EU4-53: Making a proposal

Vocabulary

[JOAN] So, what do you have for me?[TODD] Well, Simon and I had a good discussion. First, we don't want to lay anyone off.[TODD] Instead, we're proposing that the savings come in two areas. We've looked at current projects, and we think we can delay the database project for six months.[JOAN] Okay. That sounds reasonable. How much would that save?[TODD] It would save about half a million dollars.[JOAN] Great. What else?[TODD] Well, we'd like to suggest a hiring freeze.[JOAN] For all departments?[JOAN] Yes, but two of my engineers are leaving, and I'll need to replace one of them.[JOAN] Okay. What will that save us over the next six months?[TODD] Overall, I mean for all departments, we should save the company around a million dollars.[JOAN] Good work, guys. what else?[TODD] Uh, that's it, for now.[JOAN] It's a good start, but we need to save more. I'm thinking about our rent. Our lease ends in six months. I think that we should look at some different options.[TODD] I agree. I can start on that today.

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Key words

• discussion
• lay anyone off
• proposing
• savings
• think
• delay
• save
• suggest
• hiring
• start

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Grammar

1. Changing verbs to nouns

一些动词加上后缀变成名词。一些能把动词变成名词的后缀是：-ion, -ing, -al, -ism, -ness, -ist和-ity。

discuss - discussion
suggest - suggestion
hire - hiring
save - savings
propose - proposal

一些名词看起来和它的动词非常不同。例如， 名词think和该动词的过去式完全一样。

think - thought

另一些方面， 一些名词和它的动词完全一样。

delay - delay
start - start
lay off - layoff
动词变名词没有固定的规则，也不是所有的动词能够变成名词。你不得不记住他们的不同形式。

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2. Clauses with propose and suggest

使用动词propose和suggest提出建议。注意这些动词后通常跟随一个that从句。

I propose that we delay the database project.
I suggest that we hire a new project manager.

that可以省略，意义不变。

I propose we delay the database project.
I suggest we hire a new project manager.

动词propose和suggest说明可能性的概念，并强调说话人即将要说的话。注意动词propose和suggest后面总是接不带to的不定式结构，而且不遵循主谓一致的规则。也就是说，he, she, 或it后面的动词不需要加-s。

I propose that he delay the project.
I suggest she lay off some staff.

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