Listen to the lesson audio:
Making Suggestions
What about ..? / How about ..?
We can sometimes use "What
about ..?" and "How
about ..?" to make suggestions to people around. These
structures are commonly used in spoken English.
"What about ..?"
and "How about ..?" have the same meaning.
We can use them with
a gerund (verb + ing)
How to use:
Situation: Your friend says he feels very bored
today.
Your suggestion: How about going to the
movies tonight? or, What
about going
to the movies tonight?
Situation:
You and your wife cannot decide what to do next week.
Your suggestion: What about having a
picnic near a lake next week? or, How about having a
picnic near a lake next week?
Note: Sometimes
the gerund (verb + ing)
is not used.
- How about a nice drink?
or, How about having a
nice drink?
- What about (drinking) some more coffee?
- What about a short walk
around the park?
Example
Sentences:
-
A: I have a headache.
B: What about
taking an aspirin?
-
What about calling her? (She has some
problems with her friend)
-
How about a rest? (She is very tired)
-
What about going to a dentist? (He has a toothache)
-
How about coming
to Paris with me?,
- What about a cup of hot tea?
- How about taking a shower?
in a sentence
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