Intermediate · B1 / B2 · Socializing

Invitations & Making Plans

Your goal: invite, accept, decline, and reschedule without awkwardness.

1

Survival Phrases

Inviting

  • A few of us are going for drinks Friday — want to come?
  • We're having people over Saturday — would you?
  • Fancy a walk after work?

Accepting

  • Love that — count me in.
  • Sounds great — what time?
  • I'd love to. Can I bring anything?

Declining

  • I'd love to, but I'm away that weekend.
  • Ah, I can't that day — rain check?
  • Thanks so much, but I've got plans — next time?

Rescheduling

  • Could we do the following week instead?
  • Would Thursday work for you?
  • Let me check and get back to you.
2

Model Dialogue

Read the dialogue aloud twice — once for each speaker. Notice how B picks up A's words and adds something.

Marina: Hey — a few of us are going for drinks Friday, want to come?

Lia: Love that — count me in. What time?

Marina: Sixish, at the pub by the bridge.

Lia: Perfect. Oh — can I bring Sam? He's new in town.

Marina: Of course, the more the merrier.

Lia: Great. Actually, wait — I might have a thing at 6. Could we do 7?

Marina: Seven works. We'll save you a seat.

Lia: You're a star. See you Friday.

Marina: See you!

Lia: And if I have to bail, I'll text early — promise.

3

Register: formal vs informal

SituationMore formalMore informal / natural
InvitingA few of us are going for drinks Friday — would you like to come?Fancy drinks Friday?
AcceptingI'd love to — what time suits?Count me in — what time?
DecliningI'd love to, but I'm away that weekend — rain check?Can't that day — rain check?
ReschedulingWould Thursday work for you instead?Thursday instead?
At B1/B2 the line between formal and informal is often tone and softeners (just, a bit, possibly), not different words. Soften requests when the stakes are higher.
4

Typical Mistakes (B1/B2 & Portuguese interference)

  • Do you want to go for a drink? → Fancy a drink? / Want to grab a drink? ((fancy/grab))
  • I want to go. → I'd love to. / Count me in. ((want soa criança))
  • I can't, I have other plans. → I'd love to, but I've got plans — rain check? ((soften + rain check))
  • Can we change for Thursday? → Could we do Thursday instead? ((do + instead))
  • I will go if I can. → I'll let you know — I might have a thing. ((let you know))
  • I will bail if needed. → If I have to bail, I'll text early. ((bail + text early))
5

Culture Note

  • 'Rain check' = postpone politely; it's the standard way to decline without rejecting the person.
  • 'The more the merrier' warmly welcomes a plus-one — say it, don't just nod.
  • If you might cancel, say so early ('I'll text early if I have to bail') — it's respected, not flaky.
  • 'Fancy…?' is a light British invitation; in the US 'want to grab…?' does the same job.
6

Practical Task

  1. Rebuild the dialogue with a dinner invitation and a reschedule.
  2. Record both roles, light and warm.
  3. Write one decline + rain check and one accept.
  4. Real-life mission: note three invitation phrases from a real English TV scene.

Before you finish, can you…

  • ☐invite someone casually?
  • ☐accept warmly and offer to bring something?
  • ☐decline with a rain check?
  • ☐reschedule without awkwardness?
Bring your dialogue — the teacher plays a friend who keeps rescheduling and you must adapt.