Language Functions

2025年09月26日

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Language Functions

Giving Advice and Making Suggestions

We are often in a position to give advice and make suggestions.The following are some of the useful expressions that can help us attract the attention of the listener:

You should/ought to turn to angel investors.

You’d better…

Let’s…

Why not…?

Why don’t you…?

What/How about…?

I hope you’ll be able to…

If I were you,I’d…

I would be delighted if you could…

You could always…

Don’t you think it might be a good idea to…?

Have you ever thought of…?

Have you tried…?

Have you considered…?

Might it be an idea…?

I had thought of…if that would be convenient.

I was wondering if you’d like to…

I’d advise you to…

I recommend that you…

I would recommend you to…

I propose that we…

Persuading

When people refuse our advice or suggestions and begin to argue with us,we can say things like this:

Granted/Well put,but the board of directors won’t approve it.

You may have a point there,but…

That’s all very well,but…

That’s quite a good idea,but…

That’s easier said than done; you see…

You don’t seem to realize that…

I see what you mean,but if…

That’s true,but if…

Discussing

In a friendly discussion,we don’t want to present our opinion so strongly that we start an argument.Instead,we may want to express an opinion in a more tentative manner,like this:

I sometimes think that downsizing is necessary.

Well,I’ve heard that…

As far as I know,…

Would you agree that…

Do you think it’s right to say that…?

Asking for Explanation

When you want to ask people to explain their point of view more exactly,you may use the following expressions:

I didn’t follow what you were saying about the human cloning.

I don’t quite see what you mean,I’m afraid.

Sorry,I don’t quite see what you’re getting at.

I don’t quite catch your point.

What exactly are you trying to tell me?

Rephrasing Your Statements

When other people do not understand what you say to them,you may need to rephrase you own statements,beginning like this:

That’s not quite what I meant.What I really mean is…

Let me put it this way.

By this,I mean…

When I said…,I meant…

Let me rephrase what I said.

Sorry,let me explain…

Well,let me try that again.

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