Simple Learning English | Making Suggestions

We often suggest ideas or things to do. Here are some common examples with seeing a film. You can use the structures to talk about other things, of course.

Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking And Writing

1. Why don't we go to the cinema?
2. Let's go to the cinema. What do you think?
3. How about going to the cinema?
4. How do you feel about seeing a film?
5. Fancy seeing a film?
6. I'd like to see a film. How about you?
7. We could always see a film.
8. Why not go and see a film?
9. Seeing a film's one idea.
10. It would be nice to see a film.
    

How To Use These Phrases In Your English

1. 1 and 3 are structures that are frequently taught in coursebooks.
2. 2 and 4 are different because you are asking for your friend's opinion, so they are less forceful, especially 4.
3. 5 is very common in spoken English but is not often taught in coursebooks. It's short for 'Do you fancy
4. 6 is also like 2 because you put your own idea first as a preference. You can also say 'What about you?'
5. 7 notice the use of 'always' here in a suggestion. It doesn't refer to time or frequency. It means this is a possibility.
6. 8 is a version of 1, using a negative question. However, 8 can also be used when making a suggestion for someone else to do something. The speaker may or may not be included.
7. We use 'one idea' or 'one possibility' meaning: it's one thing we could do.
8. 10 is quite a strong way of politely expressing your own preference, like 6.