A response and an optional continuation
First make clear whether you accept the invitation: That sounds lovely! accepts; Sorry, I can't declines. If useful, add a question, reason or alternative suggestion. Tone and relationships affect how brief an appropriate reply can be.
A response followed by a continuation helps keep a conversation going, but is not a compulsory grammatical pattern. Yes, please and No, thank you are complete polite replies to offers of refreshments or help.
That sounds lovely! I'll bring a cake.
That sounds lovely! I'll bring a cake.
Acceptance followed by a promise.
Sorry, I can't come on Tuesday. I'm at the gym.
Sorry, I can't come on Tuesday. I'm at the gym.
An apology, refusal and reason.
How to accept
Common acceptance formulas include That sounds great (good, nice, fun, lovely, perfect)!, Good idea!, Sure! and I'd love to (come). To evaluate an idea after sounds, use an adjective: That sounds great, not greatly. Adjectival well means healthy and does not convey 'a good idea' here.
Use Yes, please to accept an offer of refreshments or help. Please adds politeness. After accepting, a useful follow-up can ask about the time, place, other participants or what to bring.
That sounds + adjective! / Good idea! / Sure! / I'd love to.
- adjective —
- A word describing what someone or something is like: happy, tired, interesting.
Good idea! I'm free that evening.
Good idea! I'm free that evening.
Acceptance with confirmation that the evening is free.
That sounds perfect, thank you!
That sounds perfect, thank you!
Sounds + adjective, followed by thanks.
How to decline politely
Soften a refusal with I'm sorry, I'm afraid or Thanks, but, then say I can't come. Can't takes a base verb without to: I can't come.
A reason is optional; share only what you want to share. Thanks for inviting me, but I can't come is already a complete polite response. I'm afraid often sounds more restrained than Sorry. The appropriate tone depends on the situation.
I'm sorry, I can't + base verb without to. Optionally add a reason.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- V1 / base form —
- The base verb without to: work, go, be.
I'm afraid I can't come tonight. I have a headache.
I'm afraid I can't come tonight. I have a headache.
I'm afraid softens the refusal.
Thanks, but I have plans on Sunday.
Thanks, but I have plans on Sunday.
Thanks replaces an apology.
I'd love to, but …: interest followed by refusal
I'd love to, but… expresses a positive feeling about the idea before declining. The full form is I'd love to come. When the action is clear, omit come but retain to: I'd love to. I'd love it is also possible when it refers to a thing or situation, but follows a different structure.
Alternatives include I'd like to, but… and That sounds great, but…. But introduces the reason that determines the response, so the warm opening does not amount to acceptance.
I'd love to (+ base verb), but + reason.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- V1 / base form —
- The base verb without to: work, go, be.
I'd love to join you, but I have a test tomorrow.
I'd love to join you, but I have a test tomorrow.
Join explicitly names the action after to. The part after but explains why the speaker will not join.
That sounds great, but I'm working that night.
That sounds great, but I'm working that night.
A warm reaction followed by a refusal after but.
Reasons: four useful patterns
Four simple ways to explain a reason are I'm busy (on Thursday); I'm + -ing verb, I'm meeting a friend; I have + noun phrase, I have a doctor's appointment; and I have to + base verb, I have to pick up my brother.
Common errors include omitting be, as in I busy, or using -ing after have to, as in I have to working. Check each pattern separately.
I'm busy · I'm + -ing · I have + noun phrase · I have to + base verb
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- V1 / base form —
- The base verb without to: work, go, be.
- V-ing / -ing —
- The verb form ending in -ing: working, going. Its role depends on the construction.
- NP / noun phrase —
- A noun phrase: a noun with its dependent words, such as the new student; the pattern treats it as one group of words.
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
I'm busy on Thursday.
I'm busy on Thursday.
Be + adjective.
I'm meeting a friend at six.
I'm meeting a friend at six.
Present Continuous describes an arranged activity.
I have a doctor's appointment.
I have a doctor's appointment.
Have + noun phrase.
I have to pick up my brother.
I have to pick up my brother.
Have to + base verb.
Refreshments, help and 'another time'
Short replies to offers of refreshments or help can be Yes, please to accept, or No, thank you / No, thanks to decline politely. Add a reason after No, thanks if useful: I've just eaten.
Maybe another time or Maybe next week can gently decline the current invitation or suggest rescheduling. Maybe another time alone does not promise a future meeting. If you have not decided, say I'm not sure yet and, if needed, agree when you will reply.
Yes, please. / No, thank you. / Maybe another time.
No, thanks. I've just eaten.
No, thanks. I've just eaten.
A polite refusal of food with a reason.
Maybe next week? I'm free then.
Maybe next week? I'm free then.
Postponement with an alternative suggestion.
Tone and the rule's boundaries
Short replies can be enough among friends: Sorry, I can't. I'm working. With a manager or someone less familiar, it is often better to begin with thanks and use a polite formulation: Thank you for the invitation. I'm afraid I can't come.
This lesson practises responding to invitations. To make the initial suggestion, use patterns such as Shall we…?, Let's… or How about…?. After acceptance, people normally clarify the time and place.
Thank you for inviting me. Unfortunately, I can't come.
Thank you for inviting me. Unfortunately, I can't come.
A more formal tone.
Thanks for asking! I'm not free on Friday.
Thanks for asking! I'm not free on Friday.
A friendly but polite tone.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:I'd love to coming, but I have a class tonight.
Correct:I'd love to come, but I have a class tonight.
After would love to, use base-form come, not coming.
Incorrect:Sorry, I can't to come on Friday.
Correct:Sorry, I can't come on Friday.
Modal can't takes a base verb without to.
Incorrect:That sounds greatly! I'll come.
Correct:That sounds great! I'll come.
Use adjective great, not adverb greatly, to evaluate the idea after sounds.
Incorrect:I'm sorry, I don't can come.
Correct:I'm sorry, I can't come.
Form the negative of can with can't, without auxiliary do.
Incorrect:I'd love to, but I busy on Sunday.
Correct:I'd love to, but I'm busy on Sunday.
The adjective busy needs be: I'm busy.
Incorrect:Thank you, but I have to working.
Correct:Thank you, but I have to work.
After have to, use a base verb without -ing.