MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS
Providing recommendations is a crucial skill in both spoken and written English, especially for tasks like formal essays, reports, proposals, and letters. This guide covers different ways to give recommendations using modal verbs, passive voice, gerunds, and more. Get insights on modal/semi-modal verbs, using the passive voice, suggesting improvements, and making recommendations in various contexts.
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MAKING C1+ RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDING It s very common to have to give formal and informal recommendations in spoken and written English. In the Cambridge Advanced exam candidates may be required to give recommendations in their compositions for the writing paper, particularly in the following tasks: Part 1: Formal Essays Part 2: Reports Part 2: Proposals Part 2: Opinion Letters Part 2: Informal Letters This presentation will outline a range of different language for giving recommendations.
EXAMPLE SITUATION The headmaster has asked students to suggest ways to improve the student common room. IDEAS: New chairs Vending machines Pool tables Table football Sound system Microwave/kitchen area TV Board games/cards Write 3 sentences recommending some of these improvements.
MODAL/SEMI-MODAL VERBS We should shouldbuy new chairs so that students are more comfortable. Should is quite basic for advanced levels. We ought to ought to buy new chairs so that students are more comfortable. Ought to is slightly more advanced We had better had better buy new chairs so that students are more comfortable. (Less formal, implies something bad will happen if we don t) Had better is also more advanced but also quite informal, and implies a threat: You d better pay me back the money . More formal language: We should purchase purchase new chairs in order to increase student comfort. increase student comfort.
USE A PASSIVE Using modal verbs in the passive voice is an effective way of giving formal recommendations: Active: We should buy new chairs so that students are more comfortable. Passive: New chairs should be bought should be boughtso that students are more comfortable. Active: We ought to upgrade the sound system so students can connect via Bluetooth. Passive: The sound system _________________ so students can connect via Bluetooth. ought to be ought to be upgraded upgraded Can you make some more recommendations with passives?
RECOMMEND/SUGGEST Recommend/suggest + ing/that we (buy) Recommend/suggest + ing/that we (buy) I recommend/suggest recommend/suggest buyingnew chairs so that students are more comfortable. I recommend/suggest recommend/suggest that we buy new chairs so that students are more comfortable. I recommend to buy new chairs. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS. Install/purchase/invest in/upgrade/replace
USE A GERUND Starting a sentence with a gerund ( ing) is a formal and advanced way to give a recommendation Buying Buyingnew chairs would be a great way to increase students comfort. Investing in Investing in new chairs would lead to lead to an increase in student comfort. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS. Purchase / install /upgrade
USE A NOUN Nouns are generally more formal than verbs: Replacement chairs Replacement chairs would undoubtedly lead to greater student comfort. comfort. An improvement in the quality of An improvement in the quality of furniture would undoubtedly be greatly appreciated by the student body. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS. Create the nouns, write the recommendations: Install / purchase / include / provide / enhance / expand / introduce / acquire / invest
USE A NOUN Nouns are generally more formal than verbs: Replacement chairs Replacement chairswould undoubtedly lead to greater student comfort. An improvement in the quality of An improvement in the quality of furniture would undoubtedly be greatly appreciated by the student body. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS. MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF THE OTHER IDEAS. Create the nouns, write the recommendations: comfort. Verb Noun install purchase include provide enhance expand introduce acquire invest installation purchase inclusion provision enhancement expansion introduction acquisition investment
USE FIXED PHRASES 1.It would be ______ (advice) to 2.It is recommended that 3.It may be ______ (benefit) to 4.______ (consider) should be given to 5.It might be p_____ to 6.A ______ (judge) approach would be to 7.There is m_____ in 8.It could be ______ (advantage) to
USE FIXED PHRASES 1.It would be advisable to 2.It is recommended that 3.It may be beneficial to 4.Consideration should be given to 5.It might be prudent to 6.A judicious approach would be to 7.There is merit in 8.It could be advantageous to
USE A CONDITIONAL Level 1: If we bought new chairs, students would be more comfortable. Level 2: If new chairs were purchased, students comfort levels would increase. Level 3: Level 4: .. Challenge: can you make this conditional recommendation more formal and emphatic?
USE A CONDITIONAL Level 1: If we bought new chairs, students would be more comfortable. Level 2: If new chairs were purchased, students comfort levels would increase. Level 3: If the school were to invest in replacement seating, students levels of comfort would undoubtedly increase. Level 4: Were .
USE A CONDITIONAL Level 1: If we bought new chairs, students would be more comfortable. Level 2: If new chairs were purchased, students comfort levels would increase. Level 3: If the school were to invest in replacement seating, students levels of comfort would undoubtedly increase. Level 4: Were the school to invest in replacement seating, students levels of comfort would undoubtedly increase.
Recap We can make formal recommendations in many ways: Use a modal verb in the passive voice: Replacement chairs ought to be purchased Use suggest or recommend , but don t forget the verb pattern: I strongly recommend investing in replacement seating. I suggest that the school invest in replacement seating. Use a gerund as the subject of the sentence: Upgrading the seating in the common room would lead to greater levels of comfort. Use a formal noun: An improvement in the quality of An improvement in the quality of furniture would undoubtedly be greatly appreciated by the student body. Use a fixed expression: It could be advantageous to invest in more comfortable furniture. Use an inverted 2nd conditional: Were the school to invest in replacement seating, students levels of comfort would undoubtedly increase.
PRACTICE Read the situation below, then make recommendations to improve the service. Cowboy Dave s Wild West Adventure Land: Annual Report Following surveys completed by visitors and staff, management have highlighted the following issues: The toilets in the restaurant are often dirty or broken. Many guests have complained about having to wait for a long time for food in the restaurant. Several staff have quit their jobs in the restaurant because of the bad- tempered head chef. Maintenance staff have stated that some of the roller coasters are unsafe and need to be serviced. The actors playing cowboys and cowgirls have lost motivation because head office doesn t listen to their ideas for improving the show. Customers have complained about the lack of facilities for very young children (3-5 years) The new Mexican food stall has not been very popular and is losing 500 a week for the company.
