
6. What about going...

Note:
* 'Shall we', 'Let's', 'Why don't we' are all followed by the base form of the verb ('go' ).

Ex:
1. Why don't you / we go to the movies tonight?
2. Shall we go to the nearest Italian restaurant later?
3. Let's go to the travel agent's this afternoon to book our ticket.

* 'How about' and 'What about' are followed by the '-ing' form of the verb ('going' ).

Ex:
1. What about asking your brother for help?
2. How about going to Hawaii for your vacation?

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Might (want to), could, why don’t/doesn’t, and why not are often used to make suggestions.

Suggestions are not as strong as advice.

 

Suggestions with Might Want To and Could

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Subject                                Modal Verb                  Base Form of Verb

I

You                                     might want to

He / She / It                        might not want to          call                                     the company.

We                                      could 

They

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Suggestions with Why Don’t/Doesn’t . . . ?

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Why Don’t/Doesn’t               Subject                      Base Form of Verb

Why don’t                              I

                                               you                            ask?

                                               we

                                               they

Why doesn’t                           he / she / it

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Suggestions with Why Not . . . ?

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Why Not                               Base Form of Verb

Why not                                buy                                  a new suit for the interview?

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Making Suggestions

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a. Use might (want to) and could to make suggestions. They often express a choice of possible actions.

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Example: You might schedule your interview in the morning, or you could wait until the afternoon.

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b. Might is often used with want to.

 

Example: You might want to  think about volunteer work.

You might not want to ask that question in an interview.

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c. Do not use could not in negative suggestions.

Use might not want to

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Example: You might not want to ask that question in an interview.

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d. Why not and Why don’t/doesn’t are both question forms and end with a question mark.

 

Examples: Why don’t you prepare questions for your interview?

Why not prepare questions for your interview?

 

e. Why don’t / doesn’t and Why not are very common in conversation. Do not use them in academic writing.

Say: “Why don’t

you practice for your interview?”

Write: Interviewees might want to practice for their interviews.

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MORE EXAMPLES

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We make suggestions when deciding what to do with our friends, or giving them advice on what they might do in a certain situation. Imagine that you would like to go out for an evening with some friends. Which suggestions would you make?

There are a number of formulas used when making suggestions in English. Here are some of the most common:

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• Why don't you / we go to the movies tonight?

• You / we could visit New York while you're / we're there.

• Let's go to the travel agent's this afternoon to book our ticket.

• What about asking your brother for help?

• How about going to Hawaii for your vacation?

• I suggest you / we take all the factors into consideration before we decide.

• I'd recommend to see a doctor

• Have you thought about buying a new computer?

• I think you should to see a doctor

• I don't think you should to see a doctor

• Maybe you should to (ex: So maybe you should look at that.)

• Why don't you. . .

• Why don't we. . .

• Let's. . .

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Some answers:

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• That's a good idea.

• Thanks for the advice.

• Good suggestion.

• Sounds like a good idea.

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