67.2 Suggesting a course of action involving the speaker
67.2.1 Vamos a+ infinitive
Vamos a... , ‘Let’s go and.. .’, corresponds mainly to an informal, spoken register,
and it is the most frequent way of suggesting a course of action involving the speaker.
It is more forceful than other expressions, leaving little ground for dissent.
Vamos a tomar una copa. Let’s go and have a drink.
Vamos a comer algo. Let’s go and eat something.
Vamos a descansar. Let’s go and rest.
With a rising intonation, this expression will seem less peremptory, more like the
English construction ‘Shall we... ?’
¿Vamos a nadar?
Shall we go and swim?
¿Vamos a buscar a Martín?
Shall we go and fetch Martín?
20.2 (p. 97)67.2.2 Podríamos+ infinitive
This construction, which is similar to 67.1.4 above, occurs frequently in spoken
registers.
Podríamos pasar la noche aquí.
We could spend the night here.
Podríamos reservar una habitación.
We could reserve a room.
Podríamos ir en el coche.
We could go in the car.21.1 (p. 99)
67.2.3 Deberíamos/tendríamos que/haríamos bien en+ infinitive
Deberíamos entrevistarlos, ¿no crees tú?
We should interview them, don’t you think?
A mí me parece que tendríamos que insistir.
I think we should insist.
Haríamos bien en no demostrar ninguna sospecha.
We would do well not to show any suspicion.
67.1.5 (p. 377)67.2.4 ¿Qué le/te parece si+ present?
This expression is equivalent in meaning to the English expression ‘What about’
+ gerund, and it is probably just as frequent as the one in 67.2.2 above. It is, though,GIVING ADVICE AND MAKING SUGGESTIONS 67.2