Suggestions & offers: Shall I/we…?, Let's…, How about…?

Rules

• Rule 1: Shall I / Shall we + base verb

  Shall we…? makes a suggestion. Shall I…? makes an offer. Use the base form of the verb. You can add question words: What / Where shall we…? In American English, shall is used almost only in these questions, and people often say Should I / Should we? instead.

  Pattern: Shall I / Shall we + base verb?

  Example: Shall we play a game?

  Example: Shall I get you some water?

• Rule 2: Let's + base verb

  Let's (= let us) suggests doing something together. Don't add a subject. Negative: Let's not + base verb. Question tag: Let's …, shall we?

  Pattern: Let's + base verb · Let's not + base verb

  Example: Let's go home.

  Example: Let's not be late.

• Rule 3: Why don't we / Why not + base verb

  Why don't we…? looks like a question about a reason, but it is really a suggestion. Why not…? is the short form without a subject. Why don't you…? suggests something to another person.

  Pattern: Why don't we + base verb? · Why not + base verb?

  Example: Why don't we paint the fence?

  Example: Why not ask your brother?

• Rule 4: How about / What about + -ing

  How about and What about are followed by a verb with -ing (or by a noun: How about pizza?).

  Pattern: How about / What about + verb-ing?

  Example: How about going skating?

  Example: What about drawing a map?

Common mistakes

• Let's to go to the park. → Let's go to the park.

  No “to” after Let's.

• How about go to the movies? → How about going to the movies?

  How about + verb-ing.

• Why we don't play outside? → Why don't we play outside?

  Question word order: Why don't we…