Give a reason and make a suggestion

Printable paper with separate answer pages Step-by-step lessons

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

Give a reason and make a suggestion

Explain a change of plan and respond with a suggestion.

Before you start: Recall time words, to go去qù for going and weather statements. why?为什么wèi shén me requests a reason; a suggestion and an accepted plan provide different evidence.

Build the meaning

why?为什么wèi shén me asks for a reason; because因为yīn wèi introduces one. A reply should explain the decision rather than repeat it.

……(suggestion)吧ba can soften a suggestion: we / us我们wǒ mentomorrow明天míng tiānto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba. (completed / change)了le can indicate a new situation in to rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le; it is not simply a past-tense marker.

因为 gives the reason, 吧 makes a suggestion

Work through a decision

A says today今天jīn tiānto rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le，I / me我wǒnot不bùto go去qùpark (for public recreation)公园gōng yuán – it has started raining today; I am not going to the park. Asked why?为什么wèi shén me, an answer because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le supplies the reason. I / me我wǒnot不bùto go去qùpark (for public recreation)公园gōng yuán alone repeats the decision rather than explaining it. A later we / us我们wǒ mentomorrow明天míng tiānto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba proposes a replacement; agreement still needs a reply.

Compare: to rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le can announce rain starting or a newly relevant rainy situation; (completed / change)了le is not simply an English past-tense ending. we / us我们wǒ mentomorrow明天míng tiānto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba is a suggestion, while good好hǎo，tomorrow明天míng tiānto go去qù can accept it in context. Neither establishes tomorrow’s weather.

Useful words in context

why?为什么wèi shén me wèishénme – why. you你nǐwhy?为什么wèi shén me不去bù qù？
because因为yīn wèi yīnwèi – because. because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le。
(suggestion)吧ba ba – suggestion particle here. tomorrow明天míng tiānto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba。
in the same place一起yì qǐ yìqǐ – together. we / us我们wǒ menin the same place一起yì qǐto go去qù。
to rain下雨xià yǔ xià yǔ – rain. to rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le。

Listen before reading the script

Ask a partner to read the listening script from the answer section while you keep it covered. Then attempt the listening question. If you work alone without audio, use the script for reading practice; it is not a listening test.

Read a different account

today今天jīn tiānto rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le。Wang Li (1900-1986), one of…王力wáng lìnot不bùto go去qùpark (for public recreation)公园gōng yuán。林安问lín ān wèn：“why?为什么wèi shén me？”he / him他tāvariant of 说说shuō：“because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le。we / us我们wǒ mentomorrow明天míng tiānin the same place一起yì qǐto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba。”

Try the reading question before checking the English meaning in the answer section.

Speak with a partner

Say why a fictional trip cannot happen today. Suggest a new time and let your partner accept or decline.

Check the distinction: A suggestion is not a confirmed arrangement until the other person agrees. (completed / change)了le may signal a change, not merely past time.

Learn step by step · Practise and review.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

Give a reason and make a suggestion

0601.1 Listening. When is the suggested visit?

A. Tomorrow
B. This evening
C. Yesterday

0601.2 Reading. What is Wang Li’s reason?

A. The rain
B. The price
C. His sister

0601.3 Complete “Why are you not going?”: you你nǐ…………不去bù qù？

0601.4 Match each word with its meaning in this unit.

1. why?为什么wèi shén me
1. because因为yīn wèi
1. (suggestion)吧ba
1. in the same place一起yì qǐ
1. to rain下雨xià yǔ
A. why
B. together
C. suggestion particle here
D. rain
E. because

0601.5 Write a reason for a change of plan and a new suggestion.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

0601.6 we / us我们wǒ mentomorrow明天míng tiānto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba。tomorrow明天míng tiān means tomorrow and to go去qù(suggestion)吧ba suggests going. Without a reply, which claim is supported?

A. No one can ever go.
B. Everyone has confirmed the arrangement.
C. The speaker suggests going tomorrow.

0601.7 林安lín ān says today今天jīn tiānnot have / haven't没有méi yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān，I / me我wǒnot不bùto go去qùstore商店shāng diàn。not have / haven't没有méi yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān means have no time and store商店shāng diàn means shop. Asked why?为什么wèi shén me不去bù qù – why not go – first identify the stated circumstance. Which answer explains her choice?

A. I / me我wǒnot不bùto go去qùstore商店shāng diàn – she is not going to the shop
B. because因为yīn wèitoday今天jīn tiānnot have / haven't没有méi yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān – because she has no time today
C. Because the shop must have closed permanently

0601.8 Read the exchange. A: today今天jīn tiānI / me我wǒto be occupied with sth有事yǒu shì，cannot不能bù néngto go去qù。we / us我们wǒ menSaturday星期六xīng qī liùto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba。B: Saturday星期六xīng qī liùI / me我wǒalso也yěcannot不能bù néngto go去qù。to be occupied with sth有事yǒu shì means have a commitment. Which account fits?

A. A proposes today, but B suggests Saturday instead.
B. A proposes Saturday, and B accepts that same day.
C. A proposes Saturday, but B also cannot go that day.

0601.9 Use Mandarin for the new sentences or dialogue. You may explain your reasoning in English. Create a fictional change-of-plan exchange. Give a reason for not going today, suggest a different day and write a partner’s acceptance or alternative. Then state exactly what is agreed and what remains undecided. Speak both roles or work with a partner.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A message says because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔ，so / therefore所以suǒ yǐwe / us我们wǒ mento be at home在家zài jiāto learn学习xué xí(suggestion)吧ba. Identify the reason and the suggested action.

R2. Use it yourself. Suggest going to the library because the home is noisy.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.

Open the answers after your attempt

Answers and explanations

Check after your attempt. For open tasks, compare the message and the stated criteria, then revise one detail.

Give a reason and make a suggestion

0601.1 B. This evening

evening晚上wǎn shàng gives this evening in the recording’s today context.

0601.2 A. The rain

because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le explains the change of plan.

0601.3 why?为什么wèi shén me

why?为什么wèi shén me requests the reason.

0601.4 1–A: why?为什么wèi shén me = why; 2–E: because因为yīn wèi = because; 3–C: (suggestion)吧ba = suggestion particle here; 4–B: in the same place一起yì qǐ = together; 5–D: to rain下雨xià yǔ = rain

Use the example sentences to check each word’s meaning in context.

0601.5 One possible response: because因为yīn wèitoday今天jīn tiāndegree / adjective linker很hěnto warm up热rè，we / us我们wǒ menevening晚上wǎn shàngto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba。

Check meaning and form:

Give a reason.
Give a new time.
Use (suggestion)吧ba for the suggestion, not as an English tense.

Compare the meaning and structure with the checklist. Your own response may differ from the model.

0601.6 C. The speaker suggests going tomorrow.

The sentence proposes tomorrow. It does not itself record the other person’s agreement, refusal or permanent availability. Check the reply before treating a suggestion as a confirmed plan.

0601.7 B. because因为yīn wèitoday今天jīn tiānnot have / haven't没有méi yǒu(concept of) time时间shí jiān – because she has no time today

Lack of time is the supplied reason. Repeating not going gives the decision, not its cause. Permanent closure is an invented explanation.

0601.8 C. A proposes Saturday, but B also cannot go that day.

A proposes Saturday after giving today’s constraint. B’s also也yěcannot不能bù néngto go去qù says Saturday is also not possible. No agreement or counterproposal appears; do not swap the speakers’ roles or turn the suggestion into a confirmed plan.

0601.9 One possible response: Possible exchange: today今天jīn tiānI / me我wǒto be occupied with sth有事yǒu shì，cannot不能bù néngto go去qù。we / us我们wǒ mentomorrow明天míng tiānto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba。good好hǎo，tomorrow明天míng tiānafternoon下午xià wǔ三点sān diǎnto go去qù。The reply accepts tomorrow and supplies an afternoon time. A meeting place and travel method remain unstated. Other coherent reasons and replies are valid.

How to revise: If you called a proposal confirmed before reading the reply, revise the status. If your reason is just the decision repeated, add the circumstance. Ask for any practical detail the final exchange still lacks.

Check meaning and form:

Supply a circumstance that explains today’s change.
Use a suggestion that is separate from the reason.
Make the partner’s acceptance or counterproposal clear.
Report only the agreed details as agreed; leave missing details unknown.
Write or speak the requested sentences, questions or dialogue in Mandarin; optional English reasoning does not replace them.

If you called a proposal confirmed before reading the reply, revise the status. If your reason is just the decision repeated, add the circumstance. Ask for any practical detail the final exchange still lacks.

Listening script and meaning

today今天jīn tiāndegree / adjective linker很hěnto warm up热rè。I / me我wǒnot不bùto go去qùpark (for public recreation)公园gōng yuán。we / us我们wǒ menevening晚上wǎn shàngto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba。

It is hot today. I am not going to the park. Let’s go in the evening.

Reading meaning

It has started raining today. Wang Li does not go to the park. He explains the rain and suggests going together tomorrow.

Speaking model

A: because因为yīn wèito rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le，we / us我们wǒ mentomorrow明天míng tiānto go去qù(suggestion)吧ba。 B: good好hǎo，tomorrow明天míng tiānto go去qù。

Compare the intended message first. Ask a listener to comment on intelligibility and pronunciation; matching the written model does not establish speaking accuracy.

Fresh-situation answers

R1. Rain is the reason; studying at home is the suggestion. (suggestion)吧ba gives a suggestion here rather than marking past or future tense.

R2. One possible response. home家里jiā lǐslightly有点儿yǒu diǎn érto quarrel吵chǎo，we / us我们wǒ mento go去qùlibrary图书馆tú shū guǎnto learn学习xué xí(suggestion)吧ba。The reason is relevant to the proposed place. because因为yīn wèihome家里jiā lǐslightly有点儿yǒu diǎn érto quarrel吵chǎo，so / therefore所以suǒ yǐ…… is also possible; both connectors are not obligatory.