UNIT 6

Party time!
-

Lesson Objectives:
1. To learn expressions for making suggestions.
2. To know the vocabulary about planning parties.

Image 1. Objectives Icon

 DEVELOPMENT
We can make a suggestion by starting our sentence with “What about …?”, “How about …?”,
“Why doesn´t/don´t …?” and “let´s”. There are sure key points to be kept in mind while using of
them. [1]
If we make a suggestion, it means that we mention a possible course of action to someone.
There are a number of expressions which we can use to make suggestions. When we make a
suggestion to the above question, we can do it in the following ways:

How about + ing?

What about + ing?
For example:
- How about watching the game?
- What about watching the game?

The above two suggestions “How about” and “What about” are followed by gerund (ing form) or
can be followed directly by a noun.

For example:
- What about the game?
- How about the game?

When we make a suggestion using “Why”, please pay attention that the verb always goes in
the simple present negative form. In case of the third person singular, we have to use
“doesn’t”.

For example:
- Why doesn’t she watch the game tonight?
- Let´s watch the game tonight?

 How about / What about + ing?

- How about starting a book club?
- What about opening the restaurant now?

 How about + present simple?

- How about I pick you up at seven o´clock on my way to the University?
- Well, I´ll see you then.

We often use “How about” and “What about” + noun phrase when we make suggestions about
drink or foot. There suggestion are invitations:

- Are they hungry?

- Yeah, how about some lunch?
- What about a coffee?
 Why not? and Why don’t?

We can use why not to make a general suggestion.

For example:
- Why not take a break in the beach?
- Why not treat yourself to a meal at the KFC Restaurant?

We can use why don’t to make a specific suggestion.

For example:
- It´s getting late in the morning now. Why don’t we stop and going to have lunch?
- She looks really tired. Why doesn’t she take some time out and rest?

 Let´s and let´s not

We use let´s to make suggestions about doing something with someone.

For example:
- Let´s make a slumber party tonight.
- Let´s call Luisa and see if she knows how to fix it.

We use let´s not to make negative suggestions.

For example:
- Let´s not fight about this.
- Let´s not spend all my money in beers.

 Could

We use could to make suggestions. Some are neutral, and some are strong. The negative form,
couldn´t is stronger than the affirmative form.

1. Neutral:
a. I have nothing to wear to the birthday.
b. You could wear your blue shirt and your black shoes.

a. We´ll need to have at least $500 USD for the concert tickets, the hotel, and the flights.
b. We could borrow the money from our parents and pay them back.

2. Strong:
a. I only have one chair. There will be two of us for dinner.
b. Couldn’t you see the one in your bedroom?
 a. I need to finish this work by tonight.
b. Couldn’t you sleep late to finish it?

1. Complete the pairs of sentences with words from the box.

Pay Spend Afford Cost Buy Rent

a. Can you _________ the apartment? It´s very expensive.

b. I can´t __________ a fancy restaurant. I don’t have much money.

a. A birthday cake can ____cost____ about $50 USD.

b. The gifts for Louis and Megan´s going-away party ___cost___ a lot.

a. I´m going to ________ a new shirt for the party.

b. I want to ________ a gift for you.

a. I want to _________ a motorcycle for the weekend.

b. He´s going to ________ a ballroom at a hotel for the party.

a. Paul is going to _________ for the lunch on your birthday.

b. He´ll _________ by debit card.

a. I usually _________ a lot of money on birthday cards.

b. We´re going to _________ $500 USD on the party.

Image 3. Candies
Invitation

Image 4. Invitation
Candies
Image 2. Balloons Balloons Gifts

Banner
Image 5. Banner Image 6. Gifts
 Image 7. Coke Image 8. Cake
Cup cake

Coke

Cake Image 9. Cup cake

The next English phrases and expressions are all used to make suggestion to people.

Making suggestions Accepting suggestions Refusing suggestions

What would you say to a cup Yes, I´d love it. I dislike going for a walk.
of coffee?
Does it matter if we use your Ok. Yes, let´s. No, let´s not.
car?
Let´s revise our lessons. Why not? What an awful / bad idea!
What about going to the That sounds like a good idea. No, I´d rather not.
cinema tonight?
Couldn’t we invite your Yes, with pleasure. I don’t feel like it.
grandfather to our party?

The verb suggest can be followed by either:

 Should + verb = I suggest “that” we should go to the cinema.

 A verb “in the subjunctive form” = I suggest “that” we go to the cinema.

“That” is optional:

 I suggest that we should visit Spain.

 I suggest we should visit Spain.

Please, answer the next questions:

a. Do you like the parties?

______________________________________________________________________
b. How do you usually celebrate your parties?
______________________________________________________________________
c. Do you invite your friends or no?
______________________________________________________________________
d. What is your favorite kind of party?
______________________________________________________________________
2. Study the examples. Notice the ways to make suggestions.
 How about visiting the museum this evening?
 Why don’t we rent the car to go to the beach?
 Let´s (not) have it at the office.
 Maybe I could get a Band this time.

3. Look at the example again. Complete the rules in the chart.

Why don’t / How about / Let´s (not) / Maybe … could suggestions

 Use _________ + verb + ing.
 Use _________ + subject + could + the base form of the verb.
 Use _________ + the base form of the verb.
 Use _________ + subject + the base form of the verb.

4. Complete the conversations with the verbs in the box.

Cost Pay Rent

a. What are your plans for the next vacations?

b. I´m going to ________ a car and drive to Texas for my girlfriend.

a. What kind of music should we have at the nightclub?

b. Can we _________ a DJ? I know a good one.

a. Wow! These birds are beautiful! Were the expensive?

b. Don’t worry. I didn’t __________ a lot of money.
 EXERCISES

1. Choose the correct expressions to complete the conversation.

Luis: I have to buy a gift for Laura´s birthday, and I don’t know what to get her.
Diana: Maybe you could / Why don´t you get her a cellphone.?
Luis: I know she likes Samsung, iPhone. But I don’t know what cellphone she wants?
Diana: Ok. So how about / maybe you could buying her a dress?
Luis: I don’t know. Maybe I could / Why don’t I give her a shoes.
Diana: Oh, I don’t think she has a shoes.
Luis: Well, why don’t I / let´s think. I know! She loves candies.
Diana: That’s true. Why don’t you / Maybe you could get her some candies.
Luis: Chocolate? Good idea. Or strawberry sweet?
Diana: Why don’t we / Let´s go shopping together?
Luis: Great! Maybe we could / How about going after university tomorrow night?
Diana: Well. But let´s not / why don’t we go to the big department stores. I prefer small
stores. How about / Let´s go to the Sweet World.
Luis: Fine. How about / Why don´t we meeting behind of your office building at around
7:00 p.m.?
Diana: Ok. Maybe I could / Why don’t I call you when I leave the university?
Luis: Great.

2. Choose and write the correct answer in the space of the sentences.

1. _________ meat for dinner tonight?

a. How about
b. Why don’t

2. _________ visiting the museum this evening?

a. Why don’t
b. How about

3. _________ dancing at the nightclub?

a. What about
b. Let´s

4. _________ go to the beach.

a. What about
b. Let´s

5. _________ join the Zumba class to exercise.

a. Let´s
b. How about

6. _________ spending the Friday at the hotel Ritz London?

a. Let´s
b. How about
 7. _________ a long vacation this winter?
a. How about?
b. Let´s

8. _________ you take up a new French class?

a. How about
b. Why don’t

9. _________ he stays home and rest tonight?

a. Why doesn’t
b. Why don’t

10. _________ taking the taxi to go to the university?

a. Why don’t
b. How about

3. Choose the best option for each sentences.

1. David: It´s so hot in here!
Maria: _______ get out of here!
a. Let´s
b. What about
c. Would you like to

2. Camilo: What shall we do?

Valeria: I don’t know. It´s going to start raining, _________ a play? I think there´s a
new one in the auditorium.
a. How about
b. Would you like
c. Shall

3. Hey Santiago, ___________ go to the movies with us?

a. How about
b. Would you like
c. Let´s

4. Luis called and said she is going for a walk. __________ going with his?
a. Let´s
b. How about
c. Shall

5. What can we do this evening? _________ we watch the basketball game in a

restaurant?
a. Do you like
b. Shall
c. How about
 6. I would like to do something different this vacation. _________ go to Paris.
a. Let´s
b. How about
c. Would you like to

7. So, we all want France, right? _________ that restaurant near the cinema?
a. How about
b. Let´s
c. Would you like to

4. Organize the word to form the correct sentence.

a. Why / pool / we / to / together / don’t / go / the /?
_____________________________________________

b. Dog / have / hot / a / Let´s /

_____________________________________________

c. The / we / Barcelona / take / could / train / to

_____________________________________________

d. Huge / about / motorcycle / what / buying / a

_____________________________________________

5. Choose the words in the box and write to form the correct sentences in
the conversation.

Good Let´s Shall About Like Don´t

Thomas: What _____ we do?

Tania: Why _____ we go to the pool?
Thomas: It´s too hot.
Tania: What _____ watching a movie?
Thomas: I don’t feel _____ staying in.
Tania: _____ go out for a hamburger!
Thomas: I´m not hungry.
Tania: We could always go to Camilo´s house.
Thomas: Ok that sounds ______. Let´s go!
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rost M., (2016) World View 2a, Pearson.

[1] http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/functions/suggestions.

Image 1. Objectives Icon

Source: Image extracted from Google images, https://intereuroparioja.org/wp-
content/uploads/2016/12/aprender-haciendo.png

Image 2. Balloons
Source: Image extracted from Google images, http://www.pngmart.com/files/1/Balloons-PNG-HD.png

Image 3. Candies
Source: Image extracted from Google images, http://www.officialpsds.com/images/thumbs/Candy-
psd80065.png

Image 4. Invitation
Source: Image extracted from Google images,
https://uploads.weconnect.com/6864ce45106cd03788a1ee6a5977c61c28e54e27/
dqlq01kji860yi2sv4ejmvveval.png

Image 5. Banner
Source: Image extracted from Google images, https://represent-com-
production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/024bff51504f5abb1f989ff307a64af1.png

Image 6. Gifts
Source: Image extracted from Google images,
https://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2016/05/02/635978130853639256653655081_10_1_idea.png

Image 7. Coke
Source: Image extracted from Google images,
http://www.chiangmaithaikitchenonline.com/images/drink.png?crc=3763993600

Image 8. Cake
Source: Image extracted from Google images,
http://www.mtunziniprimary.co.za/images/centenary_celebratios/C6FCVzOWUAAltBi.png

Image 9. Cup cake

Source: Image extracted from Google images, http://mfs1.cdnsw.com/fs/Root/d0md5-
cupcakes_transparent.gif