MAKING SUGESTION AND REQUESTING SOMETHING

Making Suggestion is how you express your suggestion to someone.

There are a number of ways used when making suggestions :

1)         WHAT ABOUT/HOW ABOUT ... + Base form + -ING

      •       What about going to the swimming pool tomorrow?

      •       How about going to the swimming pool tomorrow?

2)         WHY + Negative

      •       Why don't we go to the swimming pool tomorrow?

3)         IMPERATIVE: Let's + Base form

      •       Let's go to the swimming pool tomorrow! 

4)         COULD

      •       We could go to the swimming pool tomorrow.

5)         DO YOU WANT + the infinitive

•       Do you want to go to the swimming pool tomorrow?

Making a Suggestion	Responding
I suggest that …           I would suggest that …           My suggestion is …         What about …           Perhaps we should …           We’d better/ we must …           A possible solution  to your problem is …	•          That’s a good idea •          It’s a good suggestion, thanks. •          You are right. •          Yes, let’s do it •          I think so •          Yes, you’re right. •          That’s what is in my mind

Requesting Something is what we say when we want to ask someone to do something for us

 

 ASK SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU

      •          Requesting

      •          Would you mind …, please?

      •          Can/Could you …?

      •          Will/Would you …?

      •          Please …

      •          Accepting Requests

      •          Sure, I’d be glad/happy to …

      •          Of course/Certainly.

      •          No problem.

      •          Sure. Just a moment.

      •          Refusing Requests

      •          I’d loved to, but …

      •          It sounds great, but …

      •          I’m/sorry, but …

      •          Sorry to say that …

Example making polite request :

      •          Could you open the window for me, please?

      •          Would you mind closing the door for us, please?"

      •          Can you close the door for me, please?

      •          Could you possibly show me the way to the post office, please?

      •          Would you help me with this exercise, please?

The responses for that polite request can be

      •          Sure.

      •          Certainly.

      •          Why not

      •          With a pleasure.

      •          I'd be glad to.

      •          I am afraid I can't.

      •          I am sorry I can't.

The pattern

      •          Would you mind is followed by the verb and -ing.

ASKING IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING

      •          Asking polite permission to do something

      •          "Can I use your phone, please?"

      •          "Could I borrow some money from you, please?"

      •          "Do you mind if I turn on television?"

      •          "Would you mind if I turned off the lamp?"

      •          The responses can be

      •          No. I don't mind

      •          Not at all

      •          No, of course not

      •          No, that would be fine

      •          I am afraid, yes

      •          Yes, I do mind

      •          The pattern

      •          Could is more polite than can.

      •          Do you mind if…" is followed by the verb in the present tense.

      •          would you mind if… is followed by the verb in the past tense.