Invitations

Functional English

1. Extending an Invitation
Read the dialogue, and practice with a partner.
A: You are Jesses mom, right?
B: Yes, I am.
A: Tristan is having a birthday party on
Saturday. We were wondering if Jesse would
like to come.
B: Jesse would love that! What time on
Saturday?
A: From noon until 2:00 at the bowling alley.

2. Accepting an Invitation

3. Declining an Invitation

Practice the dialogue with a partner.

Change the information in bold to
different information. Practice again.

Practice the dialogue with a partner.

Change the information in bold to
different information. Practice again.

A: I got your text. Thanks for inviting us for

dinner tomorrow.
B: No problem. Can you make it?
A: Yes, wed love to come for dinner.
B: Excellent!
A: What can we bring? Shall I bake a cake?
B: You dont need to bring anything. Just
yourselves!
A: Nonsense! Well bring some dessert.

A: Thanks so much for the invite, but

Im afraid we cant make it.
B: Oh, thats too bad. We were looking
forward to hanging out.
A: So were we. Unfortunately, Jayden
has a baseball game on Friday.
B: No worries. Maybe we can get
together next week. Are you free on
Friday?
A: I think so. Ill double-check our
schedule and get back to you.

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Invitations
Functional English

4. Sentence Building
Write questions or responses in the blanks. Use the hints to write complete sentences. Then
practice with a partner.
1

A: Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? B: __________________________ (love to)

A: Why dont you drop by for tea today? B: _____________________________ (cant, working)

A: You can bring your husband, too. B: _________________________ (wouldnt be interested)

A: Did you get my text about the surprise party? B: ________________________? (what time)

A: What can we bring to the picnic? B: ____________________________________ (not need)

A: __________________________________________________? B: Sure, wed love to come!

A: ___________________________________? B: Ill check my schedule and get back to you.

A: ________________________________? B: Id love to go to the movies, but I have to work.

A: __________________________________? B: Yes, Mickey would love to have a sleepover.

10

A: ___________________________________? B: Yes! Do you have any gift ideas for Meika?

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Invitations
Functional English

5. Be My Guest
Who would say the following question or statement, the host or the guest?
1 Are you busy on...? _________

7 Let me show you around. _________

2 Are you free on...? _________

8 Where shall I put the gift? _________

3 Are you available this Friday? _________

9 Can I offer you a drink? _________

4 We would love to have you. _________

10 Is there anything I can bring? _________

5 Im afraid I cant make it. _________

11 Youre welcome to bring a date. _________

6 Id love to, but Im afraid... _________

12 Can I bring the kids, or is it adults only? ________

6. Types of Invitations
Talk with your classmates about different types of events that require invitations. Make a list
on the board. What are some different ways that people invite guests to these events?

7. Put It in Writing
Some invitations come on a card. Here are some phrases and expressions that you will often
see on a formal invitation. Try making your own invitation for an event. Be sure to include the
who, what, where, when, and why of the event you choose.
You are cordially invited...
Guess whos turning 2?
Mr. and Mrs. Jones request your presence at the
marriage of their daughter Lacey Jones to Miles Casey.
Andy and Amy are tying the knot!
RSVP to... by...
No gifts, please.

8. Discuss This Famous Quote

Nothing annoys people so much as not receiving an invitation. ~ Oscar Wilde

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Invitations
Functional English

Answer Key
Description:
Students review language and useful expressions for extending, accepting, and declining invitations. They practice putting
invitations in writing, too.
Tags: functional English, useful expressions, low-intermediate, intermediate, socializing, inviting, invitations

Exercise 13
Read out loud in pairs. Practice reading the dialogues
and changing the words and expressions.

Exercise 4
1. A: Would you like to come over for dinner
tonight? B: I'd love to.
2. A: Why dont you drop by for tea today? B: I
cant. I'm working.
3. A: You can bring your husband too. B: Thanks,
but he wouldn't be interested.
4. A: Did you get my text about the surprise
party? B: Yes. What time should we arrive?
5. A: What can we bring to the picnic? B: You
don't need to bring anything. Just bring
yourselves.
6. A: Would you like to come to our
housewarming party? (answers may vary)
B: sure, wed love to come!
7. A: Are you free on Saturday? (answers may
vary) B: Ill check my schedule and get back
to you.
8. A: Do you want to come to the movies with
us? (answers may vary) B: Id love to go to
the movies, but I have to work.
9. A: Jane was wondering if Mickey could sleep
over this weekend? (answers may vary)
B: Yes, Mickey would love to have a sleepover.
10.A: Can you make it to the birthday party?
(answers may vary) B: Yes! Do you have any
gift ideas for Meika?

Exercise 5
1. Host
2. Host
3. Host
4. Host
5. Guest
6. Guest
7. Host
8. Guest
9. Host
10. Guest
11. Host
12. Guest
*You could begin or end this task by asking your
students to talk about whether they prefer to be the
guest or the host.

Exercise 6
Have students transcribe the list on the board. Work
on spelling and pronunciation.

Exercise 7
Help students with words such as cordially and
RSVP. Students can use the box
provided or the back of the worksheet to create their
own invitations.

Exercise 8
Discuss this famous quote. Do your students agree
or disagree with Oscar Wilde? What other feelings
are associated with NOT being invited?
Spelling Note: This lessons instructions show the
American spelling of the word Practice. Most other
English-speaking countries spell it this way: Practise
(when used as a verb, Practice when used as a
noun). Make it a challenge for your students to find
this word in the text and see if they know the
alternate spelling.

Copyright 2013, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.