may | might + as well
May as well and might as well are phrases that mean there is no better alternative or the situation is the same or almost the same as if something else were true.
suggestion
Let’s + VERB
The most common ‘let’s + verb phrases’ are mostly used to introduce a new topic or to focus attention on something. They are all informal and can be used in both spoken and written English. Let’s take a look is the most general of these phrases and can be used in a variety of contexts. …
You might ( like | want ) to-INFINITIVE
The phrase “you might like to” is often used to politely suggest something. It is a way of saying that you think the person might enjoy or benefit from something, without being too forceful or demanding.
COULD (range)
A2 point 52 in MODALITY:
‘could’ with a limited range of verbs to make suggestions.
A2 point 27 in MODALITY:
negative form
B1 point 78 in MODALITY:
affirmative form of ‘could’ to talk about ability.
B1 point 79 in MODALITY:
‘could’ with an increasing range of verbs to make suggestions.
SHALL (question)
Questions with shall are difficult to differentiate across A2 and B1 in the English Grammar Profile. They also overlap across categories. Here we give their examples with the details of the grammar entry. Whether or not advice is being sought after, is at both levels. The main formal difference is that most of the A2 …
IF clause + imperative
Here are two English Grammar Profile points at A2 that overlap formally. Point 9 in the category of CLAUSES/conditional is defined: ‘if’ + present simple, with an imperative in the main clause. Point 22 in the category of CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: HEDGING: ‘if-‘ clause (‘if you want’, ‘like’, ‘prefer’) to soften the directness of …
WH- questions (no auxiliary)
How | What + about + NOUN PHRASE ? = A2 suggesting or offering something to someone | B1 ask for someone’s opinion on a particular subject (EVP)
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 67 in the category of CLAUSES/interrogatives is defined as:
questions with a ‘wh-‘ word as the subject, without an auxiliary verb.
SO + adjective + AS + TO-infinitive
May I BE SO BOLD AS TO ASK why you want to understand this grammar?
Would you BE SO KIND AS TO GIVE me a lift down to the book store?
This very formal grammar is used in polite requests.
suggest | recommend | insist + present simple
C1 English Grammar Profile point 62 in the category of FUTURE is defined as: present simple after speech act verbs expressing suggestions and obligation. For example: l cannot recommend that you go heliskiing. listen But remember where we left off because I insist you finish later. listen This is not easily located formally in corpora but we can start with a search in iWeb for the speech act verbs …
should
Here’s a student example of using ‘should’ with explanations: Finally, I think people should not watch TV a lot because that is going to affect their life in many ways, such as their work and their health. PELIC Arabic male in level 3 writing class. We can give a CEFR level to the clause ‘people should not watch TV‘ in many ways. It is A2 because: ‘should not‘ is a negative form of a …
WH – negative question
This post is another one where the English Grammar Profile has clashing proficiency levels associated with a point and in the examples. Here we are looking at the category of QUESTIONS. It is understandable that usage is what is different, but the examples could be better selected: B2 Point 29: ‘wh-‘words + the negative form …
It would be + ADJECTIVE
We use would be to make suggestions when we want to express our opinion or preference about something. For example:
It would be nice to go to the beach today.
It would be great if you could help me with this project.
OUGHT (negative OR questions)
There are three negative points in the English Grammar Profile at C2 Modality that are quite rare. Point 215 is defined as: negative form ‘ought not to’ Point 226: CONTRACTED NEGATIVE ‘oughtn’t’ (without ‘to’) + verb Point 235 ‘ought’ + subject + ‘not to’ + verb to form (rhetorical) questions, often in formal contexts. *Point …
have got to | have to | don’t have to
Here are two student examples of using semi-modal ‘have to’ to express whether something is required or necessary. Another thing is you have to make sure that you have included signal words to help the reader. PELIC Arabic female level 3 writing class. I mean if someone wears something, you don’t have to wear that because she or he wears it. TLC male Spain B1 speaking test. *Note, the reduced clause ‘you don’t have to‘ is the 9th most …
Let’s not + VERB
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 87 in the category of CLAUSES and related to imperatives is ‘let’s not’ + base form of a main verb to make a suggestion. 1 LET’S NOT FORGET 13135 1 LET’S NOT FORGET THAT THIS IS 65 The following are similar to saying “don’t forget to” but it …
May I?
There are four entries in the English Grammar Profile that capture “May I…?” Point 97 are polite questions. They probably are not really asking for permission. 119 is literally asking for permission. Yet, for the purposes of designating a complexity level, this matters little. The interpretation of this structure becomes more difficult once we jump …