make an offer

Meaning

To propose a specific price, terms, or conditions for buying something, hiring someone, or starting a business partnership. It is widely used in real estate, job recruitment, and purchasing negotiations. The tone is neutral, professional, and action-oriented.

Examples

• We decided to make an offer on the office building downtown.

  We decided to make an offer on the office building downtown.

• The HR manager is going to make an offer to the top candidate this afternoon.

  The HR manager is going to make an offer to the top candidate this afternoon.

• They made an offer, but it was far below our asking price.

  They made an offer, but it was far below our asking price.

• Before you make an offer, make sure you have conducted thorough market research.

  Before you make an offer, make sure you have conducted thorough market research.

• I think we should make a counter-offer instead of accepting their initial proposal.

  I think we should make a counter-offer instead of accepting their initial proposal.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The company gave an offer to me yesterday.

  ✓ The company made an offer to me yesterday.

  In professional contexts, we 'make' an offer rather than 'give' one when referring to formal proposals or job offers.

• ✗ We are ready to make offer on the property.

  ✓ We are ready to make an offer on the property.

  The singular countable noun 'offer' requires the indefinite article 'an'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The house has been on the market for months, so we decided to ___.

  💡 Propose a purchase price.

  Show answer

  make an offer

• We are planning to ___ to the candidate by the end of the week.

  💡 Propose a job contract.

  Show answer

  make an offer