Part One: Warm-Up
Discuss the following questions with your partner(s).
- Have you ever asked someone to go on a date with you?
- Have you ever invited someone to do something and had to accept no as their answer? How did they tell you no?
- Are you good at inviting people to do things with you? Why or why not?
- Do you know someone who is good at inviting others to do things? What kinds of things does he or she say to invite people?
Part Two: Invitations
Making an Invitation
Before we extend an invitation to someone, we generally open with a question or statement to gauge their availability or interest.
- Are you up to anything (this weekend)?
- What are you up to (this evening)?
- I was wondering if you have plans for dinner (tomorrow)?
- Are you free (Saturday night)?
- I’m thinking about having people over (tomorrow).
We typically do not want someone to feel pressured into accepting our invitations, so we use language to help avoid this:
- I’m not sure what your plans are but ...
- I know this is short notice but ...
- (I) Don’t know if you’re free this weekend, but ...
- If you’re not too busy ...
There are a variety of ways to extend the invitation:
| I’m We’re A few of us are |
having ... hosting ... throwing ... organizing ... |
It would be great if you could come. Why don’t you join us? You should come. You’re (more than) welcome to join. We’d love to have you over. |
Example One:
Are you free on Saturday night?
Yes, I believe so.
Well, I’m hosting a surprise birthday dinner for my mother. It would be great if you could come.
Example Two:
I don’t know if you’re free this weekend, but a couple of us are organizing a potluck. Why don’t you join?
Great
Accepting or Declining an Invitation
When we are invited to something, there are a variety of ways to accept the invitation. Here are some of the different ways to accept an invitation:
- Sure/Yeah/Great.
- I’m in.
- Count me in.
- That would be nice/great.
- (That) sounds good/nice/lovely/great.
- I’d love to.
It is also important to know how to politely decline an invitation. Here are some of the ways we turn down an invitation without giving offence.
- I wish I could but ...
- I’d like/love to but ...
- Would love to but ...
- That sounds lovely but ...
- I’m sorry but ...
- I’m afraid ...
- I’m (already)... going/planning/having ...
- I’ve already made plans to ...
- (this Friday) doesn’t work I’m afraid.
- I won’t be able to make it.
- I don’t think I can.
- Can I take a raincheck?
- Another time?
- Next time.
- Thanks for the invite though.
- I appreciate the invitation
Example One:
Hey, I’m thinking about having people over for dinner on Thursday. If you’re free, why don’t you come over?
I wish I could, but I’m going to be working quite late every night this week. Can I take a raincheck?
Example Two:
Are you available this Saturday?
Yeah, I think so.
Great, well, we’re planning a get-together for my sister’s birthday if you’d like to join.
That would be great!
Taking No For an Answer
When someone turns down our invitation, we often respond in a way that shows they should not feel bad for declining:
- No worries
- Don’t worry about it
- No problem
- Next time
- Another time (perhaps)
Other times, we may want to insist in order to try to convince them to accept:
- Are you sure you can’t make it?
- Ah, come on
- It’s going to be a lot of fun.
- It would mean a lot if you came.
- I think you’d enjoy yourself.
Example One:
Hey, I’m thinking about having people over for dinner on Thursday. If you’re free, why don’t you come over?
Ah, I’d love to, but I’m going to be working quite late every night this week. Can I take a raincheck?
Of course. No worries.
Example Two
Don’t know if you have plans, but we’re meeting for brunch on Sunday if you’d like to join.
That sounds nice, but I don’t think I can make it this time.
Are you sure? We’d love to see you.
I wish I could, but I’ve got a busy weekend ahead of me.
No problem. Another time.