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Making suggestions: English 3AC communication

Make suggestions in English 3AC with let's, shall we and why don't we. Accept an idea or suggest another, using school and community examples.

English 3AC, Morocco · Focus, Spotlight 3 and guided practice · Updated

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By the end of this lesson, you can

  • Suggest an activity with a correct verb form.
  • Respond positively or politely disagree.
  • Give a practical reason for an alternative.

Before you startRead short English sentences and identify the subject and verb.

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How do you make a suggestion in English?

A suggestion offers an idea for a shared activity. Let's clean the classroom is a simple suggestion. Let's means let us and is followed by a base verb. Shall we make a poster? and Why don't we make a poster? also offer an idea. These are questions, so finish them with a question mark.

Choose an activity that fits the situation. If your class wants to help the environment, Let's plant a tree is relevant. Let's watch a film may be grammatical, but it does not directly answer that particular task. Good communication needs a sensible idea as well as correct English.

Two pupils plan a school-garden project with poster paper, pencils and a seedling.
The boys have a goal and several possible activities. Suggest one useful action and explain your choice.

What verb follows what about and how about?

Use a noun or an -ing form after What about...? or How about...?: What about a reading club? How about starting a reading club? Do not write What about start a club? In this pattern, starting is the correct form.

Compare Let's practise English with What about practising English? The meaning is similar, but the structures are different. Practise one pattern accurately before changing to another. In British spelling, practise is the verb and practice is the noun.

Let's + base verb: Let's make a poster. Shall we + base verb?: Shall we make a poster? What about + -ing?: What about making a poster?
The meaning is similar, but the verb pattern changes.
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How do you accept or suggest an alternative?

To accept, say That's a good idea, Great idea or Yes, let's. To disagree politely, explain the problem and offer another idea: That sounds useful, but it is raining. Let's work in the library instead. Avoid a bare No when a short reason would help. An alternative should keep the same goal where possible.

A worked example

Planning a school project

Sami: Let's clean the school garden on Saturday. Nabil: That's a good idea, but I can't come on Saturday. What about working on Friday afternoon? Sami: Yes, let's ask the teacher first.

  1. Let's is followed by clean and ask, both base verbs.
  2. What about is followed by working.
  3. The alternative changes the time while keeping the project.
Suggest: Let's clean the garden. Accept: That's a good idea. Offer an alternative: It is raining. Let's work indoors instead.
Respond to the idea, then make the plan clearer.
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How should I use this English 3AC lesson?

  • Try the exercises before reading the answers.
  • Explain a correction in your own words.
  • Return to the examples when two structures look similar.

Frequently asked questions

How can I make a suggestion in English 3AC?

Use Let's + base verb, Shall we + base verb? or What about + -ing? For example, Let's read or What about reading?

Is let's to read correct?

No. Write Let's read. Do not put to after let's.

How do I disagree with a suggestion politely?

Give a brief reason and suggest another plan: I can't come on Friday. What about Saturday?

Quiz: 6 questions

6 questions are randomly selected from this lesson’s 6-question bank. Choose one answer for each question and get an immediate explanation.

Q1Let's ___ a story.

Correct answer: read

Let's takes a base verb.

Q2What about ___ chess?

Correct answer: playing

What about takes an -ing form here.

Q3Which is a suggestion?

Correct answer: Shall we draw a map?

Shall we...? offers a shared activity.

Q4Which reply accepts a suggestion?

Correct answer: That's a good idea.

That's a good idea accepts the proposed activity.

Q5Why don't we ___ the teacher?

Correct answer: ask

Why don't we is followed by a base verb.

Q6Which polite response offers an alternative?

Correct answer: It is raining. Let's work indoors instead.

It explains the problem and offers a practical new plan.

Exercises with answers

6 exercises, from easy practice to challenges. Try each one yourself, then reveal the answer and explanation.

Exercise 1

Easy

Complete: Let's ___ (make) a vocabulary poster.

Answer and explanation

Make. Use the base verb after let's.

Exercise 2

Easy

Complete: What about ___ (read) a short story?

Answer and explanation

Reading. Use an -ing form after what about.

Exercise 3

Intermediate

Put the words in order: we / shall / practise / English / ?

Answer and explanation

Shall we practise English?

Exercise 4

Intermediate

Reply positively to: Let's start a reading club.

Answer and explanation

That's a good idea. Yes, let's is another suitable answer.

Exercise 5

Challenge

It is raining. Change the suggestion Let's draw in the garden to a suitable indoor suggestion.

Answer and explanation

It is raining. Let's draw in the classroom instead. The alternative keeps the activity possible.

Exercise 6

Challenge

Suggest making a poster with let's, then with how about.

Answer and explanation

Let's make a poster. How about making a poster? Notice make after let's and making after how about.