ASKING AND GIVING SUGGESTION

If we make a suggestion, it means that we mention a possible course of action to someone. There are a
number of expressions which we can use to make suggestions.

1. You should + V
could
can
You should go and see a dentist to ease your toothache.
You could wear your red dress and your black shoes.
You can cut lawns and wash cars and that kind of thing. Oryou canborrow the money from our parents
and pay them back.

2. How about + V-ing ?

What about
How about starting a book club?
What about opening your present now?

3. How about+present simple ?

What if
How about I pick you up at eight o’clock on my way to the airport?
What if you come and join the family gathering?

4. Why don’t …?
not …
You look really tired. Why don’t you take some time out and rest?
It’s getting late in the evening now. Why don’t we stop now and work on this tomorrow morning?
Why not take a break in the south-west?
Why not treat yourself to a meal at the Icon Restaurant?

5. Let’s + V
Let’s go to the music concert together.
Let’s have dinner with me.

The followings are the ways to ask suggestions :

1. What should I do?
2. What do you suggest?
3. What do you recommend?
4. Do you have any suggestions?

The followings are the ways to give suggestions :

 Why don’t you … go to the dentist?
 You had better … take a rest?
 I think you should … take a remedy test?
 What about … watching film?
 You can … call her now.
 You need … to study hard before the test.
 It’s better for you if you …
 Maybe you have to …
  If I were you, I would …


The followings are the ways to accept and refusesuggestions :

Accept : Refuse :
 Good idea.  I don’t think so.
 That’s a marvellous idea.  I’m not sure.
 That would be really nice.  Thanks, but that didn’t work.
 That sounds nice. I love it.  That’s a good idea, but …
 That’s great! I’d love too.  I don’t really feel like it.
 That sounds good. Why didn’t I think of it?  I tried that, but …

Short dialogues expressing suggestion :

1. Stuart : How about I pick you up at eight o’clock on my way to the airport?
Sue : Great. I’ll see you then.

2. Marry : Oh no! We’re out of olive oil.

Claire : We could always use butter. I know it’s not as healthy, but it’ll taste good.

3. Anne : I have nothing to wear to the party.

Mom : You could wear your red dress and your black shoes.

4. Ali : We’ll need to have at least £300 for the concert tickets, the accommodation and the train.
Imron : We could cut lawns and wash cars and that kind of thing. Orwe could borrow the money
from our parents and pay them back.

5. Shawn : Gigi will perform at Sahid Hotel tonight.Let’s go and see the concert with me.
Bryan : That sounds great! Okay. Pick me up around seven, will you?

Are you hungry?

Yeah, how about some lunch?
What about a coffee?

Let’s call Michael and see if he knows how to fix it.

Let’s make a curry tonight.
Let’s not argue about this.
Let’s not spend all night talking about my problems.

Let’s call Michael and see if he knows how to fix it.

Let’s make a curry tonight.
We use let’s not to make negative suggestions:
Let’s not argue about this.
Let’s not spend all night talking about my problems.

I only have three chairs. There will be four of us for dinner.

Couldn’t you use the one in your bedroom?
I need to finish this essay by tonight.
Couldn’t you get up early in the morning to finish it?

We can use can’t you to make a strong suggestion. It can sound very direct when it is addressed to
someone who is present:
[mother to child]
Can’t you finish your homework before going?
[a woman is talking about her husband who wants a new television]
I think our television is fine. I don’t want it to be replaced really.
Mm.
And he’ll want one of those wide screens.
Oh dear. Can’t he manage with the one you have?

On Saturday, I thought we might go to town and see the Farmers’ Market and then I thought we
could have lunch in a nice little café by the river.

We use the phrase there’s always to make very weak suggestions. It is sometimes used when someone
is trying to cheer someone up or trying to be funny:

How did it go?

We lost four nil. That’s it for this year. We’re out of the championship now .
Don’t worry. There’s always next year.
[friends are chatting about the Beatles; Paul and Ringo are the names of two of its members]
I always liked Paul.
I once dreamt that I married Ringo.
Oh no! That was a nightmare!
There’s always divorce!
We also use suggest and shall to make suggestions.

Bon : We have a trouble with the shipping order this month. What should we do?
Jovi : I suggest we recruit a new employ to handle it.

Mum : Kids, what would you like for lunch today?

Lana : We could have Shish Barak.
Hasan : Why don’t we have Tabbola?
Sarah : Let’s have Sish Barak, Mum.

Amar : Tomorrow is weekend. Let’s go hiking.

Faisal : That’s a good idea.

Trainer: Oh, no!Husen hurt his leg.

Ivan : Let’s get the aid kit quickly.
Teacher: What do we use to pump water?
Mita : I know, teacher! Water mills.
Teacher: Great! Boys, you all could visit Hama and see the water mills.

I’m tired…
I think you should go to bed. You shouldn’t go to the cinema.

I have a toothache.
You should go to the dentist. You shouldn’t eat sweets.

I’m too fat.

You should eat more fruits and vegetables. You shouldn’t eat too much.
You should do some exercises. You shouldn’t eat cookies and sweets.
You shouldn’t drink soda. You should drink water.

I’m tired…
I think you should go to bed.
You’d better go to bed.
If I were you, I would go to bed.

I’m tired…
I think you shouldn’t go to the cinema.
You’d better go to the cinema.
If I were you, I would go to the cinema.

I have a fever.…
I think you should take some aspirin.
You’d better take some aspirin.
If I were you, I would take some aspirin.
 ENGLISH TEST
Asking and Giving ADVICE / SUGGESTION

Name : Score :

Class : Known by :

Date : ________________________
(Student’s Parents/Guardian)

Exercises on asking and giving ADVICE /SUGGESTION

Complete the following dialogues with the appropriate expressions.

1. Abi : I don’t have any friend here.

Bimo : I think you should … .

2. John : Ouch, I’ve got a bad headache.

Jean : If I were you, I would … .
John : Well, I think so. Thanks.

3. Fadli : Oh, the city is getting crowded and noisy.

Robi : It might be a good idea if … .

4. Ali : I lost my mobile phone. What should I do?

Rana : Sorry to hear that. How about … ?

5. Anne : I have nothing to wear to the party.

Mom : You could … .

6. Amir : It’s been an hour now and she hasn’t come yet. Give me an idea, Mar.
Umar : Why don’t you … ?

7. Tourist 1 : I think we lost the way.

Tourist 2 : We could … .

8. Rosa : The holiday starts next week. Do you have any idea?
Sam : Why don’t we … ?
Rosa : That’s a good idea.

9. Candra : Gosh, I failed my math test again. Do you have any suggestion?
Sinta : Why don’t you … ?

10. Jenny : Sasha, do you have a minute? I don’t have enough money. What should I do?
Sasha : Well, if I were you, I would … .
 ENGLISH TEST
Asking and Giving ADVICE / SUGGESTION

Name : Score :

Class : Known by :

Date : ________________________
(Student’s Parents/Guardian)

Exercises on asking and giving ADVICE /SUGGESTION

Complete the following dialogues with the appropriate expressions.

1. Abi : I don’t have any friend here.

Bimo : I think you should … .

2. John : Ouch, I’ve got a bad headache.

Jean : If I were you, I would … .
John : Well, I think so. Thanks.

3. Fadli : Oh, the city is getting crowded and noisy.

Robi : It might be a good idea if … .

4. Ali : I lost my mobile phone. What should I do?

Rana : Sorry to hear that. How about … ?

5. Anne : I have nothing to wear to the party.

Mom : You could … .

6. Amir : It’s been an hour now and she hasn’t come yet. Give me an idea, Mar.
Umar : Why don’t you …?

7. Tourist 1 : I think we lost the way.

Tourist 2 : We could … .

8. Rosa : The holiday starts next week. Do you have any idea?
Sam : Why don’t we … ?
Rosa : That’s a good idea.

9. Candra : Gosh, I failed my math test again. Do you have any suggestion?
Sinta : Why don’t you … ?

10. Jenny : Sasha, do you have a minute? I don’t have enough money. What should I do?
Sasha : Well, if I were you, I would … .
 ENGLISH TEST
Asking and Giving ADVICE / SUGGESTION

Name : Score :

Class : Known by :

Date : ________________________
(Student’s Parents/Guardian)

Exercises on asking and giving ADVICE /SUGGESTION

Complete the following dialogues with the appropriate expressions.

1. Abi : I don’t have any friend here.

Bimo : Don’t worry, you just need to be more friendly with other.

2. John : Ouch, I’ve got a bad headache.

Jean : You had better go home early and get some rest, John.
John : Well, I think so. Thanks.

3. Fadli : Oh, the city is getting crowded and noisy.

Robi : Yes, it is. So let’s spend a day out in the countryside in Ma’alola.

Fadli : Oh, the city is getting crowded and noisy.

Robi : Yes, it is. So let’s spend a day out in the countryside in Ma’alola.

4. Ali : I lost my mobile phone.

Rana : Sorry to hear that! Let’s go and look for it.

5. Anne : I have nothing to wear to the party.

Mom : You could wear your red dress and your black shoes.

6. Amir : It’s been an hour now and she hasn’t come yet.
Umar : Why don’t you call her?

7. Tourist 1 : I think we lost the way.

Tourist 2 : We could use the compass to help us.

8. Rosa : The holiday starts next week. Do you have any idea?
Sam : Why don’t we go and see Tal Shihab waterfalls in Dara’a?
Rosa : That’s a good idea.

9. Candra : Gosh, I failed my math test again.

Sinta : Why don’t you take an extra course or study with your friends?

10. Jenny : Sasha, do you have a minute? I don’t have enough money. What should I do?
Sasha : Well, if I were you, I would find a part time job.