How to Make a Suggestion in English

Making a suggestion means telling another person what we think that they should
do or what we think is a good idea. We are giving our opinion about what action
another person should take.

It is important that we are able to make suggestions or recommendations in

English fluently because we need to do this often in our professional and personal
life.

There are different ways that we can make a suggestion or recommend something
in English. In this lesson, we will cover the most important and commonly used
ways.

1. The most common way to make a suggestion is to use the modal "should".

Subject + should + verb...

 You should study listening more if you want to

improve your English.
 He should quit his job.
 You should get your mom a scarf for her
birthday.
 Mark should be more honest.
 They should come to the party with us.
 We should try that restaurant next week.
 You should watch that movie. It is really good.
We can change the word "should" to "need" if we want to use stronger language.

 You need to see that movie. It is amazing!

 She needs to tell us if she is going to be late.

2. Another common way to give a suggestion or recommendation is to use the

word "could". "Could" is much softer and more indirect than using "should". We
use "could" to give different options, but when we use "could" it shows that we do
not have an opinion.

Subject + could + verb...

  You could do yoga if you want to be healthier.
 We could go to Thailand for the next vacation.
 They could come to our house for Christmas
dinner.
We often give more than one option when using
"could".

 If you want to be healthier, you could try yoga or

Pilates.
 We could go to Europe next vacation or we could
go to Africa.
 If he is unhappy at his job, then he could quit or
tell his boss directly.
 He could take the bus or the subway.
3. Look at the difference between "should" and
"could".

 You should try yoga.

(=I think that yoga is the best for you.)
 You could try yoga.
(=Yoga is one possibility for you.)
As you can see, we use "should" to show our own opinion about what another
person should do or try. We use "could" to just provide an option. We are not
sharing our feelings or thoughts when we use "could".

4. We can also use some questions to make a suggestion or recommendation in

an indirect way.

Why don't/doesn't + subject + verb...?

 Why don't you try Jujitsu?

 Why doesn't she break up with her boyfriend?
 If you hate your job, then why don't you quit?
 Why don't you buy a new car? Yours always
breaks down.
 Why doesn't he try to save more money? He
always uses his money very recklessly.
 Why don't they play soccer with us tomorrow?
 SHOULD
USE: We use should every time we want to give an
advice or an opinion

FORMATION: should/shouldn’t + simple verb

EXAMPLES: + Your grades aren’t very good. You should study harder.
- You shouldn’t talk so much during the classes.

OUGHT TO
USE: We can use ought to instead of should to give an advice
or an opinion.

FORMATION: ought to/ought not to + simple verb

EXAMPLES: + You ought to study harder.

- You ought not to talk so much.

HAD BETTER
USE: We use had better when it’s advisable to do something.
If you don’t, there will be a problem or a danger.

FORMATION: had better/had better not + simple verb

EXAMPLES: + I’d better study for the test or I’ll fail.

- I’d better not meet my friends today.

SHOULD and OUGHT TO = it’s just a good idea to do something.

HAD BETTER = there is a problem or danger if you don’t follow the
advice.