2. Practice Section

Exercise 1. Make up invitations, using “Would you like ...?” or one of the other forms given at the begin­ning of the section, and one phrase from each of the columns below. (Change the infinitive to the gerund if necessary). The invitations may be addressed to a fellow-student, who either accepts or refuses.

go to the cinema tonight

come to my birthday party some time have lunch with me after work

go for a walk tomorrow afternoon

come and see my slides on Sunday

go on a boat trip next Saturday

go and see "Swan Lake" at the weekend

listen to my CD one evening

go skiing with me on Friday

come to supper today

go to the Goya exhibition now

spend the weekend with us one day next week

Exercise 2.Refuse the following invitations tactfully, giving a reason.

1. Would you like to come to tea on Sunday?

2. Do you feel like going for a walk?

3. I wonder whether you'd like to go to an English film with me

tomorrow evening.

3. How about going to the beach this afternoon?

5. Would you like to go a football match with me on Saturday?

6. I've got two tickets for a Beethoven concert tomorrow.

Would you like to go with me?

7. I wonder whether you'd like to spend Christmas with us.

8. My sister is giving a piano recital on Friday. Per­haps you'd like to go with me.

9. What about going to the Russian Museum after lunch?

10. Would you like to go a dance with me on Saturday?

Exercise 3. Make up dialogues, using the questions to introduce an invitation. Work in pairs.

Model: Are you doing anything tonight? (go and see an American film)

Student A: Are you doing anything tonight?

Student B: No, nothing special. Why?

Student A: I wondered if you’d like to go and see an American film with me.

Student B: Thank you. That would be very nice.

Other possible answers to A’s first question are:

(No,) I don't think so.

No, nothing in particular.

B’s response to the invitation my also be varied.

1. Are you doing anything special on Sunday? (go for a drive in the country)

2. Have you got anything on tomorrow night? (go out to dinner)

3. What are you doing at the weekend? (go skiing)

1. Have you got any plans for the New Year?

(come and spend it with us)

4. Are you doing anything on Saturday afternoon? (go to the Matisse exhibition)

Exercise 4. Make up your own dialogues based on those given below.

(i)

- Why don’t we go for a drive in the country?

- That would be very nice. Thank you.

-I’ll pick you up about 7 then.

- Right. See you later.

(ii)

- Would you like to come to a party with me next Saturday?

- I’d love to. Thanks.

- I’ll call round for you after dinner.

- OK. I’ll be ready.

XIII. OFFERS

1. Discussion

When we want to offer someone our help we can say:

I'll ... (if you like)

Shall I …?

Let me…

Would you like me to …?

Do you need any help?

Can I help you?

Note that “Can I help you?” is used mainly by shop-assistants and people whose job is to give inform­ation, etc. (for example, in inquiry offices

Is there anything I can do (to help)?

Can you manage?

Here are possible replies:

Acceptance:

Yes, please - in reply to offers in the form of a question.

Thank you (very much).

That's very kind of you. (Thank you.)

If (you're sure) it's not too much trouble.

If (you're sure) you've got time.

In reply to “Is there anything I can do (to help)?” or "Can you manage?" one may say:

Well, perhaps you could ...

Do you think you could...?

e.g. Well, perhaps you could lay the table.

Do you think you could wash these glasses?

Refusal:

No, thank you. - in reply to questions

Oh, please don't bother.

No, it's/that's (quite) all right (thank you).

Thank you, but there's really no need (to). I can easily...

e.g. -I'll get you a taxi.

-Thank you but there's really no need (to). I can easily catch a bus.