2. Making, accepting and refusing invitations
Do you know how to invite someone to your house for dinner or to go to the movies? What do you say in English when someone invites you? Here are some common expressions you can use when making or responding to invitations, both for accepting and turning down.
Inviting:
What are you doing next Saturday? We're having some people over for a meal. Would you like to come?
Do you want to go to the movies tonight?
Are you free next Thursday?
Are you doing anything next weekend?
Would you like to go to the theatre tomorrow?
Would you be interested in going to the the football match next Sunday?
How do you fancy going to the the restaurant for dinner?
How about going to the movies?
Care to come over for lunch?
I was just wondering if you would like to come over for a drink.
We'd be delighted to have you over for my birthday party.
Accepting invitations:
Sure. What time?
I'd love to, thanks.
That's very kind of you, thanks.
That sounds lovely, thank you.
What a great idea, thank you.
Sure. When should I be there?
Declining invitations:
That's very kind of you, but actually I'm doing something else on Saturday
I can't. I have to work.
This evening is no good. I have an appointment.
I'm busy tomorrow. Can I take a rain check on that? (rain check: you cannot accept invitations now, but would like to do so at a later time)
Well, I'd love to, but I'm already going out to the restaurant.
I'm really sorry, but I've got something else on.
I really don't think I can - I'm supposed to be doing something else.
It's important to be polite when you turn down an invitation. We normally give a reason why we can't do something and either apologize, or use words like "actually" or "really".
Reading activity
Invitations are presented in many different formats, including telephone calls, email, letters, hand-written stationery and formal invitations. Of course a wedding invitation is a printed formal invitation:
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Together with their parents |
When someone you really get on well invites you over for dinner or something of the kind, you may be pleased to accept the invitation, however, when it is someone you cannot stand the invitation may become a nightmare. Watch this video on how to turn down an invitation:
Video alojado en Youtube
Now you can read the transcript for the video here.
Have a look at this webpage with images of unusual wedding invitations. There are tea towels, CDs and even playable vinyl records. The bizarre efforts are part of an extravagant new trend, which sees couples turn their back on traditional paper invites...
Which one do you like? Which would you never use. Tell your classmates in the forum. (*IMPORTANT: THIS ACTIVITY IS OPTIONAL).
*THIS ACTIVITY IS OPTIONAL.
Find a partner from the course. Invite him or her to the activities below. Your partner should accept some of the invitations, but decline others. If they decline, they should offer polite reasons for rejecting the invitation. If they accept the invitation, both partners should continue the conversation to get more information about the event, such as:
- the day and time
- where they should meet
- how much money it will cost
- what kind of dress is required
- how long the event will last
- if anything special is needed to participate in the event
| Invitations to |
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a natural history museum |
| a lecture about finance and the economic crisis |
| a horror movie |
| the Russian Ballet |
| a friend's birthday party |
| a formal dinner |
| ballroom dancing lessons |
| an amusement park |
| go ice skating on the lake |
| go window shopping |
This website which shows possible wedding venues . In your opinion, what is the ideal place to celebrate a wedding?
Moving on
You can visit this link for guidelines on formal invitations. And this one for tips on how to write a formal invitation.
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