​What's the difference between Advice and Suggestions?

​Suggestions are ideas, plans, or actions that you suggest or encourage someone to do. The emphasis is on the other person thinking about whether or not they should do it.

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​For example: I suggest you try the cake, it's delicious!

​What about advice?

Advice is what someone offers you (in the form of an opinion) about what you should do or how you should act in a particular situation. Usually, advice comes from experience and is considered stronger than a suggestion. (Be careful though, not all advice is great!)

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​For example: I'd try and stay calm when talking to him. Yelling won't help.

​Expressions for Making Suggestions

and Giving Advice

​Making Suggestions

​A. To others, or ourselves and others

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Examples:

​1. Why don't you/we/etc. go to the movie theatre?

​2. You could (always) go to the movies.

​3. How about we go to the movies?

​4. What about going to the movies?

​5. Let's go to the movies!

​6. Should we go to the movies?

​7. How's going to the movies sound?

​Responding to Suggestions

​A. Accepting suggestions

​1. That's a good idea!

​2. That sounds good to me.

​3. Yes, let's do that.

​4. Sure!

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​B. Refusing suggestions

​1. Good idea, but I'm busy.

​2. I think I'd prefer to stay home tonight.

​3. Why don't we stay in tonight?

​Advice

​Asking for Advice

​1. What should we do?

​2. What do you think I should do?

​3. What would you do/say if you were in my position?

Giving Advice

​1. I think you should change jobs

​2. If I were you, I'd change jobs.

​3. You'd better change jobs.

Accepting Advice​

1. Thank you for the advice.

​2. Yeah, I'll try that.

​3. Yes, I could/should.

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​Rejecting Advice

​1. Thank you, that's a good idea but I can't do it.

​2. Yes, I could/should do it, but I can't.

​3. I know, I know, but I can't.

Advice and Suggestions Exercise!​

Read the following sentences and

decide if they're suggestions or advice