Unit 6: Are you up for...?
– Making invitations
– Declining politely
Part 1
Vocabulary
Read the sentences below about things to do on a weekend night.
Check (✅) the sentences that are true for you.
_______ 1. On Friday and Saturday nights, I’m usually up for going out.
_______ 2. I like to catch a movie with my friends once a week or more.
_______ 3. I like to get a bite to eat with friends at least once a week.
_______ 4. When I’m really busy, but I’ll try to swing by for a little while.
_______ 5. I like to try out new restaurants whenever I can.
_______ 6. I’m usually really beat after work or school, so I don’t go during the weekdays.
_______ 7. on some nights, I’m just not in the mood to go out, so I stay home .
Rephrase each of the sentences, using different expressions in place of the bolded phrases.
Example: 1. On Friday and Saturday nights, I usually want to go out.
Example answers:
- On Friday and Saturday nights, I usually want to go out.
- I like to go to (watch) a movie with my friends once a week and more.
- I like to go out to eat with my friends at least once a week.
- I'm really busy, but I'll try to come for a little while.
- I like to go to new restaurants whenever I can.
- I'm usually really tired after work or school, so I don't go during the weekdays.
- On some nights, I just don't feel like going out, so I stay home.
What you like to do on weekend nights?
Part 2
Conversation
Listen and answer 2 questions.
1. Why do Max and Lia decline Bruno’s invitations?
2. Where is Bruno going to go for dinner?
Bruno, Lia, Max, Paul
Transcript
Bruno: Hey, Max. Are you up for going out tonight? I was thinking we could try out the new Italian restaurant on Market Street.
Max: I’m not really in the mood to go out, actually. I’m pretty beat.
Bruno: Hi, Lia. What do you say we try out the new Italian place?
Lia: I really wish I could, but I have to study for an exam.
Bruno: Hey, Paul. Are you in the mood to get a bite to eat tonight?
Paul: Sure! That sounds great! I don’t feel like cooking tonight. Hmmm, how about Thai food?
Bruno: Sure, I’ll eat anything at this point.
Example answer
- Max doesn't go with Bruno because he is tired, and Lia declines Bruno's invitation because she has to study for an exam.
- Bruno is going to go to a Thai restaurant for dinner.
Practice the conversation with teacher
Find the best places to add the sentences below to the conversation and practice it again.
I’ve heard that It’s great!
I am a bit overwhelmed.
I worked ten hours today.
I’m starving!
Bruno: Hey, Max. Are you up for going out tonight? I was thinking we could try out the new Italian restaurant on Market Street. ___________
Max: I’m not really in the mood to go out, actually. I’m pretty beat. __________
Bruno: Hi, Lia. What do you say we try out the new Italian place?
Lia: I really wish I could, but I have to study for an exam. ___________
Bruno: Hey, Paul. Are you in the mood to get a bite to eat tonight?
Paul: Sure! That sounds great! I don’t feel like cooking tonight. Hmmm, how about Thai food?
Bruno: Sure, I’ll eat anything at this point. ___________
Answers
Bruno: Hey, Max. Are you up for going out tonight? I was thinking we could try out the new Italian restaurant on Market Street. (1) I'v heard that it's great!
Max: I’m not really in the mood to go out, actually. I’m pretty beat. (3) I worked ten hours today.
Bruno: Hi, Lia. What do you say we try out the new Italian place?
Lia: I really wish I could, but I have to study for an exam. (2) I am a bit overwhelmed.
Bruno: Hey, Paul. Are you in the mood to get a bite to eat tonight?
Paul: Sure! That sounds great! I don’t feel like cooking tonight. Hmmm, how about Thai food?
Bruno: Sure, I’ll eat anything at this point. (4) I'm starving!
Part 3
Language Booster
Notice the different ways we make invitations and decline politely.
Making invitations
Are you up for (going out tonight)?
Are you in the mood to…?
How about…?
What do you say we try out the…?
Do you feel like…?
How does … sound?
Declining politely
I’m not sure I’m up for that tonight.
I really wish I could, but I have to (study for an exam).
I’m not really in the mood to go out, actually.
That sounds really fun, but I’m afraid I have other plans.
Invite the teacher to do something tonight. The teacher politely declines.
Then, have the teacher invite the student to do something, and the student politely declines.
Example conversation
Teacher: Are you in the mood to attend the school event tonight?Student: I really wish I could, but I have to study for a test. Perhaps another time?
Part 4
Listening
Listen to people making and responding to invitations.
What are they inviting people to do?
Number the pictures from 1 to 4.
Sample answer
a. 2
b. 4
c. 1
d. 3
Listen again.
Why does each person decline the invitation?
1. ________________________________________
2. ________________________________________
3. ________________________________________
4. ________________________________________
Transcript
1. A: Hi, Ellen. How are you?
B: Hi, Daniel. I’m great! What’s up?
A: I was just wondering…do you feel like listening to live music tonight? I have an extra ticket to the symphony.
B: That sounds really fun, but I’m afraid I have other plans. I’m going to see a movie with Tina tonight.
A: Oh, what movie are you seeing?
B: We’re going to see Night of the Lake Creature.
A: Oh, I heard that’s really scary. Have a great time!
B: Thanks. Enjoy the concert!
2. A: Hey, are you up for catching a movie tonight?
B: I’m not sure I’m up for that tonight. I’m pretty beat.
A: Oh, why are you so tired?
B: Well, I had three classes today, and I had to work for four hours afterward.
A: Wow, yeah, you must be exhausted. Well, how about tomorrow night?
B: Yeah, tomorrow night sounds good. I have the whole day off tomorrow.
A: Great! Let’s meet at the theater at 7:00.
B: Sounds good. See you then!
3. A: What do you think about going to Ken’s house with me tonight? We’re going to play video games.
B: Oh, does he have that new game he was going to get?
A: Yeah, he bought it yesterday.
B: I really wish I could, but I have to work tonight.
A: That’s too bad. What time do you get off work?
B: I work until 10:00. Will you still be playing then?
A: Probably. Last time we played until 2:00 in the morning.
B: All right. Maybe I can swing by after work.
4. A: Hi, Maria. What do you say we try out the new restaurant down the street tonight? I’ve heard it’s really good.
B: Hey, Kim, I’m not sure I’m up for that tonight. I don’t really feel well.
A: Oh, no! What’s wrong? Are you sick?
B: Yeah, I think I have a cold.
A: Do you have a fever?
B: No, no fever. I just have a headache and a stuffy nose. And I’m kind of achy.
A: That’s terrible. I’ll bring you some chicken soup.
B: You don’t have to do that.
A: It’s really no problem. I’ll see you in half an hour.
B: Thanks, Kim. That’s really sweet of you.
Sample answer
- She's going to see a movie with Tina.
- She's tired.
- He has to work.
- She feels sick./She has a cold.
Part 5
Speak with confidence
Say a reason why you might decline each of the invitations below.
try out the new cafe downtown
take in a play on Friday evening
catch a movie on Saturday afternoon
Discuss these questions below
Why is it important to be polite when declining an invitation?
What strategies can you use to make an invitation more appealing?
What activities are you usually up for when invited?
How can declining an invitation affect friendships?
What would you do if you accidentally double-booked plans?
How do you feel about last-minute invitations?