Making Suggestions in English - Spoken English Lesson

Summary

In this lesson, Martin teaches how to make, accept, and politely reject suggestions in English. Learners are introduced to key phrases like 'Why don’t we...?', 'How about...?', and 'Shall we...?' for making suggestions. For accepting suggestions, phrases like 'Sounds great' or 'I’d like that' are used, while polite rejections include 'I’d rather not' and 'Maybe another time.' The lesson emphasizes the importance of intonation in conveying politeness, demonstrating how the tone of voice can drastically change the meaning of a suggestion. This practical guide helps learners navigate social conversations with ease and respect.

Takeaways

• 😀 Making suggestions is an essential part of everyday English conversation, especially in social situations.
• 😀 Common phrases for making suggestions include: 'Why don’t we...?', 'How about...?', 'Shall we...?', and 'Let’s...'.
• 😀 'How about' is unique because it’s followed by a verb + -ing, while other phrases use the base form of the verb.
• 😀 When accepting suggestions, you can say: 'Sure, why not?', 'That sounds great!', 'I’d like that.'
• 😀 If rejecting a suggestion politely, use phrases like: 'I’d rather not, if you don’t mind.' or 'Maybe another time.'
• 😀 Adding a reason when rejecting a suggestion helps make your response sound more polite and considerate.
• 😀 Intonation plays a critical role in sounding polite when accepting or rejecting suggestions.
• 😀 A friendly tone can make even a rejection sound polite, e.g., 'I can’t, I’m afraid. I’ve got some work to do.'
• 😀 When rejecting, avoid using flat or abrupt tones, as they can sound unfriendly, even if the words are polite.
• 😀 Practicing both the language and intonation is essential to improve your communication in English social situations.
• 😀 In some cases, it’s okay to decline with phrases like 'Can I take a rain check?', which indicates you want to do something later.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this lesson?

The main focus of this lesson is to teach how to make, accept, and reject suggestions politely in English, using appropriate vocabulary and phrases.

How do the phrases 'How about' and 'Shall we' differ in terms of structure?

'How about' is followed by a verb plus -ing (e.g., 'How about going for a walk?'), whereas 'Shall we' is followed by an infinitive verb without 'to' (e.g., 'Shall we go out somewhere?').

Why is intonation important when accepting or rejecting suggestions?

Intonation is important because it can affect how polite or friendly the response sounds. Even with correct language, improper intonation can make the speaker sound unfriendly or unenthusiastic.

What are some examples of phrases used to accept suggestions?

Examples of phrases used to accept suggestions include 'Sure', 'Why not?', 'That sounds like a good idea', and 'I would like that'.

What are some ways to reject a suggestion politely?

Polite ways to reject a suggestion include saying 'I’d rather not, if you don’t mind', 'Can I take a rain check?', 'I don’t really feel like it, I’m afraid', or 'Maybe another time'.

What is the meaning of 'Can I take a rain check?' in the context of rejecting a suggestion?

'Can I take a rain check?' means that the person wants to do the activity later, but not at the moment.

How can a speaker make their rejection sound more polite?

A speaker can make their rejection sound more polite by adding a reason (e.g., 'I’m a bit tired' or 'I have a lot to do today') and using apologetic intonation.

What is the difference between the two ways of rejecting a suggestion with different intonations?

The first rejection with apologetic intonation ('I can’t, I’m afraid. I’ve got some work to do.') sounds more polite and considerate, while the second rejection without apologetic intonation ('I can’t, I’ve got some work to do.') sounds less friendly.

What kind of tone should you use when accepting a suggestion?

When accepting a suggestion, it’s important to sound enthusiastic and positive, using a friendly tone to show interest and excitement.

How do the dialogue examples in the script illustrate the difference between making a suggestion and rejecting it politely?

The dialogue examples show polite rejection through the use of soft phrases like 'Maybe another time' or 'I’d rather not, if you don’t mind', compared to the blunt or rude rejection phrases like 'What an awful idea' or 'Count me out'.