1. Discussion

Invitations may be phrased in one of the following ways:

Would you like to ...? - the most common form

I wonder whether you'd like to ... - tentative

Would you care to…?/ I wonder whether you’d care to…-very formal

Do you feel like ... ing? - informal

Invitations may also take the form of a suggestion, for example:

What/ How about ...ing?

Here are the usual replies to invitations.

Acceptance:

(Yes,) very much.

(Yes.) I'd like to very much.

(Yes.) I'd love to very much.- more enthusiastic and more informal. Used more by women than men.

That would be very nice/ lovely. - Thank you.

Note that “With pleasure” is seldom used in such cases.

Refusal:

I'm afraid I can't.

I'm sorry. I can't.

Some explanation for your refusal is often desirable.

e.g. I'm afraid I can't/ I'm sorry, I can't. I've got too much work to do.

I’d like/ love to (very much) but ...

e.g. I'd like to very much but I've promised to go and see some friends tonight.

I wish I could but ...

e.g. I wish I could but I've got to stay at home and look after the children.

Thank you, but (I'm afraid)...

e.g. Thank you but I'm afraid I've already arranged to play tennis with Helen on Saturday.

No, thank you/ thanks.

By itself this is rather abrupt, even rude. How­ever, it may be used among friends if followed by an explanation.

e.g. No_, thanks. I’m not feeling too well.

Invitations are often introduced by a question such as:

Are you doing anything (special) ...?

Have you got anything (special) on ... ?

Have you got any plans for …?

What are you doing …? - more direct. Only among friends.

Are you free …?

Here are two examples of invitations introduced in this way:

a. - Are you doing anything tomorrow night? - No, nothing special. Why?

- I wondered if you’d like to come round for supper.

b. - Have you got any plans for the weekend? - Not as far as I can remember.

- Well, would you like to go to Stratford with us?

Illustrative Dialogues

Note: The style of all these dialogues is informal - semi-formal

1. An Invitation to a Party

A: Are you doing anything special on Saturday night?

B: No I don't think so. Why?

A: Well, I’m having a little party and I'd like you to come.

B: Thank you. That would be very nice. What time?

A: Half past seven to eight.

B: Fine. I'll see you then.

2. An Invitation to the Theatre

A: Would you like to go and see “Macbeth” with me at the

National Theatre tomorrow?

B: Yes, very much. I’ve heard it’s a very good product­ion.

A: Well, it had good reviews. I'll meet you in the foyer then, at a quarter to eight - on the right, by the booking office.

B: I’ll be there.

3. An invitation to Go for a Drive In the Country

A: Do you feel like going for a drive in the country this afternoon?

B: Yes, I'd love to. It's a beautiful day.

A: I thought we might go to the South Downs. You get a wonderful view from there.

B: That's a good idea.

A: Well, I'll call for you about two, then. Or is that too early?

B: No. That's fine. I’ll be ready.

4. An Invitation to a Restaurant

A: I wonder whether you'd like to go to the Mayfair res­taurant with me tonight. They say the food's very good there.

B: I'm afraid I can't. You see, I've got a friend stay­ing with me.

A: That's a pity. Well perhaps we could go some other time.

B: Yes. I should like to when I’m a bit freer.

5. An Invitation to an Exhibition

A: How about going to the Tate Gallery tomorrow? There's an interesting new exhibition there.

B: I'd like to but I'm afraid I've got to finish a trans­lation.

A: Couldn't you do it some other time?

B: No. You see, I promised to finish it by Friday.

6. Arranging a Date and Time

Mr. Jackson: Hello. Mr Roberts.

Mr. Roberts: Hello, Mr Jackson. How are you enjoying your stay in Moscow?

Mr. J: Very much, thank you.

Mr. R: I wonder whether you could come and have supper

with us one evening.

Mr. J: Yes_, I'd like to very much.

Mr. R: How about tomorrow?

Mr. J: I'm afraid I can't make it tomorrow.

Mr. R: What about Thursday then?

Mr. J: Just a minute. Let me see. Yes, Thursday would be fine.

Mr. R: Good. I'll come and call for you at your hotel.

Mr. J: Thank you. What time?

Mr. R: Would six-thirty be all right for you?

Mr. J: Yes, that'll be fine.

Mr. R: All right. I'll see you on Thursday then.

Mr. J: Yes. Good-bye, and thank you.

Mr. R: Not at all. Good-bye.