Title: 3. Accepting Invitations

Accepting Invitations

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Listen to the conversation. Notice the words Lindsay uses to accept Briana's invitation.

Credits: Woman on cell phone; source https://pixabay.com/photo-791874/; licence PD

Lindsay: Hello?

Briana: Hi. Is this Lindsay?

Lindsay: Yes.

Briana: Hi, Lindsay, it’s Briana Morrison speaking. I work with your husband Todd.

Lindsay: Oh, hi Briana. I’ve heard about you.

Briana: My husband Ian and I were wondering if you and Todd would like to come over next Saturday. We’re having a few people over to celebrate Sam’s birthday. Do you know Sam Rogers? He works with us.

Lindsay: No, I don’t.

Briana: Well, he’s a really nice guy. He has just moved to Toronto and he doesn’t know anyone here, so I was thinking it would be nice for a few people from the office to get together on Saturday to celebrate his birthday. Ian and I were wondering if you and Todd could come.

Lindsay: That’s really nice. I’m sure Sam would like that. Todd and I would love to come. What can we bring?

Briana: Oh, you don’t need to bring anything. We’re just going to keep it simple. After dinner we’ll have a cake, but we’re not going to give Sam any presents. I’m sure it would embarrass him too much.

Lindsay: Well, it sounds really nice and it will be nice for me to get to know some of you. Todd is always telling me funny stories from the office. Are you sure I can’t bring anything?

Briana: Well, maybe you could bring a salad.

Lindsay: I’d love to. What time?

Briana: What about 7:00?

Lindsay: Great. We’ll see you then. If there’s anything else I can bring, just let me know.

Briana: Thanks. I’m looking forward to meeting you and Todd.

Lindsay: Me too. Bye.

Listen to the conversation again and answer the questions. There are five questions.

Q: 1. The speakers _______________.
- don't know each other. (correct)
- are friends.
- work together.

Q: 2. What is the invitation for?
- a birthday party for Sam at Briana's house (correct)
- a birthday party for Sam at work
- a birthday party at Sam's house

Q: 3. Which sentence does Lindsay use to accept the invitation?
- Todd and I would love to come. (correct)
- It will be nice for me to get to know some of you.
- Sounds like fun. What time?

Q: 4. When Brianna says "Well, maybe you could bring a salad," she is ____________.
- making a suggestion (correct)
- making a request
- asking a question

Q: 5. What does Lindsay ask after she accepts the invitation?
- What can we bring? (correct)
- Can I bring a cake or a salad?
- What is your address?

Read the sentences from the conversation you listened to. Move each sentence to its purpose in the conversation.

- Greeting and introduction
- Making an invitation
- Accepting an invitation
- Signalling the end of the conversation
- I'm looking forward to seeing you both.
- Great! We'll see you then. Let me know if there's anything I can bring.
- Hi Lindsay. It's Briana Morrison speaking. I work with your husband, Todd.
- That's really nice. Todd and I would love to come.
- My husband and I were wondering if you and Todd would like to come over next Saturday.
- Ending the conversation
Q: greeting and intro
A: Hi Lindsay. It's Briana Morrison speaking. I work with your husband, Todd.
Q: making an invite
A: My husband and I were wondering if you and Todd would like to come over next …
Q: accepting an invite
A: That's really nice. Todd and I would love to come.
Q: signalling the end
A: Great! We'll see you then. Let me know if there's anything I can bring.
Q: that's 12 hours...
A: I'm looking forward to seeing you both.

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Accepting invitations

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Here are examples of accepting invitations. Practise saying them.

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When we accept an invitation, we often add comments to express interest, enthusiasm or appreciation for the invitation, event or place. This shows we are interested in the invitation.

Would you like to have dinner with me tonight. My treat!

When someone says "My treat" it means they will pay the bill.

That sounds great. Thanks!

Sure. What a great idea!

Yes. That's very kind of you. Thank you.

I'd love to. That would be fun.

Thanks for the invitation. That's very kind.

Thanks very much for inviting us.

Listen to the conversation and answer the questions. There are four questions.

Q: 1. Who extends the invitation?
- the woman (correct)
- the man

Q: 2. When the woman said “do you feel like getting a bite to eat,” she was ____________.
- inviting the man out to eat (correct)
- asking the man if he was hungry
- inviting the man to her home for dinner

Q: 3. What is the invitation for?
- something to eat after the movie (correct)
- something to eat before the movie
- the movie

Q: 4. What does the man ask about right after he accepts the invitation?
- where to go (correct)
- when to go
- what to eat

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Do you feel like getting a bite to eat after the movie?

Sure. Where do you want to go?

I don’t know. Some place close by where we can get something light?

Sure. I know a great place just down the road from the theatre that we can go to. It’s called Charlie’s

Great.

Asking questions after accepting invitations

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Here are examples of questions. Listen and practise saying them.

When people accept an invitation, they often follow up with a question or two to ask about or confirm the details.

What should I wear?

What can I bring?

What time should I meet you?

Can I bring my partner or my children?

Listen to the conversation. Select the question the speaker asks after accepting the invitation.

Q: Which follow-up question did the speaker use?
- Where are you having it? (correct)
- What gift should I bring?
- What time should I come?

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Listen to each invitation and select the most suitable follow-up question.

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- Sure. Where do you want to go? (correct)
- Sure. How many people are coming?
- Sure. Where is it?

- Sure. Where is it? (correct)
- Sure. How many people are coming?
- Sure. Where do you want go?

Listen to the invitation and select the most suitable follow-up question.

- Sounds good. What time is good? (correct)
- I’d love to. What can I bring?
- Sure. Where should I meet you?

- Sure. Where are you going? (correct)
- Ok. What day are you going?
- Sure. Can I bring my child?

Holding off on accepting an invitation

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Here are some examples. Listen and practice saying them.

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Sounds good. Can I get back to you on that?

Oh, that sounds great. Let me check with David and I’ll get back to you.

Thanks for the invite. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

That sounds like fun. Let me check my calendar and I’ll let you know.

Sometimes you are invited to something and you are not sure you can go or you want to go. In these cases, one strategy is to tell the person you will get back to them. This will give you time to check your calendar, or to decide if you want to go.

Listen to the conversation and answer the questions. There are three questions.

Q: 1. What does Jane say before responding to the invitation?
- Let me just check with my husband to make sure he doesn’t have anything planned for that evening. (correct)
- Let me just check my calendar to make sure I don’t have anything planned for that evening.
- Let me just check with my husband to make sure we’re free that evening.

Q: 2. What additional information does Jane ask about?
- When the event is (correct)
- Where the event is
- Who is coming to the event

Q: 3. Why does Jane ask if there is a number where she can call back?
- She prefers to call the Humane Society if she decides to attend. (correct)
- She wants her husband to call the Humane Society to confirm.
- She wants to make sure she has Humane Society's telephone number.

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Volunteer: I'm a volunteer with the Humane Society. We're organizing a fundraising dinner and a silent auction. I was sondering if you would be interested in attending.

Jane: Oh, gee. I'm not sure. When is it?

Volunteer: It will be held on the 23rd of January, from six to nine pm.

Jane: Okay, well let me just check with my husband to make sure he doesn't have anything planned for that evening. Is there a number where I can reach you to confirm?

Listen to the four conversations. Listen again and for each inviation, choose the response you hear.

Q: 1. I’m a friend of Mary Peters’ and I’m organizing a retirement party for her on the fifth. Would you be able to come?
- Oh, I’d love to, but let me check my calendar. How can I get back to you? (correct)
- Oh, I’d love to, but let me check my calendar. Where can I get back to you?

Q: 1. Do you feel like going to a bike ride after class on Saturday?
- Maybe, but can I get back to you on that? I need to check my work schedule. I think I might be free at five at 5:00. (correct)
- Maybe, but can I get back to you on that? I need to check my work schedule again. I think I might have a shift at 5:00.

Q: 3. I have two tickets for the opera on Saturday night. Would you like to go?
- I’d love to but I’ll have to check if I’m on call on Saturday night. (correct)
- I’d love to but I’ll have to check if I’m off on Saturday night.

Q: 4. I have free tickets for a soccer game next Thursday. Would you and Mike be interested in going?
- Oh, that sounds like fun, but I need to check my calendar to make sure we’re free that evening. (correct)
- Oh, that sounds like fun but I need to check with Mike to make sure we’re free that evening.

Write a response to accept each invitation. In your response, express appreciation for the invitation and include a follow-up question.

Are you free on Friday night? I'm having a potluck dinner for Tatiana's birthday.

Click here for sample responses

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I’m having some friends over for brunch on Sunday. Can you come?

Here are some possible responses:

That sounds great! What should I bring?

Yes, I am. I'd love to come. What time is it?

I'd love to! Can I bring my daughter too?

I'd love to! What time?

That sounds like fun! Which day?

Yes. Thanks for thinking of me. What can I bring?

We’re driving to Niagara Falls this weekend. Would you like to join us?

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