Accepting & Refusing Invitation

Making invitation Accepting invitation Refusing / declining invitation Hesitating Persuading someone

Making invitation Sample phrases (from formal to informal) - I would like to invite you to dinner next Sunday at my home. - I was wondering if you'd like to come to dinner on Wednesday evening. - Would you like/care to have dinner with us on Saturday? - What/How about dinner tonight? - Let's go to our place for dinner. - Would you mind coming to my party? - Do you feel like coming to the party?

Informal invitation Wanna come over for dinner tonight? (Wanna = want to) Wanna pop over for a quick dinner? How about coming over for dinner tonight? Care to come over for dinner tonight?

Formal invitation Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? Would you care to join us for dinner at our house tonight? I was just wondering if you would like to come over for dinner tonight. Please come over for dinner tonight. We'd be delighted to have you over for dinner tonight.

Accepting Invitations Sample phrases (from formal to informal) - Thanks for your invitation. I'd be delighted to. - Thank you. I'd love to. - Yes, thanks. That would be great/wonderful. - Sounds great/like fun. - OK/All right.

Informal accepting Sure. What time? Why not?  When do you want me to be there? Sure.  When should I be there? Yes!  Want me to bring something? I'd love to.  I'll bring dessert. What a splendid idea! I won’t say no.

Formal accepting Thank you!  I'd love to.  Would you like me to bring anything? Thank you very much!  I'd be delighted to.  What time should I be there? Oh, certainly!  Thank you.  Do I need to bring anything?

Refusing / declining Invitations Sample phrases (from formal to informal) - I'm awfully/terribly sorry. I have other plans for that night. - I'd really like to / I wish I could, but I have an appointment that day. - Thanks for asking, but I'm afraid I'm busy. - I can't. I've got a lot of work to do. - Sorry. I'm already tied up. I need some time to think about it/check my calendar. I will have to call you back. Thanks for thinking of me, but I have (made) other plans.

Informal refusing I can't. I have to work. Tonight's no good.  I have an appointment. I'm busy tonight.  Can I take a raincheck on that?  (*raincheck: if someone invites you to dinner on a night that you are busy, you can say, "Can I take a raincheck?"  This means that you hope they will invite you again on another night.)

Formal refusing I'd love to, but I'm afraid I'm busy tonight. I'd love to, but I already have plans tonight. I’d like to but I don’t think I can.  

Hesitating Sample phrases (from formal to informal) - Thank you, but I'll have to check my calendar. Do you mind if I tell you on Monday? - I'm not sure what my plans are. Could I get back to you tomorrow? - I might be busy. I'll let you know later. - Let me think it over.

Persuading someone Come on. Don’t be a spoilsport / troublemaker. You won’t regret it. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

dialogue Ann:  Bob and I are having a little get- together at our place tonight .  Wanna pop over after work? Jim:  Sure, why not?  What time do you want me to be there? Ann:  Around 6.  Jim:  OK.  Want me to bring something? Ann:  No.  Just bring yourself.

dialogue Sam: Wanna come over for a quick meal tonight? Tom:  Tonight's no good.  I have a date.  Can I take a raincheck? Sam:  OK.  No problem.  Enjoy your evening! Tom:  You too. 

dialogue Jan:  Mr. Brown, my husband and I were just wondering if you would like to come over for dinner this evening.  Brown:  Oh, thank you!  I'd be delighted to. Jan:  Great!  Could you come over at around 6? Brown:  Sure.  Do I need to bring anything? Jan:  No, but thanks for asking. Brown:  OK.  See you this evening then.

dialogue Jan:  Mr. Brown, my husband and I were just wondering if you would like to come over for dinner this evening.  Brown:  Well, I'd love to, but I have another appointment tonight. Jan:  Oh, that's too bad.  Well, maybe next time then. Brown:  Yeah!  Thank you for asking.  Enjoy your evening!

Fill in each missing part. Use an appropriate expression! Dialogue 1 Ratri : We’re panning to go to Indonesia’s Diva recital next Saturday night. Do you want to go with us? I heard she’s excellent! Diane : _______________________ I have to accompany my mom to a wedding reception. I’m so sorry, Ratri. Dialogue 2 Sam : Let’s go to the Twilight Orchestra Saturday night. Andy : This Saturday night? ___________________ I have a date. I’m going to the movies with my girlfriend. Sam : ________________________ this will be their best concert, you know? _________________, don’t be a spoilsport. Andy : Well… ______________________.

Dialogue 3 Harland : Hey, I read in a magazine that Beyonce is going to hold a concert in Jakarta. ________________________ go there next Sunday with me? Liza : ________________________ I have to get my Biology assignment done. Harland : ________________________. This is going to be great. Beyonce doesn’t hold a concert in Jakarta every year, you know? _______________________ Liza : Well… ____________________. What about my assignment? Harland : Come on. ________________________. If you say yes, I’ll help you with it. Liza : Really? Great. I’ll go with you then. But, what about the ticket? I don’t have much money to buy the ticket. Harland : Oh, don’t worry with that. It’s no ___________________. Liza : You have already bought the ticket for me? Harland : It was the _____________________. It is you who always help me. Liza : ____________________ million. I owe you big time. Harland : ____________________it. That’s what friends are for.

Create a conversation from the jumbled lines! Wanda Do you have any plans for tonight? Let’s go to Siti Nurhaliza’s concert. She’s promoting her new album. It’s the best she’s ever made, you know. Don’t worry. I got two free tickets. The show is at 9, but let’s go early. Let me pick you up at 7. ok? Ok. How about 6.30 then?

Alvaro Great! I’ll be ready. Sounds good. But we haven’t booked tickets. To be safe, let’s go earlier. You can never tell about traffic. Not really. What do you have in mind? Really? So, what time are we going?

task Make a conversation between two about accepting / refusing invitation Use the expressions above or other expressions Each student has to make min. 6 sentences Perform it in front of the class Submit the script Be creative ! 