Lesson03
【Lesson 3】
◆How to make invitations both in formal and informal ways
◆Key Expressions for Lesson 3
I was wondering if you would like to 〜.
Would you like to 〜?
Why don’t we 〜? / Let’s 〜.
◆Today’s Tip: How would you ask a friend out for lunch?
“I was wondering if you would like to have lunch with me” can be used in formal situations.
In more casual situations, you can say “Would you like to have lunch with me?” Remember that “Would you like 〜?” is always followed by the infinitive form of verb.
It’s also common to use suggestion forms in informal settings to invite other people to join you in doing something. For example, these forms include “Why don’t we 〜?” or “Let’s 〜.” So, you could say “Why don’t we go out for lunch?” or “Let’s go out for lunch.”
◆Let’s try the following exercises.
Q: What would you say both in casual and formal ways when you’d like to invite someone to exchange business cards?
A: In casual settings, you could say “Would you like to exchange business cards?” or “Why don’t we exchange business cards?”
“I was wondering if you would like to exchange business cards” is a formal expression.
Q: What would you say both in casual and formal ways when you’d like to invite someone to join you for dinner after work?
A: In casual settings, you could say “Would you like to join me for dinner after work?” or “Why don’t we go out for dinner after work?”
In more formal settings, you could say “I was wondering if you would like to join me for dinner after work.”
Q: What would you say both in casual and formal ways when you’d like to invite someone to have a drink with you?
A: In casual settings, you could say “Would you like to have a drink with me?” or “Why don’t we have a drink?”
“I was wondering if you would like to have a drink with me” is a formal expression.
Q: What would you say both in casual and formal ways when you’d like to invite someone to talk about an upcoming sales promotion over lunch?
A: In casual settings, you could say “Would you like to talk about an upcoming sales promotion over lunch?” or “Why don’t we talk about an upcoming sales promotion over lunch?”
In more formal situations, you could say “I was wondering if you would like to talk about an upcoming sales promotion over lunch.”
Q: What would you say both in casual and formal ways when you’d like to invite someone to have a coffee break?
A: In casual settings, you could say “Would you like to take a coffee break?” or “Why don’t we take a coffee break?”
In more formal settings, you could say “I was wondering if you would like to take a coffee break.”
◆Let’s learn some expressions you can use in accepting invitations.
--That sounds great.
--That sounds lovely.
--I’d be happy to.
--I’d love to.
--That’d be fun.
--OK, cool.
◆Here are some useful expressions you can use to decline invitations politely.
--I’d like to, but I have a previous commitment.
--I’d love to, but I’m tied up with work.
--Maybe next time?
--Maybe another time?
--I’ m afraid I can’t make it.
--Can I take a rain check?
(“Take a rain check” means to reschedule an appointment or plan.)