Making Invitations in English: phrases + dialogue

How often do you “invite people round”? Everyone loves having guests visit – but how do you make invitations in real English?

Here are some friendly ways to invite people to visit you. You’ll also learn how to accept invitations – and how to say no politely.

Inviting someone round: example dialogue

In this natural British English dialogue, Mel invites her friend Kim over for a chat. Mel’s not working right now, and she wants some company. Kim’s quite busy, but she doesn’t want to miss a chance to see Kim!

Listen!

• Listen to the dialogue carefully, but don’t read the transcript. Try to hear each invitation and response.
• Review the useful phrases in the next section.
• Listen to the audio again while reading the full transcript to consolidate the phrases you have learned.

Making invitations in English: phrases

The dialogue contains some of the most common phrases people use to make, accept and decline invitations. Let’s look at each part of the conversation and find out what each speaker wants to say:

Set up the invitation

Before inviting people to visit, we often let the other person know that we are free at a certain time, or that we have prepared something nice (like a meal). Or we might just say that we’re a bit bored and that we need some company!

In the dialogue, Mel tells Kim:

• I’ve got a few days off = I’m off work for a few days
• I’m at a bit of a loose end right now = I’m feeling bored / I have nothing to do

Here are some similar things you could say to make them accept your invitation:

• I’ve just baked a cake / made some tea.
• We’re having a few friends round = some friends will be visiting soon
• The garden’s really warm at the moment.
• I’ve just tidied the house.
• The kids are at school right now.

If you have no plans in place yet, you could also mention things that you would like to do. For these phrases, we tend to use past continuous patterns like “We were thinking of..”

• I was thinking of having a barbeque.
• We were thinking of throwing a party.
• We were thinking of having a get-together. (a get-together = a party / informal gathering)

Make your invitation

When English speakers invite people to visit or suggest meet ups, they often say “I was wondering if.. “ followed by a “would like” statement. This is a natural way to make friendly offers – like invitations:

To invite Kim to her home, Mel says:

I was wondering if you’d like to come over for a bit. = Would you like to visit me at home and stay for a while?

When making invitations, we don’t usually say “my house / my home”. Instead, we use casual phrases like “mine” and “my place”. We also prefer to say “come over” or “come round” instead of “visit”:

Here are some other common ways to invite someone to your home:

• Would you like to come over to mine / ours? = Do you want to come to my house / our place?
• Would you like to to come round to mine / ours? (same meaning)
• Do you fancy coming over/round to my place / our place? (same meaning)

Accepting invitations

If you “accept” someone’s invitation, it means you say “yes”!

We can also use these phrases to accept someone’s invitation:

• It’d be a pleasure! (It’d = It would)
• (I’d) love to!
• Why not? (That’s a great idea)
• Yeah, that’d be great! (that’d = that would)
• Absolutely!
• Sure!

In the dialogue, Mel adds an extra phrase to say she’s looking forward to the visit:

It’s a date! = We’re going to meet up – I can’t wait!

You could also use the phrases to say you’re excited about the event you’ve been invited to.

• Looking forward to it!
• Can’t wait!
• I’ll see you there!

I might be able to make it

Sometimes it’s hard to accept invitations 100% because of other plans or arrangements. In these situations, we need to let the other person know that we will try to come – but that we may cancel, be late, etc.

In the dialogue, Kim tells Mel that she may be a little late:

• I’ll aim for 4 = I will try to arrive at 4pm
• ..but I can’t promise it’ll be 4 on the dot. = but I may not be able to arrive at exactly 4pm
• Might be a teeny bit late, OK? = I might be a little bit late (teeny = tiny)

If you’re not completely sure you can meet someone somewhere or arrive on time, you can use these phrases to make this clear. We often follow up these expressions with “but..”, “unless” or “as long as” phrases:

• I might / I should be able to make it = I think I can come (“make it ” = come to this event / meeting)
• That should be OK = I think I can come
  • ..unless I’m busy with the kids.
  • ..but I’ll see what my schedule’s like.
  • ..as long as the traffic’s not too bad.

Or you can just say you’ll try to come:

• I’ll do my best. = I will try to be there
• I’ll try to make it. = I will try to be there

If the invitation is in the future, we also use “I’ll..” or “We’ll..” phrases to reassure:

• I’ll let you know closer to the time.
• I’ll get back to you in a few days. = I will contact you ..
• We’ll be in touch to confirm. = We will contact you.. (more formal)

Arranging a time to visit

If the other person accepts your invitation, you may need to suggest a good time for them to visit.

In the dialogue, Kim asks:

Will you be free around four?

Here are some useful phrases for suggesting suitable times:

• Would / will you be free around six?
• How does six o’clock sound? = Are you happy with 6.30pm?
• Would six o’clock be OK for you?

Kim suggests some times that she could visit:

• Well, what about if I drop round a bit later on? (drop round = visit for a short time)
• I could maybe pop round then. (pop round = visit for a short time)

And Mel replies:

4 o’clock works for me! = I’m happy with this time

You could also say:

• Perfect!
• 6 o’clock sounds great!
• Could we make it a bit later? (I can’t make that time – please suggest a later time)

Saying no to invitations (politely)

Sometimes, you may need to “turn down” an invitation – maybe because you’re busy. To say “no” to invitations politely, we usually say things like, “I’d really love to”, then “but”, and then your reason.

When Mel invites Kim round to her house, Kim says:

• I’d love to, but .. = yes, but..
• ..the thing is, = the problem is ..
• I’m a bit tied up, right now… = I’m busy at the moment

To turn down invitations politely, try making longer sentences with “I’m sorry, but..”, “I don’t think..” or “I’m afraid..”:

• I’m (really) sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to make it, I’m afraid.
• I’m afraid I can’t do that day at all.
• I’d love to, but I’ve already got plans, I’m afraid.

Invitation dialogue: transcript

Read the dialogue transcript while listening to the audio to understand each speaker’s tone and timing.

• Mel: Hey Kim, how you doing?
• Kim: Hey Mel, yeah pretty good. You?
• Mel: Yeah, yeah fine. Listen, I’ve got a few days off and I’m at a bit of a loose end right now, so I was wondering if you’d like to come over for a bit.
• Kim: Oh, thanks Mel. I’d love to, but the thing is, I’m a bit tied up, right now…
• Mel: Oh, I see. Well, don’t worry, then.
• Kim: We’ve got mum and dad here at the moment, so…
• Mel: Oh, no worries.
• Kim: Well, what about if I drop round a bit later on? Will you be free around 4? I could maybe pop round then.
• Mel: 4 o’clock works for me!
• Kim: Ok, I’ll aim for 4, but I can’t promise it’ll be 4 on the dot. Might be a teeny bit late, OK?
• Mel: No worries, just get here when you can. It’s a date!
• Kim: Ok, look gotta go now, so catch you later, yeah?
• Mel: Alright Kim, see you soon.

Vocabulary from the dialogue

• I was wondering (if) you’d like ..? = (a friendlier way to say “Do you want to..?)
• I’m at a bit of a loose end = I am feeling bored or restless / I have nothing to do.
• for a bit = for a while (maybe 30 mins or a few hours).
• the thing is = the reason / problem is this…
• I’m a bit tied up = I’m busy; I am doing something.
• 4 o’clock works for me = 4 o’clock is a good time for me.
• 4 on the dot = exactly 4 o’clock.
• a teeny bit late = a little bit late.

Useful English phrases for invitations

Open invitations

If friends can’t accept invitations, you might want to invite them for some time in the future, just to be friendly.

Phrases like “You’re always welcome” are “open invitations“, meaning: “You can visit us whenever you like!”

Use these phrases to make open invitations:

• Why don’t you come round some time?
• You’re always welcome!
• Feel free to pop round whenever (..you like).
• Don’t be a stranger! (Please don’t stop visiting!)

Inviting yourself

If you don’t get many invitations to people’s houses, you can always try inviting yourself! Try these phrases (they usually work!):

• Is it OK if I pop round? = Can I come and visit you?
• Can I drop in for a while? = Can I come to your place for a while?
• How about I swing by your way on my way back from work? Can I come and visit you after work? (“Swing by your way” = come to your house on my way to (or from) somewhere else)

Suggesting a stayover

If you’re inviting someone to stay at your place overnight, you can say:

• Would you like to stay over / sleep over?
• Do you want to stay the night?
• Why don’t you sleep over?
• We’d be more than happy to put you up. = We will be happy to let you sleep at our place if you want to (put someone up = let them sleep at your house)