17.1 When you ask for advice or opinion
What do you think? Listen A “What is your recommendation? What is your opinion?” <“I would like to have a short vacation. What do you think?” – “Sounds good to me. How about going to Mexico for a couple of weeks?”>
What do you think about that? Listen <“I want to start my own business. What do you think about that?” – “That’s great. Have you spoken with a bank about lending you start-up capital?”>
What do you think I should do? Listen <“I had a small traffic accident. What do you think I should do?” – “I think you should file a report with the police.”>
What do you suggest? Listen <“You know how complicated my situation is. What do you suggest?” – “Don’t worry, you’ll sort it all out.”>
What would you do in this situation? Listen <“My wife and my sister don’t get along. What would you do in this situation?” – “If I were you, I would try to keep them apart.”>
How do I go about it? Listen <“I have problems at work. How do I go about it?” – “First, try to talk with your manager.”>
17.2 When you give advice
I think you should get a better job. Listen A “I recommend you to do it.” <“I don’t like the way my manager treats me. And I don’t like the wages the company is paying.” – “I think you should get a better job.”>
Maybe you should move to a place closer to your work. Listen <“I spend much time driving to work.” – “Maybe you should move to a place closer to your work.”>
Why don’t you call the police? Listen <“My neighbor is a drunk. He abuses me.” – “Why don’t you call the police?”>
If I were you, I would buy a new car. Listen <“My old car needs repair.” – “You repair your old car too often. If I were you, I would buy a new car.”>
I wouldn’t do it if I were you. Listen A “I don’t recommend you to do it.” <“I’m going to invest more money in this company.” – “I wouldn’t do it if I were you. They aren’t doing great anymore.”>
17.3 When you make a suggestion
I think you should call your sister. Listen <“I think you should call your sister. You haven’t spoken with her for a long time.” – “You’re right. Also, I want to ask her about something.”>
I don’t think you should sell your boat. Listen <“I don’t think you should sell your boat.” – “Thanks for the suggestion, but I need money now.”>
Why don’t you buy a new car? Listen <“Why don’t you buy a new car?” – “Thanks, but my old one still runs.”>
Why don’t we go hiking this weekend? Listen <“Why don’t we go hiking this weekend?” – “It sounds like a good idea. Where do you want to go?”>
Let’s go out tonight. Listen <“Let’s go out tonight. I know a nice Italian restaurant not far from here.” – “Sorry, I can’t. I have much work to do.”>
We may as well go to the movies. Listen A “There is no reason we shouldn’t do that.” <“We can go for a walk. We may as well go to the movies. What’s playing at the Los Angeles Playhouse?”>
You might as well watch television. Listen <“Since you’ve got nothing else to do, you might as well watch television.”>
It wouldn’t hurt to get a second opinion. Listen A “It would be to your advantage to do it although the result is uncertain.” <“Your lawyer gave you a piece of advice. But before you act, it wouldn’t hurt to get a second opinion.”>
It doesn’t hurt to ask. Listen <“My mother won’t buy me a new bicycle.” – “You can try to talk with her anyway. It doesn’t hurt to ask.”>
17.4 When you make a supposition
Suppose there was no rain now. Listen A “Let us assume it did not rain now.” <“Suppose there was no rain now. What would you do?” – “I would go to the beach.”>
Supposing she is right. Listen A “Assuming that she is right.” <“Supposing she is right, what does it mean for us?” – “That means we are wrong. But I don’t want to make such a bold assumption.”>
I suppose she is telling me the truth. Listen A “I believe it to be likely even though I don’t have proof.” <“I suppose she is telling me the truth.” – “She might if it is in her interests, but you can never be sure.”>
I guess it’s going to rain. Listen A “I assume it is probable even though I’m not certain.” <“I guess it’s going to rain. What do you think?” – “I’m not sure. Weather forecasts aren’t reliable these days.”>
I suspect he is right. Listen <“I suspect he is right.” – “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe so, maybe not.”>
I believe she is innocent. Listen <“I believe she is innocent. I just have this feeling.” – “How do you know? You don’t have any evidence.”>
I bet it’s still raining. Listen A “I can bet this is true. I am sure that….” <“I bet it’s still raining. I can hear raindrops”. – “Yes, it’s still raining. As a matter of fact, it’s pouring!”>
I wonder if it is still snowing. Listen A “I have an unproved assumption…” <“I wonder if it is still snowing. Can you please look out the window?” – “Yes, it is snowing.”>
Perhaps it will be sunny tomorrow. Listen A “It is possible that….” <“It has been raining cats and dogs all week. Perhaps it’ll be sunny tomorrow.”>
Maybe we’ll see a clear sky some day. Listen A “It is of uncertain likelihood that…” <“The weather was really bad recently. Maybe we’ll see a clear sky someday”>
Possibly the wind will abate tonight. Listen <“Possibly the wind will abate tonight. I know it’s very strong at the moment, but the radio is forecasting good weather.”>
17.5 When you give an opinion
I think we need a vacation. Listen <“We haven’t had a vacation for three years. What do you think?” – “I think we need a vacation.”>
I don’t think you need a new car. Listen <“My car is five years old. Do you think we can afford a new one?” – “I don’t think you need a new car.”>
I believe markets should be regulated. Listen <“There is a recession going on. Everybody is waiting for recovery. What are your ideas about it?” – “I believe markets should be regulated.”>
I don’t believe there is a connection between climate change and human activity. Listen <“What do you think about the origin of global warming?” – “I don’t believe there is a connection between climate change and human activity.”>
I feel that’s the right thing to do. Listen <“They are going to prohibit smoking in all public places. Do you have any thoughts on that?” – “I feel that’s the right thing to do. But the government will collect less in taxes.”>
I don’t feel that it’s such a good idea. Listen “They are going to increase the speed limit on major freeways. How do you feel about it?” – “I don’t feel that it’s such a good idea.”
In my opinion, Tom Sawyer is the best book ever written. Listen <“What is your favorite book?” – “In my opinion, Tom Sawyer is the best book ever written.”>
In my humble opinion, we need to continue what we have started. Listen <“Our project is in trouble.” – “In my humble opinion, we need to complete what we’ve begun.”>
In my view, it was a mistake. Listen <“I dropped out of college when I was twenty.” – “In my view, it was a mistake.”>
From my point of view, it’s a bad deal. Listen <“I bought a sports car.” – “From my point of view, it’s a bad deal. You need a van.”>
From my perspective, it’s a good movie. Listen <“This movie received warm responses. What do you think about it?” – “From my perspective, it’s a good movie.”>
As I see it, it’s not a serious problem. Listen <“You know, the population of the planet is about to stop growing.” – “As I see it, it’s not a serious problem.”>
The way I see it, it’s not going to work. Listen <“I heard that your sister had returned to her ex-boyfriend.” – “Unfortunately she did. The way I see it, it’s not going to work.”>
It seems to me that you’ve lost some weight. Listen < – “Oh, really? I’m glad to hear that.”>
It seems like nobody cares about anything. Listen < – “That’s not right. There are responsible people everywhere.”>
It appears to me that you are the only person who is concerned. Listen < – “No, that’s not true. There are many worried and caring people.”>
It appears like nobody is doing anything about this problem. Listen < – “That’s not entirely correct. The government has allocated significant money to tackle this problem.”>
It looks like we aren’t making any progress. Listen < – “Then we’ve got to work harder to achieve our goals.”>
Suhardi, Ph.D 