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Lesson 17
Problem Solving
B1

MakingSuggestions

Why don't we…? · How about…? · Shall we…? — making and reacting to suggestions

60 min Group decisions

Your level · You are here

  1. A0/A1Beginner
  2. A1/A2Elementary
  3. A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+Intermediate
  5. B2Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1Advanced
  7. C2Proficiency

Get Talking · Section 1

5 min

Start the conversation

reflection
Last decision

What was the last group decision you helped make? How was it decided?

activity
Friday night

Three friends, no plan, hungry. What do you suggest? Use a full sentence.

discussion
The reluctant one

How do you react when someone keeps shooting down every suggestion?

Grammar · Section 2

8–10 min

Five ways to make a suggestion — and when to use each

Open in Grammar Bank
How it works
  • All five structures suggest the same thing, but the FORM and TONE differ.
  • WHY DON'T WE + base verb ('Why don't we order in?') is friendly and open.
  • HOW ABOUT + -ing ('How about ordering in?') is light and easy.
  • SHALL WE + base verb ('Shall we order in?') sounds slightly more formal or polite — good for proposing the next step.
  • LET'S + base verb ('Let's order in.') is the most direct — you're nearly deciding.
  • WHAT IF WE + past simple ('What if we ordered in?') softens it and invites discussion.
  • Match the strength to the situation: tentative ideas → 'What if we…?' / 'How about…?'; clear proposals → 'Why don't we…?' / 'Shall we…?'; near-decisions → 'Let's…'
In action

Why don't we meet a bit earlier — say seven?

How about splitting the bill three ways?

Shall we take the train instead of driving?

Let's just book it now before the prices go up.

What if we went on Saturday instead?

Question 1.Choose: 'How about ____ the early flight?'

Question 2.Choose: 'Why don't we ____ a bit later?'

Question 3.Which is the SOFTEST way to suggest?

Question 4.Choose: 'Shall we ____ the bill?'

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Conversation Builder
Say it naturally

Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.

1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

4.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

Quick check 1.Which response sounds most enthusiastic?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Vocabulary · Section 3

5–7 min

Words & phrases to learn

Open in Vocabulary Bank
1

Sounds good / sounds great

warm, positive reaction to a suggestion

In context

"Friday at seven? Sounds great."

Now try it yourself

React to: 'Why don't we cook tonight?'

2

I'm up for that

I'm keen, count me in

In context

"Hiking on Sunday? Yeah, I'm up for that."

Now try it yourself

Suggest an activity, then react with 'I'm up for that'.

3

I'd rather…

polite preference instead

In context

"I'd rather go a bit later — I'm finishing work at six."

Now try it yourself

Reject one plan with 'I'd rather…' and propose an alternative.

4

Works for me

the plan suits me, no objection

In context

"Wednesday at the café? Works for me."

Now try it yourself

Confirm a time with 'works for me'.

5

Let me think about it

polite delay, not a yes or no yet

In context

"Hmm, let me think about it and I'll text you tonight."

Now try it yourself

Use it to delay a yes/no answer politely.

6

What do you reckon?

informal 'what do you think?'

In context

"We could share a starter — what do you reckon?"

Now try it yourself

Make a suggestion and end with 'what do you reckon?'

7

I'm easy

I don't mind, anything's fine

In context

"Pizza or sushi? Honestly, I'm easy."

Now try it yourself

Reply with 'I'm easy' to two suggestions in a row.

8

Let's call it then

decision is made, move on

In context

"Saturday at eight? Great — let's call it then."

Now try it yourself

Close a decision with 'let's call it then'.

Make it yours
Use the new words

Pick at least three words from above and use each one in a sentence about your real life. Say each one aloud before you write.

Quick exchange

Ask your teacher (or a partner) a question that uses one of today's words. They reply using a different word.

Ranking

Rank today's words from most to least useful for you this week. Defend your top choice.

Opinion

Finish: "Honestly, I'd say…" using one of today's words.

Tip: aim to reuse at least two of these words later in the Speaking and Writing tasks.

Matching
Match each reaction to the situation it fits best.

Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Categorise
Sort the phrases by the function they serve in a group decision.
Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Pronunciation · Section 4

3–4 min

Rising intonation on suggestions, falling intonation on decisions

A suggestion is OPEN — it invites the other person in — so it ends with a slight RISE: 'Shall we order in?↗' A decision is CLOSED — you're confirming — so it ends with a clear FALL: 'Let's order in.↘' Mixing these up makes 'Let's order in' sound uncertain and 'Shall we order in?' sound bossy. Get the melody right, and the same words feel completely different.

  • • Why don't we meet at seven?↗
  • • How about Thai food?↗
  • • Shall we split it?↗
  • • Let's call it then.↘
  • • Right — Saturday at eight.↘

Reading · Section 5

8–10 min

Three friends, one weekend, zero plan

It's Friday at half past six and the group chat has been silent for two hours. Finally Maya cracks: 'Okay — I'm starving. Why don't we just walk to that new ramen place near the station? It's only ten minutes.' Tom replies almost instantly: 'Sounds great, I'm up for that.' Then a long pause. Then Liv: 'I'd rather not do ramen tonight — I had noodles for lunch. What if we went to the Lebanese place on King Street instead?'

Maya could push back, but she knows from experience that the chat will die again if she does. 'Honestly, I'm easy — Lebanese works for me. Tom?' Tom takes ten seconds — 'Yeah, works for me too.' 'Right,' Maya types, 'let's call it then. Lebanese, eight o'clock, I'll book.' Three thumbs-up emojis. Forty seconds. Decision made. The trick wasn't picking the best restaurant; it was picking somewhere everyone could say 'works for me' to without losing face.

Question 1.What was Maya's original suggestion for the evening?

Question 2.Why did Liv reject the ramen suggestion?

Question 3.Why does Maya say 'I'm easy' rather than pushing back on Liv's alternative?

Question 4.What does the writer imply in the final sentence about group decisions?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
True / False
Decide if each statement is True or False

Q1.The group decided in under a minute once Maya found a workable option.

Q2.Liv suggested ramen.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Listening · Section 6

8–10 min

Planning a colleague's leaving drinks

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Show transcript

Sofia:Right, so — Marcus's leaving drinks. Why don't we just do it at The Crown after work on Thursday?

Daniel:Hmm, I'd rather not do The Crown again — we were there last month. How about that rooftop place near the station?

Sofia:Oh, good shout. What's it called — Sky Bar?

Daniel:That's the one. Shall we book a table for, say, seven?

Sofia:Seven might be tight — half the team finishes at six thirty. What if we said seven thirty instead?

Daniel:Works for me. Should I send a group message?

Sofia:Yeah, please. And maybe ask people to put a fiver in for a card and a small gift — what do you reckon?

Daniel:Good idea. Let me think about a gift… he's into cycling, isn't he? We could chip in for a decent water bottle.

Sofia:Perfect. Right — Sky Bar, Thursday, seven thirty, fiver each. Let's call it then.

Daniel:Sorted. I'll send the message now.

Question 1.Why did Daniel prefer not to hold the event at The Crown?

Question 2.What gift does Daniel suggest for Marcus?

Question 3.Why does Sofia suggest seven thirty instead of seven?

Question 4.What does 'Let's call it then' signal at the end of the conversation?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Tick what you hear
Tick the suggestion / reaction phrases you hear.
Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Exam tip · Section 7

5 min

Speaking — collaborative task (Cambridge B1 Preliminary Part 3 style)

Task

Plan a 30-minute coffee meet-up with two friends. Suggest a place, a time, and what to bring. React to your partner's suggestions and reach a decision together.

Strategy

OPEN with a clear suggestion ('Why don't we…?' / 'How about…?'). REACT, don't just absorb — 'Sounds great', 'I'd rather…', 'What if we…?' MOVE the decision forward with checks ('What do you reckon?', 'Works for you?'). CLOSE explicitly ('Let's call it then'). Examiners reward students who steer the decision, not students who just agree to everything.

Example

A: How about meeting at Bean & Brew at three on Saturday? B: Hmm, three's a bit early for me — I'd rather make it four. What if we said four, and Bean & Brew is fine? A: Works for me. Shall we each bring our notes from Monday? B: Good shout. Right — Saturday, four, Bean & Brew, bring notes. Let's call it then.

Practice · Section 8

8–10 min

Fill in the blank

Question 1.How about ____ at the café on the corner?

Question 2.Why don't we just ____ a taxi?

Question 3.I'd ____ go a bit later if that's okay.

Question 4.Saturday at eight? ____ for me.

Question 5.Right — let's ____ it then.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Sentence transformation
Say it naturally

There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.

Q1.Suggest meeting earlier with 'Why don't we…?'

Q2.Offer a soft alternative with 'What if we…?'

Q3.Push back politely with 'I'd rather…'

Q4.Close the decision in one short phrase.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Writing · Section 9

5 min

Put it in writing

Your task

Write an 80–100 word group message proposing a weekend plan. Include ONE suggestion with 'Why don't we…?', ONE with 'How about…?', and ONE soft alternative with 'What if we…?' End with a clear decision-closer.

Your answer

Your work saves automatically

0 words

Show model answer

Hi all — quick thought on Saturday. Why don't we meet for brunch at Stokes Café around eleven? Their pancakes are unreal. After that, how about wandering down to the market — there's a new vintage stall I want to check out. If anyone fancies something more chilled, what if we just grabbed coffees and went to the park instead? I'm honestly easy. Have a think and ping the chat by tomorrow night so I can book a table if we're going for brunch. Let's call it then once we hear from everyone. x

Speaking · Section 10

10–15 min

Make it a real conversation

Open in Useful Expressions

Role-play with your teacher (or a partner): plan a surprise birthday lunch for a mutual friend. Decide together: place, time, who brings the cake, budget per person. You must use at least three different suggestion structures and react with at least two different positive and two different soft-pushback phrases.

Useful phrases

  • • Why don't we…? / How about…? / Shall we…? / What if we…?
  • • Sounds great / I'm up for that / Works for me
  • • I'd rather… / Let me think about it / I'm easy
  • • What do you reckon? / Let's call it then.

Speaking reflection & notes

Your work saves automatically

0 words

Dialogue completion
Choose the most natural response.
  • AWhy don't we try that new Korean place tonight?
  • B_______________
  • AShall we say seven thirty?
  • B_______________
  • AEight works. Should I book?
  • B_______________
Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Homework · Section 11

Take-home

Take it home

speaking

Record a 60-second voice note planning a weekend with a friend. Use three different suggestion structures.

writing

Write a 100-word group chat message proposing a birthday plan. Include one soft pushback and a clear close.

listening

Listen to any podcast where two hosts plan something. Note 5 suggestion/reaction phrases they use.

Homework notes

Your work saves automatically

0 words

Recap · Section 12

2–3 min

What you've learned

  • Suggestion forms: Why don't we + base / How about + -ing / Shall we + base / What if we + past / Let's + base.
  • Match strength to context — tentative vs proposal vs near-decision.
  • React, don't just absorb: Sounds great · Works for me · I'd rather… · I'm easy.
  • Close the decision out loud: 'Let's call it then.'
  • Intonation: suggestions rise↗, decisions fall↘.
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