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Inviting, accepting and declining: English 3AC

Write and answer invitations in English 3AC. Use would you like to, include the place and time, and practise accepting or declining politely.

English 3AC, Morocco · Focus, Spotlight 3 and guided practice · Updated

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By the end of this lesson, you can

  • Invite someone to a suitable school activity.
  • Include clear information about place and time.
  • Accept or decline an invitation politely.

Before you startRead short English sentences and identify the subject and verb.

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How do you invite someone in English?

Use Would you like to come to our school exhibition? to make a polite invitation. Would you like to is followed by a base verb. Would you like coming...? does not use the pattern taught here. A shorter invitation between classmates is Can you come to our reading club?

An invitation helps the other person make a real decision. Name the event, day, time and place: Our exhibition is on Friday at two o'clock in the school library. If the guest needs to bring something, say so. Keep the request simple and suitable for a school or family activity.

One pupil gives another an event card beside a school science display.
A useful school invitation names the event, time and place. The guest can then accept or decline.

How do you accept an invitation?

You can say Yes, I'd love to. Thank you for inviting me. In this expression, I'd means I would. You can also confirm the details: Friday at two is fine. I'll be there. If a detail is missing, ask before confirming: What time does it start?

A written reply should answer the invitation rather than change the subject. In a short message, greet the sender, thank them, say that you can come and close politely. You do not need a long story to make your acceptance complete.

Event: Would you like to visit our science exhibition? Day and time: On Friday at two o'clock. Place: In the school library.
Give the information a guest needs.
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How do you decline politely?

Say Thank you for inviting me, but I'm sorry I can't come. A short true reason is enough: I have a family visit that afternoon. You can wish the organisers well or ask about a later activity. Do not invent a complicated excuse. In both acceptance and refusal, the reader should understand your answer immediately.

A worked example

A science exhibition invitation

Sami: Would you like to come to our science exhibition on Friday? Nabil: Yes, I'd love to. What time does it start? Sami: At two o'clock in the school library. Nabil: Thank you. I'll be there.

  1. Would you like to come...? is the invitation.
  2. Nabil accepts and asks for a missing detail.
  3. The final answer confirms the time and place.
Accept: Yes, I'd be happy to come. Thank you. Decline: Thank you, but I'm sorry I can't come. Check a detail: What time does it start?
Both replies answer the invitation directly.
View full-size image

How should I use this English 3AC lesson?

  • Try the exercises before reading the answers.
  • Explain a correction in your own words.
  • Return to the examples when two structures look similar.

Frequently asked questions

How do I write an invitation in English 3AC?

Invite with Would you like to...?, then give the event, day, time and place. Ask for a reply if needed.

What does I'd love to mean in an invitation reply?

It means I would love to. In this context it is a standard polite way to accept an activity invitation.

How can I decline without sounding rude?

Thank the person and say you cannot come. Add a brief reason if useful: Thank you, but I'm sorry I can't come.

Quiz: 6 questions

6 questions are randomly selected from this lesson’s 6-question bank. Choose one answer for each question and get an immediate explanation.

Q1Would you like ___ our club?

Correct answer: to join

Would you like to is followed by the base verb join.

Q2Which reply accepts?

Correct answer: Yes, I'd love to.

I'd love to is a polite acceptance.

Q3Which detail is a place?

Correct answer: the school library

The library tells the guest where to go.

Q4Which refusal is polite?

Correct answer: Thank you, but I'm sorry I can't come.

It thanks the sender and states the refusal clearly.

Q5The exhibition is ___ Friday.

Correct answer: on

Use on with a day.

Q6The exhibition starts ___ two o'clock.

Correct answer: at

Use at with an exact time.

Exercises with answers

6 exercises, from easy practice to challenges. Try each one yourself, then reveal the answer and explanation.

Exercise 1

Easy

Complete: Would you like ___ visit our school exhibition?

Answer and explanation

To. The pattern is would you like to + base verb.

Exercise 2

Easy

Give a polite positive reply to an invitation.

Answer and explanation

Yes, I'd love to. Thank you for inviting me.

Exercise 3

Intermediate

You have a family visit. Decline a Friday invitation politely.

Answer and explanation

Thank you for inviting me, but I'm sorry I can't come. I have a family visit on Friday.

Exercise 4

Intermediate

Improve: Come to our reading club. Use Thursday, 1:30 p.m. and the library.

Answer and explanation

Would you like to come to our reading club on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in the library?

Exercise 5

Challenge

The invitation names the day and place but not the time. Ask a useful question.

Answer and explanation

What time does it start? The question supplies the missing information.

Exercise 6

Challenge

Write a short acceptance of a science exhibition invitation for Friday at two.

Answer and explanation

Hello Sami, thank you for inviting me to the science exhibition. Friday at two is fine. I'd love to come. See you at the library. Nabil.