a less forceful form of suggestion than that with podríamos, leaving more ground
for dissent, and it can be used in informal and formal address.¿Qué te parece si vemos esta película?
What about seeing this film?¿Qué os parece si invitamos a Raúl?
What about inviting Raúl?¿Qué les parece si empezamos ahora mismo?
What about starting right now?67.2.5 ¿Y si.. .+ indicative/imperfect subjunctive?
A more colloquial alternative to the construction in 67.2.3 above is this expression
introduced by¿Y si... ?, and which can be used with the present indicative or the
imperfect subjunctive.¿Y si lo ponemos/pusiéramos aquí?
What if we put it here?¿Y si vamos/fuéramos a París?
What about going to Paris?67.2.6 Es mejor que + present subjunctive/sería mejor que + imperfect subjunctive
Suggestions involving the speaker can also be expressed with these constructions
carrying a subjunctive in the subordinate clause.Es mejor que sigamos.
We’d better carry on.Es mejor que le ocultemos la verdad.
We’d better hide the truth from him/her.Sería mejor que hiciéramos las reservas ahora mismo, ¿no crees tú?
It would be better if we made the reservations right now, don’t you
think so?67.1.6 (p. 377)
67.3 Asking for advice and suggestions
67.3.1 Question word + present
This is the most commonly used expression to ask for advice or suggestions, and it is
equivalent in meaning to the English construction: question word +‘shall I... ?’
It is especially frequent in the spoken language.¿Qué hago? What shall I do?
¿Qué les digo? What shall I tell them?
¿Dónde lo pongo? Where shall I put it?^12 (p. 48)
Asking for advice and suggestions 67.3