Vocabulary

= John: Where shall we go in summer?

Mary: Let’s go to Spain for a couple of weeks.

John: Yes, let’s.

= John wanted to know where they should go in summer. Mary suggested going to Spain for a couple of weeks and John welcomed the suggestion.

= John: Shall I see you home?

Mary: Yes, that would be very nice.

= John offered to see Mary home and she willingly accepted the offer.

John offered to see Mary home and she said (that) it would be nice of him to do so.

= John: I’ve got a splitting headache.

Mary: Why don’t you take some medicine?

John: I think I should.

= John complained that he had a splitting headache. Mary advised him to take some medicine and John agreed to do so.

1. John

suggested

proposed

a visit to the theatre/an alternative plan.

going to the theatre.

(that) they (should) go to the theatre.

(that) they went to the theatre.

2. John

made

offered

presented

put forward

put forth

set forward

a suggestion

a proposal

about/concerning

the trip.

for a joint project.

to hold a debate.

that they (should)

hold a debate.

1. John accepted / agreed to / adopted their suggestion / proposal.

2. John liked the idea.

3. John agreed to go to the theatre.

4. John said

(that) he didn’t/wouldn’t mind going to

the theatre.

(that) he had nothing against it.

5. They fell in with

the chairman’s suggestion/proposal.

the chairman on that question.

6. John responded by saying (that) he didn’t mind going to the theatre.

But John said

(that) he would rather go to the cinema.

(that) he would prefer to go to the cinema.

(that) they had better go to the cinema.

1. John refused (absolutely / categorically / completely / outright / point-blank) (to go to the theatre).

2. John gave Peter a definite / emphatic / flat / outright / point-blank / positive refusal.

3. John declined

Peter’s suggestion/proposal/idea.

to go to the theatre.

4. John turned down / rejected / spurned their suggestion / proposal/idea.

5. John completely / flatly / totally turned down their suggestion/proposal/idea.

6. John (strongly) objected to

(a boat trip up the Thames).

going to the theatre.

their/them going there.

7. John was (all) against

their visit to New York.

their suggestion/proposal/idea.

going to the theatre.

accepting their suggestion/proposal.

8. John said (that) he didn’t feel like going to the theatre.

9. John responded by saying

(that) he didn’t want to go

to the theatre.

10. John’s suggestion/proposal/idea met with a cold refusal.

(literary)

1. John offered

to help Peter.

Peter his help.

his help to Peter.

2. John volunteered

a statement to the police.

to do the job.

for the job.

3. John made (Peter) an offer (of $ 50000 for the house).

4. Peter had an offer of $ 50000 for the house.

1. John (willingly) accepted/agreed to their offer.

2. John (coldly/warmly) welcomed Peter’s offer.

3. John liked Peter’s idea.

4. John had nothing against it.

5. John said

(that) it would be very kind/nice of Peter to do so.

(that) he would like to be given help.

6. John responded by saying (that) he would be happy to be given help. (formal)

1. John refused

(to have any more cake).

Peter’s offer.

2. John refused absolutely / categorically / completely / outright / point-blank (to have a drink).

3. John declined

the offer.

to take the job.

4. John (completely / flatly / totally) turned down / rejected / spurned their offer (of help).

5. John gave Peter a definite / emphatic / flat / outright / point-blank / positive refusal.

6. John (strongly) objected to

their help.

Peter’s/Peter helping them.

7. John was (all) against

their help.

Peter’s/Peter helping them.

8. John said (that) Peter needn’t help them.

9. John responded by saying(that) he was against their help.

(formal)

10. Peter’s offer met with a cold refusal. (literary)

1. John advised

an early start.

(their) staying at home.

them to stay at home.

(them) that they (should) stay at home.

them what to do/where to go.

2. John advised (them) about/on

their problems.

making the trip.

whether to make the trip.

whether they should make

the trip.

3. John wanted Peter to advise him whether he should accept the offer.

4. John advised (Peter) against

that course of action.

signing the contract.

5. John said/told Peter (that) he should drive carefully.

6. John recommended

caution in dealing with the matter.

(their) staying at home.

them to stay at home.

(to them) that they (should) stay at

home.

(to them) that they stayed at home.

7. John gave / offered Peter his advice / a piece of advice / a bit of advice / a word of advice / a few words of advice.

8. John gave/offered his advice to Peter.

9. John gave/offered Peter some good/sensible/sound/wise/ unsolicited/misleading advice.

10. John gave Peter a recommendation to stay at home.

11. John’s advice/recommendation (to Peter) was to stay at home.

12. John’s advice/recommendation (to Peter) was that they (should) stay at home.

1. John accepted/took his advice

(to stay at home).

(that he should stay

at home).

2. John agreed to do so.

3. John liked the idea.

4. John said (that) he would (gladly) do so.

5. John had nothing against it.

6. John responded by saying (that) he would follow her advice.

(formal)

7. John disregarded/ignored/refused/turned a deaf ear to her advice.

1. John

followed Peter’s advice

acted on Peter’s advice

(to stay at home).

(that they should stay

at home).

2. John did as he had been/was advised to.

John asked for/solicited Peter’s advice (about/on the matter).