Accepting or rejecting invitations in English | Learn English with Cambridge

Hi, everyone.

My name's George

and today we're going to learn how to accept

and reject invitations.

So, yesterday my friend Max invited me to a party,

but unfortunately I couldn't go.

How did I politely reject his invitation?

Do you want to come to my cat's birthday on Saturday?

She's turning 15.

I'd love to, Max,

but I'm hanging out with Mack that day.

Thanks for inviting me though.

Who's Mack?

When rejecting an invitation you can start by saying I'd love to

but and then you can tell the other person

what your plans are using the future continuous,

which is the -ing form of the verb.

We use this tense

when we have plans with somebody else.

For example, I'd love

to but I'm hanging out with my friends that day.

Also you can add thanks for inviting me though

at the end if you want to sound extra polite.

For example, I'd love

to but I'm playing football that day.

Thanks for inviting me though.

How about meeting up on Sunday instead?

Sounds good.

Whereabouts?

My house.

Okay and what...

I've got cornflakes.

Okay, what time?

Nine o'clock.

When's the earliest you can get there?

To accept an invitation you can say sounds good

and then you can ask

for some extra information by asking whereabouts

or where do you want to meet or what time.

If you need to cancel

an arrangement with a friend you can say sorry,

I don't think I can make it,

which means I really,

really want to go

but unfortunately I can't make the journey or I can't meet you

because something's come up.

There is an urgent situation.

So, you can say sorry,

Max, I don't think I can make it.

Something's come up.

Oh, okay.

Bye.

That's all we have time for today.

If you have any alternative ways to accept or reject invitations

or cancel arrangements,

please let me know in the comments section

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