Course Content All Lessons
A1
Beginner
39 lessons
Common Greetings Present Simple Tense Listening Skills: Tips and Strategies Telephone and Video Call English Articles: A, An and The Numbers, Dates and Time Asking Simple Questions The Verb To Be Classroom and School Vocabulary Personal Pronouns: I, You, He, She Plurals: Regular and Irregular Nouns Possessives: My, Your, His, Her Family Members and Relationships Food and Drink Basics Days, Months and Seasons Reading: A Short Email to a Friend Colours, Shapes and Sizes Reading: Short Personal Profiles Reading: Signs and Notices Reading: Product Labels Using Capital Letters and Full Stops Reading: A Simple Menu Reading: A Basic Timetable Writing Your First Email in English Writing About Yourself Writing a Simple Message Writing a Shopping List Writing Numbers and Dates Correctly Listening: Numbers and Prices Listening: Greetings and Introductions Listening: Simple Instructions Listening: Spelling Names and Words Greeting People and Saying Goodbye Listening: Days and Times Listening: Short Conversations at a Shop Asking for Directions Introducing Yourself in English Ordering Food and Drinks Talking About Your Daily Routine
A2
Elementary
41 lessons
Past Simple Tense Reading: A Day in London Writing Paragraphs Food and Drink Vocabulary The Present Continuous Tense Describing People: Appearance and Personality At the Airport Reading: A Famous City Writing Simple Sentences Comparatives and Superlatives Simple Past Tense: Regular Verbs Simple Past Tense: Irregular Verbs Can and Can't: Ability and Permission How Much and How Many Work and Jobs Vocabulary Transport and Travel Vocabulary Sports and Hobbies Health and Body Parts Shopping and Money Vocabulary Reading: A Short News Story Reading: A Holiday Postcard Reading: A Job Advertisement Reading: A Simple Recipe Reading: A Hotel Review Writing About Your Weekend Writing a Postcard Writing a Short Biography Using Connectors: And, But, Because Writing a To-Do List and Notes Listening: At the Airport Listening: A Phone Conversation Listening: Weather Forecasts Listening: Announcements Listening: Describing a Picture At the Airport: Conversations Describing Where You Live Listening: A Short Interview Making and Refusing Invitations Shopping Conversations in English Talking About Past Events Talking About Your Family
B1
Intermediate
33 lessons
Reading: The Future of Work Understanding Accents and Dialects Countable and Uncountable Nouns The Present Perfect Tense Phrasal Verbs: Top 30 Health and Medicine Vocabulary Listening Strategies for Podcasts Job Interview English Writing a Formal Letter First and Second Conditional Modal Verbs: Should, Must, Might Environment and Nature Vocabulary Passive Voice in Present and Past Gerunds and Infinitives Reading: Understanding Charts and Graphs Business and Work Vocabulary Technology and the Internet Feelings and Emotions Vocabulary Reading: A Newspaper Article Reading: A Book Review Reading: An Informal Blog Post Reading: A Travel Guide Extract Reading: A Science Article Writing a Complaint Email Listening: A Job Interview Writing a Book or Film Review Writing an Informal Email to a Friend Paragraph Writing: Structure and Cohesion Describing Graphs and Charts in Writing Listening: A Radio Programme Expressing Opinions and Agreeing Giving a Short Presentation Listening: A Lecture Extract
B2
Upper Intermediate
36 lessons
Business Email Writing Reading: The Art of Listening Passive Voice Discourse Markers and Linking Words Academic Writing: Paragraphs and Essays Debate and Discussion Language Reading: Understanding Opinion Pieces Relative Clauses: Defining and Non-defining Third Conditional and Mixed Conditionals Academic Vocabulary: Word Families Inversion for Emphasis Cleft Sentences for Emphasis Reading: Academic Journal Extracts Environment and Climate Change Vocabulary Idioms and Fixed Expressions Politics and Society Vocabulary Collocations: Common Verb-Noun Pairs Prefixes and Suffixes for Word Building Reading: A Research Summary Reading: A Financial News Article Reading: Identifying Bias in Media Reading: Literary Prose Extracts Summarising and Paraphrasing Writing an Argumentative Essay Writing a Report Writing a Cover Letter Listening: News Broadcasts Expressing Complex Opinions Writing a Formal Proposal Listening: Debates and Panel Discussions Listening: Interviews with Experts Listening: TED-style Talks Listening: Academic Lectures Listening: Documentaries Dealing with Difficult Questions Giving a Formal Presentation
C1
Advanced
25 lessons
Nominalisation in Academic English Advanced English Idioms Hedging Language in Formal Writing Advanced Collocations and Word Partnerships Reported Speech Critical Listening: Analysing Arguments Persuasive Speaking and Rhetoric Reading: Literary and Cultural Texts Advanced Passive Structures Subjunctive Mood in Formal English Advanced Conditionals and Wishes Concession and Contrast Structures Formal and Informal Register False Friends and Confusing Words Idioms in Professional Contexts Reading: Philosophical Arguments Nuance: Near Synonyms and Subtle Differences Reading: Scientific Research Papers Reading: Historical Texts Reading: Legal and Official Documents Reading: Satire and Irony Writing a Dissertation Abstract Advanced Punctuation and Style Critical Writing and Analysis Writing for Publication
Lessons Speaking
🎉

Making and Refusing Invitations

Speaking Elementary ~2 min

Confidently invite people to events and politely accept or decline invitations in everyday English situations.

📖 Lesson

What You Will Learn

In this lesson, you'll learn natural phrases for inviting friends, colleagues, and family to activities — and how to say yes or no in a friendly way. These are skills you'll use constantly in real life!

Explanation (with real-life context)

Invitations happen everywhere: at work ("Want to grab lunch?"), with friends ("Are you coming to my birthday?"), at social events, or online. The key is being clear about what you're inviting someone to and making them feel welcome to accept or refuse without awkwardness.

When you refuse, you don't say "No, I don't want to." That's rude! Instead, you give a reason and apologize. This keeps the relationship friendly.

Examples (natural sentences from daily life)

Making Invitations:
- "Would you like to come to my birthday party on Saturday?"
- "Do you want to join us for coffee after work?"
- "I'm having some friends over — can you make it?"
- "Are you free this weekend? We could go to the cinema."

Accepting:
- "Yes, I'd love to! Thanks for inviting me."
- "Sure! What time should I arrive?"
- "That sounds great. Count me in!"

Refusing (politely):
- "I'd love to, but I'm busy that day. Sorry!"
- "Thanks for asking, but I can't make it. Rain check?"
- "I appreciate the invite, but I have another commitment."
- "I wish I could, but I have to work late."

Common Mistakes

❌ "No, I don't want." — Too direct and unkind!
✅ "Thanks for asking, but I can't make it." — Shows appreciation

❌ "Do you come to my party?" — Wrong question form
✅ "Would you like to come to my party?" — Polite and correct

❌ Just saying "No" — Seems rude without explanation
✅ "No, thanks. I'm busy that day." — Friendly and clear

Quick Tips

• Always say "thank you" when someone invites you, even if you refuse
• Give a reason when you can't go — it makes people feel better
• Offer an alternative: "I can't make Saturday, but what about Sunday?"
• Respond quickly — don't leave people waiting for your answer

Follow Along reads paragraph by paragraph with highlighting. Hover underlined words for quick definitions.

🃏 Key Vocabulary — tap to flip

17 words
to fancy
/ˈfænsi/
Elementary
Tap to see definition →
Definition
British English: to want to do something; to feel like doing something.
"Do you fancy a cup of tea?"
Tap to flip back
to make it
/meɪk ɪt/
Elementary
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Definition
To be able to attend or arrive at an event or meeting on time.
"Can you make it to the party on Saturday?"
Tap to flip back
to count someone in
/kaʊnt ɪn/
Elementary
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Definition
To include someone as a participant; to confirm someone will attend.
"You can count me in for the camping trip!"
Tap to flip back
raincheck
/ˈreɪntʃek/
Elementary
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Definition
A promise to do something at a later time when you can't do it now.
"I can't come today, but can I take a raincheck for next week?"
Tap to flip back
prior engagement
/ˈpraɪər ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/
Elementary
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Definition
A formal way to say you already have another planned appointment or commitment.
"I cannot attend because I have a prior engagement that evening."
Tap to flip back
to appreciate
/əˈpriːʃieɪt/
Elementary
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Definition
To feel grateful or thankful for something someone has done.
"I really appreciate you inviting me, but I can't make it."
Tap to flip back
invitation
/ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/
Elementary
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Definition
A request or offer asking someone to come to an event or do something with you
"She sent me an invitation to her wedding next month."
Tap to flip back
politely refuse
/pəˈlaɪtli rɪˈfjuːz/
Elementary
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Definition
To say no in a respectful way that doesn't hurt someone's feelings
"He politely refused the dessert because he was full."
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count me in
/kaʊnt mi ɪn/
Elementary
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Definition
A casual way to say you want to join or participate in something
"Are you going to the game? Count me in!"
Tap to flip back
make it
/meɪk ɪt/
Elementary
Tap to see definition →
Definition
To be able to attend or arrive at an event or meeting
"I'm sorry, I can't make it to dinner. I have to work late."
Tap to flip back
grab
/ɡræb/
Elementary
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Definition
To get or do something quickly, usually used for food or a quick meeting
"Do you want to grab lunch between meetings?"
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other plans
/ˈʌðər plænz/
Elementary
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Definition
Something you've already arranged to do at that time
"Sorry, I can't come Friday. I have other plans."
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that sounds great
/ðæt saʊndz ɡreɪt/
Elementary
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Definition
A phrase showing you think something is interesting or enjoyable
"That sounds great! When should I arrive?"
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accept
/əkˈsɛpt/
Elementary
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Definition
To say yes and agree to something offered to you
"I accepted the job offer and start next week."
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decline
/dɪˈklaɪn/
Elementary
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Definition
To politely say no to an offer or invitation
"She declined the invitation because she was already busy."
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commitment
/kəˈmɪtmənt/
Elementary
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Definition
A promise or responsibility to do something at a specific time
"I have a work commitment on Friday, so I can't come."
Tap to flip back
rain check
/reɪn tʃɛk/
Elementary
Tap to see definition →
Definition
A promise to do something together at a later time instead
"I'm busy today, but can we take a rain check for next week?"
Tap to flip back

✏️ Fill in the Blank

Type the missing word to complete each sentence.

I can't come today, but can I take a ___ for next week?
I cannot attend because I have a ___ that evening.
She sent me an ___ to her wedding next month.
Are you going to the game? ___!
I'm sorry, I can't ___ to dinner. I have to work late.

✅ Check Your Understanding

Quick Check
3 questions · no login needed

1. Which sentence is the BEST way to politely refuse an invitation?

2. Your friend says, 'Would you like to come to my birthday party?' What is a natural way to accept this invitation?

3. You cannot attend your colleague's dinner party because you have to work late. How should you refuse politely?

🧠 Practice Quizzes

Test Your Knowledge: Making and Refusing Invitations
5 questions · 10 min
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