Asking for and giving advice recommendations Various situations

Asking for and giving advice & recommendations

Various situations require us to give or ask for recommendations • you want to recommend a person, their services; • you want to recommend a good restaurant to someone else; • you want someone to recommend you to others; • you have a special skill that you’d like others to know about; • you have heard about a position, but need someone to recommend you in order to apply; • you want to share some useful information with others and want them to know how much you liked it.

Asking for recommendations • Do you think I should take something special? • What would you do about the choice of the tour? • Where would you recommend to have dinner? • Could you let me know something about this destination? • Could you pass this on to others? • Would you mind sharing your experience? • Is it a good idea to buy such souvenirs? • Is it worth visiting? • Would you add me to your contact list?

Giving recommendations • • • I highly recommend using this product / service. This person is highly trained / very skilled / very professional. We found the information presented very useful. I only have positive things to say about this product / this person / this service. If I were you, I’d take something local. It’s probably worth asking them first. It’s much better to buy something that’s her style. I would be happy to give you their contact information. Please mention my name when you contact them.

Situation 1 Employee / colleague asking for a reference I am writing to you since we have worked on many projects together. You always seem very pleased with my ideas and the way that I deal with problems that come up, so I would like to ask you to share this information with a potential new supervisor. As you know, I am applying for a position in the sales department and I need a recommendation from someone who has worked with me. Would you put in a good word for me?

Situation 2 Response to the request You are right, I am very satisfied with the work that you have done in the past. I’d be happy to act as a reference for you since I think that the Customer Service department would also benefit from your skills. If they contact me, I’ll definitely pass your name on as a potential candidate.

Situation 3 Possible reference statement I would be happy to recommend Andrey Koval for the position you are trying to fill. He is very highly qualified and has always successfully dealt with the topics we have worked on together in the past. I only have positive things to say about him. Please mention my name to them if you decide to shortlist him for an interview.

Giving Advice and Recommendations Elementary • (I think/I really think) you need to/must/should. . . • How about. . . ? • It is usually a good idea to. . . • My suggestion/advice is (to). . . • Why don't you. . . ? • You could (try). . . • You probably/definitely/really should. . .

Giving Advice and Recommendations Pre-intermediate • Have you tried. . . ? • I (would) (strongly) suggest/advise that. . . • If I was/were you, I'd. . . • In my experience, . . . works really well. • It's generally best/a good idea to. . . • One idea is to. . . • One thing you could/should/have to do is. . . • The best/most important thing (to do) is to. . .

Giving Advice and Recommendations Intermediate • . . . might work. • . . . would probably work. • . . . (always) works for me. • If I was/were in your place, I'd. . . • If that happened to me/In that case/If I had that problem, I'd. . . • My (main/personal) recommendation is/would be. . . • You'd better. . . • In this (kind of) situation, I (would) always recommend/advise. . .

Giving Advice and Recommendations Upper Intermediate • (If I was/were) in that (that kind of) situation, I'd. . . • Have you thought about. . . ? • If it was/were me, I'd. . . • Make sure you (don't). . . • The sooner you. . . the better. • Whatever you do, . . . • Your only option is to. . . • You have no choice but to. . .

Giving Advice and Recommendations Advanced • . . . is worth a try. • A (self-help) book I read recommends. . . • A piece of advice from. . . that I'd like to pass on is to. . . • A wise man once said. . . • As the proverb says, . . . • I can't recommend. . . strongly enough. • You should. . . , no doubt about it. • It might be an old wives' tale, but. . .

Put the words in the correct order • town. like, some, information, We‘d, about, the • you, sights, recommend, What, do seeing? • a, got, about, festival? the, leaflet, you, Have • What, recommend? , else, you, can • interested, you, What, are, in? • You, to, ought, the, visit, cathedral. • you, think, visit, museum. I, the, should • see, if, you, city tour. sights, go on, the, major, You‘ll, a