Lesson 11 Going for it

Why don't/doesn't + subject + verb...?

• 
  Why don't you try Jujitsu?
  
• 
  Why doesn't she break up with her boyfriend?
  
• 
  If you hate your job, then why don't you quit?
  
• 
  Why don't you buy a new car? Yours always breaks down.
  
• 
  Why doesn't he try to save more money? He always uses his money very recklessly.
  
• 
  Why don't they play soccer with us tomorrow?
  

How about + gerund/noun...?

• 
  How about trying this restaurant?
  
• 
  How about going back to school to get your master's degree?
  
• 
  How about this movie?
  
• 
  How about getting your mom a necklace for her birthday?
  
• 
  If you don't want to go outside, how about watching a movie?
  
• 
  Since you don't want to get the red hat, how about the blue one? It looks good.
  

5. We can also just use the words "suggest" or "recommend". We can use two different sentence patterns to do this.

I suggest/recommend that + sentence

• 
  I suggest that you study grammar more.
  
• 
  I suggest that he think more about it before he makes a decision.
  
• 
  I recommend that she focus on improving her speaking.
  
• 
  I recommend that you go to Thailand for your honeymoon.
  

Note: We do not put an "s" after the verbs in the second party. This is called the "Subjunctive Form". It is very rare in English, so do not worry about it. Just know that in sentences with "recommend" and "suggest" that we do not add an "s" to the verb that follows "that". However, if you do put an "s" by mistake, it is not a big problem. English speakers can still easily understand and most people will not even know that you made a mistake.

I suggest/recommend + gerund/noun...

We use this when we are making the suggestion directly to the person that will do the action.

• 
  I suggest going to Europe in the summer.
  
• 
  I recommend trying that Mexican restaurant.
  
• 
  She recommends trying meditation to relieve stress.
  

We can also do this when both people know who will do the action or when it is general advice.

A) Mark says he wants to lose weight.
B) I suggest dieting and lifting weights.
(=I suggest that Mark diet and lift weights.)

A) It is hard for people to learn English.
B) I suggest speaking as often as possible.
(=I suggest that anyone who is trying to learn English speak as often as they can.)

6. We can use this sentence pattern when we will also be doing the action with the other person.