Making Suggestions | Many Useful Phrases to Make Suggestions in English

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If you’re looking for ways to make suggestions in English, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll cover some common phrases that you can use to suggest ideas, offer advice, and make recommendations in a variety of settings. Whether you’re in a business meeting, social gathering, or casual conversation, these phrases can help you communicate your ideas effectively.

Common Phrases for Making Suggestions

When it comes to making suggestions, it’s important to use the right phrases to convey your ideas effectively. Here are some common phrases that you can use to make suggestions:

• How about…?
• Why don’t we…?
• Let’s…
• Have you thought about…?
• I suggest that we…
• It might be a good idea to…

Using these phrases can help you make suggestions in a polite and effective way. For example, you could say “How about we try that new restaurant downtown?” or “I suggest that we postpone the meeting until next week.”

It’s also important to be open to suggestions from others. You can use phrases like “That’s a great idea!” or “I hadn’t thought of that before” to show that you are receptive to other people’s suggestions.

In addition to using these phrases, it’s important to consider your tone of voice and body language when making suggestions. Be confident but not pushy, and make sure to listen to the other person’s response.

List of Phrase of Making and Responding to Suggestions

Making Suggestions

• Let’s revise…
• What about going to…?
• How about going …?
• Why don’t we go …?
• Couldn’t we …?
• Shall we …?
• What would you say to …?
• Don’t you think it is a good idea to …?
• Does it matter if we …?
• Would you like to …?
• Let’s go to…
• I suggest you/we take…into consideration…
• We could…
• Do you fancy …
• We might as well…

Accepting Suggestions

• Ok. let’s.
• Yes, I’d like to.
• Yes, I’d love to.
• What a good idea!
• Why not?
• Yes, with pleasure.
• Yes, I feel like taking a walk.
• Yes. That sounds like a good idea.
• Yes, that’s not a bad idea.
• Brilliant!
• Count me in too.

Refusing Suggestions

In some case, you want to refuse or you disagree with the suggestions, you could say:

• No, let’s not.
• Well, I’d rather…
• I don’t feel like it.
• I dislike going for a walk.
• What an awful/bad idea!
• I’m not sure about that idea.
• I’d love to but…
• I don’t think it will work.
• I don’t think I can.
• I’m not very keen on (+_ing)

Things to Remember about suggestions

1. The verb “suggest” can be followed by either:

Should + verb = I suggest (that) we should go to the theater.
A verb (in the subjunctive form)= I suggest (that) we go to the movies.

2.”That” is optional:

• I suggest that we should visit Paris.
• I suggest we should visit Paris.

Using Phrases in Different Contexts

When it comes to making suggestions, it’s important to consider the context in which you are communicating. The same phrase that might work well in a personal setting may not be appropriate in a professional one. Here are some examples of how to use phrases in different contexts:

Professional Settings

When making suggestions in a professional setting, it’s important to be respectful and avoid being too direct. Here are some phrases that can be used in a professional setting:

• “Perhaps we could consider…”
• “I’d like to suggest that we…”
• “It might be worth considering…”

These phrases are polite and indirect, and can be used to make suggestions without coming across as pushy or demanding.

Personal Interactions

When making suggestions in a personal interaction, it’s important to be more direct and casual. Here are some phrases that can be used in a personal setting:

• “Why don’t we try…”
• “How about we…”
• “Would you like to…”

These phrases are more casual and direct, and can be used to make suggestions in a friendly and approachable way.

Dos and Don’ts of Making Suggestions

When it comes to making suggestions, there are certain dos and don’ts that we should keep in mind. Here are some guidelines to help you make effective and appropriate suggestions:

Dos

1. Use “let’s” to sound collaborative: When making a suggestion, it’s important to make sure that your suggestion sounds collaborative and like a joint effort. Instead of using “you should” or “I suggest,” try using “let’s” to sound more professional. For example, “Let’s try the new Thai place everyone’s talking about.”
2. Be specific: When making a suggestion, be specific about what you are suggesting. Vague suggestions can be confusing and may not be taken seriously. For example, instead of saying “We should improve our sales,” say “We should focus on increasing our online presence to improve our sales.”
3. Consider the other person’s perspective: When making a suggestion, it’s important to consider the other person’s perspective. Think about how your suggestion might affect them and try to present it in a way that is beneficial for everyone.

Don’ts

1. Don’t be too pushy: While it’s important to make suggestions, it’s also important to respect other people’s opinions and decisions. Don’t push your suggestions too hard, as this can come across as aggressive and may damage your relationship with the other person.
2. Don’t make assumptions: When making a suggestion, don’t assume that you know what the other person wants or needs. Instead, ask questions and try to understand their perspective before making your suggestion.
3. Don’t be negative: When making a suggestion, try to focus on the positive aspects of the situation. Avoid using negative language or criticizing others, as this can create a negative atmosphere and may make it more difficult to reach a solution.

Learn more about how to express opinions in English.

Making and Responding to Suggestions | Infographic