The weather’s great today.

I want to go out but I don’t know where to go or what to

John do. Have you got any ideas, Mary?

How about going for a picnic? I suggest this action. /

Mary We could go to Sherwood Forest for the afternoon. At present there is nothing to
prevent this.

Good idea. But what about food?

John We haven’t got any bread.
There is a problem related to this.

Well, let’s go shopping! I propose this action. /

We could buy everything we need at the
Mary supermarket on our way there.
This is considered a feasible solution
as nothing stops us from doing this.

But what about preparing the sandwiches? We’ll need There is an underlying problem.
John to take a knife.

OK. While I’m getting a knife and some plates, The right thing to do as I am
Mary you should get the car out of the garage. already doing something.
Mary

If I were you, I’d put two glasses in the basket as

John well, and don’t forget the bottle opener.
2nd conditional (but I am not you)
I suggest you remember this

Why don’t we ask Mark and Joan if they want to I suggest we do this ( I have just
Mary come with us? I’m sure they would enjoy an afternoon thought about it) /
out. Shall I phone them? I offer to do this and want an answer.

You’d better hurry up, Mary! I suggest phoning them

once we are off. If they want to come we could pick them
John up when we pass their house on our way to the supermarket.
I’m sure I’m going to enjoy myself. What about you?
The best thing to do. / I suggest this as
an answer to your question. /
This is considered a feasible solution. /
I suggest you tell me.

WHEN FOLLOWED BY A VERB ALWAYS USE +ING FORM

USE THE BASE FORM OF VERB:
I suggest going . . . but I suggest (that) you phone . . .
 We could go . . .
 Let’s go . . . ‘How about . . .? ‘ and ‘What about. . .?’ have a slightly
 We could buy . . . different inference.
 You should get . . .
 We could pick them up . . How about . . . .? is considered feasible by the speaker.
 Don’t forget . . .
 You’d better hurry up. What about . . .? suggests that there may be an underlying
 Why don’t we ask . . . ? problem.
 Shall I phone . . . ? However:
‘How about you?’ and ‘What about you?’ have the same
meaning.