Suggestions

English has several patterns for suggesting what to do. The key thing is to remember which verb form follows each one.

💡How about / What about end in the preposition about, so a verb after them takes -ing: How about going…? (not How about go…?). All the other patterns take the base form, without to.

1. Suggesting doing something together — Let's…, Shall we…?, Why don't we…?, How about…?

• It's so hot. Let's go for a swim.

• Shall we take a break? I'm exhausted.

• Why don't we cook at home tonight?

2. Suggesting what someone else could do — Why don't you…?, Why not…?, You could…

• You look tired. Why don't you lie down for a bit?

• If the shirt is too big, why not change it?

• You could ask your teacher for help.

3. Asking for suggestions — What / Where / When shall we…?

• What shall we do this weekend?

• Where shall we meet? — How about the café near the station?

4. Putting forward an option — How about / What about + a noun or pronoun

• I can't do Friday. What about Sunday?

• I'd like a pizza. How about you?

💡Why don't you…? can be a real question or a suggestion — context and intonation tell you which. “Why don't you eat meat?” may be asking for a reason. “Why don't you take a break?” is a suggestion, and the listener doesn't need to explain anything.

The patterns mean roughly the same thing, but some are more direct than others:

• Let's go, shall we?

  the question tag after Let's is shall we

• Maybe we could leave a bit earlier to avoid the traffic.

• Shall we get a taxi? — Yes, let's. It's getting late.

• Let's watch a horror film. — Hmm, I'd rather not. How about a comedy instead?

💡Saying just “No.” to a suggestion sounds abrupt. Adding a short reason or another idea (Maybe another time — I'm busy tonight.) sounds much more natural and polite.

To report someone's suggestion, or to make one more formally, use the verb suggest. It is followed by -ing or (that) + clause — not by suggest + person + to-infinitive.

• Minh suggested going to the night market.

• I suggest we leave before the rain starts.

• The doctor suggested that I drink more water.

  not: suggested me to drink

• ✗How about go to the cinema?

  ✓How about going to the cinema?

  After about, use -ing.

• ✗Why don't we going to the night market?

  ✓Why don't we go to the night market?

  Why don't we + base form.

• ✗Shall we to start now?

  ✓Shall we start now?

  No to after shall.

• ✗Let's to eat out tonight.

  ✓Let's eat out tonight.

  Let's + base form, no to.

• ✗Why not to take a taxi?

  ✓Why not take a taxi?

  Why not + base form, no to.

• ✗She suggested me to call the hotel.

  ✓She suggested (that) I call the hotel.

  suggest is not followed by person + to-infinitive.