Give Good Recommendations in English | Speak Naturally & Confidently | 5-Minute English Talk

How do you give a good recommendation in English without simply saying “Try this” or “This is good”?

In this episode of 5-Minute English Talk, Chris and Jane teach you natural English expressions for giving clear, useful, and confident recommendations.

Whether you're recommending a restaurant, movie, hotel, book, place to visit, or something to buy, these practical phrases will help you explain what you recommend, why you recommend it, and any useful details the other person should know.

You'll also learn a simple formula:

Recommendation + Reason + Useful Detail

For example:

“If you're looking for something casual, I'd recommend this little café near the park. The food is really good, and the prices are reasonable. Just keep in mind that it gets busy at lunchtime.”

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How to use “I'd recommend…” naturally
• How to make a stronger recommendation with “definitely”
• How to use “You should try…”
• How to recommend something based on what someone wants
• How to ask what someone is looking for
• How to explain why you're recommending something
• How to use “In that case…”
• How to mention an important detail or small warning
• How to make your recommendations more helpful and conversational

Important Sentences & Expressions

“I'd recommend this restaurant.”
A simple and natural way to give a recommendation.

“I'd definitely recommend it.”
Use this when you strongly recommend something.

“You should try their cheesecake.”
A casual and natural way to recommend food, activities, places, and more.

“If you're looking for somewhere quiet, I'd suggest the café near the park.”
A useful way to personalize your recommendation.

“What kind of place are you looking for?”
Ask this before recommending something so you understand what the person wants.

“What are you in the mood for?”
A very useful question when talking about food or entertainment.

“In that case, I'd recommend the Thai place near the station.”
Use “in that case” when your recommendation is based on something the other person just told you.

“I'd recommend booking in advance.”
A useful way to recommend an action.

“Just keep in mind that it gets really busy on weekends.”
Use this when you want someone to remember an important detail.

“The only downside is that it can get pretty crowded.”
A natural way to mention one negative part of your recommendation.

Speaking Challenge

Imagine a friend is visiting your city and asks:

“Where should I eat?”

Give them a recommendation using:

Recommendation + Reason + Useful Detail

Then try recommending a movie, hotel, book, place to visit, or something to buy.

The goal isn't simply to say what you recommend. Explain why you recommend it and give the person something useful to know.

Follow 5-Minute English Talk for practical everyday English, natural conversations, useful expressions, and simple speaking practice to help you become a more confident English speaker.

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