Lesson 21 drill — Inviting, accepting, refusing, rescheduling — four small grammars
Each social move uses a typical structure. INVITE with 'Do you fancy + -ing?' ('Do you fancy grabbing coffee?'), 'Would you like to + base?' ('Would you like to come over?'), 'How about + -ing?' ('How about Thursday?'). ACCEPT warmly: 'I'd love to', 'Sounds great', 'Count me in'. REFUSE politely with a SOFTENER + REASON + ALTERNATIVE: 'I'd love to, but I've got plans on Friday — could we do the week after?' Three parts, every time. RESCHEDULE with 'Would it be okay to push it to…?', 'Any chance we could move it to…?', 'I might need to take a rain check — can we do another day?' The key pattern across all four: SOFTEN, then GET SPECIFIC, then OFFER A WAY FORWARD.
Choose: 'Do you fancy ____ a film tonight?'
Which is the WARMEST acceptance?
Which polite refusal has all three parts (soften + reason + alternative)?
Choose: 'Any chance we could ____ it to Sunday?'
Which refusal is most likely to keep the friendship warm?
Do you fancy ____ a coffee on Friday?
I'd love to, ____ I'm already booked that night.
Any chance we could ____ it back to seven?
I might need to ____ a rain check tonight — I'm shattered.
Sunday brunch? Count ____ in.