A reason answers why, and a suggestion says what should happen next. Write each in one clear sentence, using a ready-made frame.
This lesson belongs to the short communicative messages section. It comes after choosing a greeting and ending.
What frames work for reasons and suggestions?
Reason frames.
- “X because Y.” Example: The match was cancelled because the field was flooded.
- “Y, so X.” Example: The field was flooded, so the match was cancelled.
Suggestion frames.
- “Could you …?” Example: Could you move the meeting to Friday?
- “Why not …?” Example: Why not hold the practice in the hall?
- “It might be a good idea to …” Example: It might be a good idea to bring raincoats.
Choose one frame for each and keep the sentence to one idea.
Worked example: cut to two sentences
The task asks you to tell the principal why the class needs a longer break and to suggest a solution. Here is a wordy draft.
Our class is very tired and everybody is feeling sleepy in the afternoon because we have so many lessons in a row and there is no time to rest and sometimes we even cannot concentrate so maybe you can think about changing the timetable so that we can have a break.
The draft has one reason and one suggestion buried in a single long sentence. Split and trim.
| Part | Wordy | Trimmed |
|---|---|---|
| Reason | very tired, sleepy, many lessons in a row, no time to rest, cannot concentrate | Our class finds it hard to concentrate in the afternoon because we have four lessons in a row. |
| Suggestion | maybe you can think about changing the timetable | Could we have a ten-minute break after the second lesson? |
The trimmed reason keeps the cause, which is the lessons in a row, and the effect, which is lost concentration. The trimmed suggestion is specific, so the principal knows exactly what to consider.
The mistake that costs marks
The slip is a vague suggestion such as “maybe you can do something”. The reader cannot act on it, so the task point is not really answered.
The repair is to name the action, the time or the place. A specific suggestion shows you understood the problem.
Check yourself
Write one reason and one suggestion for this situation: the school canteen is crowded at recess, and you are writing to the prefect board.
Answer
A model answer. Reason: “The canteen is crowded at recess because all the classes break at the same time.” Suggestion: “Could the prefect board ask Form 4 and Form 5 to take their break ten minutes apart?”
A different pair is fine if the reason gives a cause and the suggestion names a specific action.
What to study next
Finish by editing the whole message. Go on to editing a short message for clarity, or test yourself on the short messages practice.
If you would like a teacher to shorten your sentences with you, see online one-to-one English tuition.