02

Making
Suggestion
1. The most common way to make a suggestion
is to use the modal "should"

Subject + should + verb...

 You should study listening more if you want to improve your English.
 He should quit his job.
 You should get your mom a scarf for her birthday.
 Mark should be more honest.
 They should come to the party with us.
 We should try that restaurant next week.
 You should watch that movie. It is really good.

We can change the word "should" to "need" if we want to use

stronger language.

 You need to see that movie. It is amazing!

 She needs to tell us if she is going to be late.
2. Another common way to give a suggestion or
recommendation is to use the word "could".
Subject + could + verb...

 You could do yoga if you want to be healthier.

 We could go to Thailand for the next vacation.
 They could come to our house for Christmas dinner.

For more than one option when using "could"

 If you want to be healthier, you could try yoga or Pilates.

 We could go to Europe next vacation or we could go to Africa.

3. Difference between "should" and "could"

 You should try yoga. (=I think that yoga is the best for you.)

 You could try yoga. (=Yoga is one possibility for you.)

4. Questions to make a suggestion or recommendation in an
indirect way

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

 If you hate your job, then why don't you quit?

 Why don't they play soccer with us tomorrow?

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 he think more about it before he makes a

decision.
 I recommend that she focus on improving her speaking.
 I suggest/recommend + /noun... 6. Doing the action with the other person

We use this when we are making the suggestion Let's + verb...

directly to the person that will do the action.
 Let's try this restaurant.
 I suggest going to Europe in the summer.  Let's go home.
 I recommend trying that Mexican restaurant.  Let's tell her the truth
 She recommends trying meditation to relieve
stress.

A) Mark says he wants to lose weight.

B) I suggest dieting and lifting weights.

= suggest that Mark diet and lift weights.

A) It is hard for people to learn English.

B) I suggest speaking as often as possible.

= suggest that anyone who is trying to learn

English speak as often as they can.
 04
Accepting and
Declining
Invitations
 How To Accept And Decline Invitation
How To Say
How To Say Yes How To Say No
Maybe
How To Say Yes
• Thank you. • How fun.
• Thanks for the invitation. • How wonderful !
Say Thank You • That sound great • Thanks for thinking of us.
• Awesome !

• We will be there. • Wouldn’t miss it !

• We can’t wait. • I’d love to come.
Be Clear About Your • Count me in. • I’ll be there for sure.
Yes • Absolutely !

• So we will see you on the 10th then.

• We look for forward to seeing you there
Confirm The Details • How lovely ! I can’t wait.
• It is going to be great !
How To Say Maybe
• Thank you. • How fun !
• Thanks for the invitation. • How wonderful !
Start with Thank You • That sound great • Thanks for thinking of us.
• Awesome !

• I’m not sure whether I can but I’ll check my calendar and let you know.
• Perhaps I can make it. Let me check my calendar.
Use a Polite Way to • Perhaps I can reschedule something. I will see what I can do.
Say Maybe • Get more ways to say yes, no and maybe with this lesson.
How To Say No
• Thank you.
• Thanks for the invitation but…
Start with Thank You • That is so kind of you.
• Thanks for thinking of us.

• But I am not able to make it.

• But I am not able to come.
Explain You Cannot Go • But I’m sorry, I’m afraid we can’t make it.
With An Apologetic Tone • I would love to come but…

• It is my sister’s birthday that day.

• Joe leaves for his trip that afternoon.
Give A Simple, Clear • We will be away on vacation then.
Reason • We already have plans.

• I hope it goes well.

• We will be thinking of you.
Close Positively • Enjoy it !
• How about another time ?
 05
Taking Leave
1
What is a Leave of Absence (LOA)?
LOA is unpaid, but some employers might pay for part or all of
your time off. Some employers may also require you to exhaust
your remaining PTO before starting your official LOA.

2
What is the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?
In the US, the Family and Medical Leave Act ensures eligible
employees can take up to twelve workweeks of job-protected
leave per 12-month period for things like the birth or adoption of
a child, a serious health condition affecting the employee or
someone in their immediate family and military leave.

You may be eligible for FMLA if:

 You work for an employer covered by FMLA

 You have worked for your employer for a minimum of 12 months
 You have worked a minimum of 1,250 hours in the 12 months prior to taking leave
 You work at a location that employs at least 50 employees (or have at least 50 employees
within a 75-mile radius)
1 Familiarize yourself with your
employer’s leave of absence policy.
 Some employers have an LOA policy that
outlines
 Check your employee handbook for
information about a leave of absence policy
4 Consider whether there are any
alternatives
 can negotiate another arrangement with your
employer.
 can still earn income and your supervisor may
not need to delegate your work.

2
If possible, provide clear start and end 5 Communicating your leave of absence
dates  Work with your employer to determine how and
 Identify when your leave of absence will begin when is best to communicate your leave to the
and end rest of your team.
 will help your supervisor determine an
appropriate plan for covering your work while
you are away.

3 Put your request in writing

 Carefully compose a letter to your supervisor
and be as detailed and transparent as
possible.
 can request a leave using more generic
terms such as “personal reasons” or “medical
reasons.”