Making suggestions | Chatting to people

Saying what you want to do

When you are talking to friends or colleagues, you will often need to be able to talk about what you would like to do. Use I’d like to … (= I would like to) or I want to …

• I’d like to visit New York.
• I’d like to talk to you.
• I’d like to have a word with you.
• I’d like to meet the manager.
• I’d like to get a copy of this report.
• I want to leave early today.
• I want to leave by 5 o’clock.
• I want to invite you all for dinner.

Making suggestions

One way of making suggestions is to use the phrase We could…

• We could hire an expert.
• We could ask Ram to help us.
• We could meet at the restaurant.
• We could meet another time.

If you would like to do something with your friends or colleagues, use Let’s…

• Let’s wait a little longer.
• Let’s invite them for dinner.
• Let’s have something to drink.
• Let’s take a break.

To see if other people agree with you, use Shall we…?

• Shall we get something to eat?
• Shall we go for a walk?
• Shall we ask her if she wants to come with us?

• Shall we send her some flowers?
• Shall we invite them to our party?

Notes

We invite somebody to an event like party, meeting, conference, concert etc.

• I invited him to my party.

We invite somebody for dinner, lunch, tea etc.

• Let’s invite Shyam for dinner. (NOT Let’s invite Shyam to dinner.)

The phrase How about…? is also used to make suggestions.

• How about inviting John to the party?
• How about taking a short break?
• How about sending him a text message?