Business proposals: using the subjunctive for formal recommendations

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for B2 learners explores Business proposals: using the subjunctive for formal recommendations through a real article. Across 12 interactive exercises, you'll develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, practical communication, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• 5 extended vocabulary terms to broaden your range
• Grammar focus: The subjunctive mood with examples and practice
• Real-world phrases for giving and receiving feedback on a proposal
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings
• Error correction to sharpen grammar awareness

Lesson activities (12 exercises)

Each exercise builds on the previous one. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.

1. Warm-up — Discussion questions to activate what you already know about the topic.
2. Comprehension — Answer questions to check your understanding of the main ideas and supporting details.
3. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the article, with definitions and usage notes.
4. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
5. Grammar — Study The subjunctive mood — explanation, examples, and key rules.
6. Error correction — Find and fix the mistake in each sentence — a great grammar workout.
7. Practical English — Learn phrases for giving and receiving feedback on a proposal — ready to use in real conversations.
8. Cloze passage — Fill in blanks within a connected text to practise vocabulary in context.
9. Extended vocabulary — Go beyond the basics with additional expressions related to the topic.
10. Multiple choice — Choose the correct answer from four options — testing comprehension and language use.
11. Discussion — Reflect on the topic and share your opinions using the language you've learned.

Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 5 key terms drawn directly from the article:

• to put forward a proposal — to offer an idea, plan, or suggestion for other people to consider.
• to get buy-in — to get the support, agreement, and commitment from other people for a plan or project.
• to weigh the pros and cons — to consider the advantages and disadvantages of something before making a decision.
• a potential pitfall — a likely mistake or problem that you could encounter in a particular situation.
• the path forward — the plan or course of action to be taken in the future.

The lesson also covers 5 extended vocabulary items beyond the article:

• To flesh out an idea — to add more details or substance to a plan or concept.
• A ballpark figure — a rough estimate or an approximate number, not an exact one.
• To run something by someone — to tell someone about an idea or plan to see what they think of it.
• Actionable feedback — advice or criticism that is specific, practical, and can be used to make clear improvements.
• To be on the same page — to have a shared understanding or to be in agreement about something.

Grammar

This lesson focuses on The subjunctive mood.

The subjunctive is a specific verb form used to talk about hypothetical situations, suggestions, demands, or necessities, rather than facts. In business English, it's frequently used after certain verbs and phrases to make recommendations and proposals sound more formal and authoritative.

Examples from the lesson:

• The committee recommends that the new policy be implemented by the end of the quarter. — Notice the use of 'be' instead of 'is'. The subjunctive uses the base form of the verb, regardless of the subject.
• It is crucial that every stakeholder understand the potential risks involved. — Here, we use 'understand', not 'understands'. The verb does not change for the third-person singular (he/she/it).
• I insist that he attend the next project meeting to provide his feedback. — This structure is common after verbs of suggestion or demand, such as 'propose', 'insist', 'request', and 'suggest'.

Key rules:

• Always use the base form of the verb (e.g., go, be, create) in the subjunctive clause.
• It often follows verbs like 'recommend', 'suggest', 'demand' and phrases like 'it is vital that...'.
• Common mistake: Avoid adding an '-s' for the third person (e.g., '...that she *join*' not '...that she *joins*').

Practical English

Giving and receiving feedback on a proposal

After you've presented a proposal, the next crucial step is discussing it. These phrases will help you invite feedback, ask for clarification, and respond to suggestions in a constructive and professional way.

Phrases you'll learn:

• "'I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on this.'" — used to open the floor for feedback.
• "'Could you walk me through your thinking on that point?'" — a polite way to ask for more details or clarification.
• "'That's a valid point. We should definitely factor that in.'" — used to show you agree with a piece of feedback and value it.
• "'I see where you're coming from, but I have a slight concern about...'" — a gentle way to introduce a disagreement or potential problem.
• "'Building on that idea, what if we tweaked the approach slightly?'" — a constructive way to suggest a modification or alternative.