Intermediate· B1–B2Social & small talk8 min

Declining an invitation politely

Say no to an invitation kindly, give a short reason and suggest another time.

The scene

A coworker invites you to a dinner party on Friday, but you already have plans and you are also tired from a long week. You want to say no without hurting their feelings.

Speaker A
Coworker
Speaker B
You

Your goals

  • Thank the person before saying no
  • Give a short, honest reason
  • Suggest an alternative to keep the relationship warm

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

  • invitation

    a request to come to an event

    Thanks for the invitation!

  • to decline

    to say no politely

    I'm afraid I'll have to decline.

  • to make it

    to be able to attend

    I can't make it on Friday.

  • prior commitment

    an arrangement you made earlier

    I have a prior commitment that night.

  • rain check

    an offer to do something at a later time (informal)

    Can I take a rain check?

  • to make it up to someone

    to do something nice because you disappointed them

    Let me make it up to you.

  • thoughtful

    kind and considerate

    That's so thoughtful of you.

Useful phrases

  • Thanks so much for inviting me.

    Showing appreciation first

  • I'd love to, but …

    Softening a refusal

  • I'm afraid I can't make it.

    Saying no politely

  • Can I take a rain check?

    Suggesting another time informally

  • Let me know about the next one.

    Showing you want to be invited again

  • Have a great time!

    Ending warmly

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

  1. Coworker

    Hey, I'm having a few people over for dinner on Friday. Would you like to come?

  2. You

    Oh, thanks so much for inviting me! That's really thoughtful.

  3. Coworker

    It'll be pretty relaxed. Just a few people from work and some friends.

  4. You

    I'd love to, but I'm afraid I can't make it. I already promised my sister I'd help her move on Saturday morning.

  5. Coworker

    Oh, that's a shame. Is Friday night completely impossible?

  6. You

    Honestly, I need an early night before moving boxes all day. Can I take a rain check?

  7. Coworker

    Of course. We do these dinners every couple of months.

  8. You

    Great, please let me know about the next one. I'd really like to come.

  9. Coworker

    I will. Good luck with the move!

  10. You

    Thanks! Have a great time on Friday, and let me make it up to you with coffee next week.

You speak 5 lines as You; Coworker is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

  1. 1. Decline an invitation to a party and give a short reason.

  2. 2. Suggest a different time or activity instead.

  3. 3. Explain how you usually say no to invitations in your culture.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

  1. 1. What should you usually say before declining?
  2. 2. What does 'Can I take a rain check?' mean?
  3. 3. Which sentence declines politely?
  4. 4. 'I can't make it' means…

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

  • Avoid: I can't come because I don't want.

    Say: I'd love to, but I'm afraid I can't make it this time.

    Being too direct can sound rude; soften your answer.

  • Avoid: Thank you for invite me.

    Say: Thank you for inviting me.

    After 'for', use the -ing form.

  • Avoid: Maybe I will come, maybe not.

    Say: I'm afraid I can't make it, but let me know about the next one.

    A clear answer is kinder than an unclear one.

Tips

  • Use the pattern: thanks, refusal with a soft word, short reason, alternative.
  • You do not need to give a long excuse. One honest sentence is enough.
  • Reply quickly so the host can plan.

Questions about this lesson

How do you say no politely in English?

Try 'Thanks so much for inviting me. I'd love to, but I'm afraid I can't make it.' Then suggest another time.

What does 'rain check' mean?

Taking a rain check means accepting an invitation for a later time instead of now: 'Can I take a rain check on dinner?'

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

Next lesson: Disagreeing politely in a discussion

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