That helps you find the words for some everyday situations.

My name's William Kramer in recent programs.

We've been talking about how to make and accept invitations.

Listen to this clip.

It's of Dermot inviting Catherine to have a pint of beer with him after work.

Do you fancy going for a pint?

Catherine?

Oh, I'd love to.

What time Catherine says that she'd love to go.

So she's accepting Dermot invitation.

But what does Catherine say when I ask her out for a drink?

William, I'd love to but I'm really busy right now.

Catherine says I'd love to but I'm really busy right now, so Catherine can't come for a drink because she's really busy.

She's declining my invitation, she's saying no to my invitation.

Now, the language of that clip is very similar to the clip where she accepts Dermot invitation.

In both clips, she says I'd love to but there are two clues that tell you that she is declining my invitation firstly, her tone of voice, she sounds very sad, secondly, she says that she's really busy.

This is the reason why she can't come out for a drink with me.

Listen again, William, I'd love to but I'm really busy right now when we decline invitations, it's polite to give a reason why we can't accept them in the next clip.

What is the reason why Hina can't come for a drink with me.

Oh well I'd like to but I'm actually going to the cinema with a friend after work.

Well, she said I'd like to but I'm actually going to the cinema oh well I'd like to but I'm actually going to the cinema with a friend after work.

So that's a very simple way to decline an invitation I'd like to but or I'd love to but practice declining some invitations using these words but be sure to give a good reason I'd like to but I'm actually going to watch Tv is not a good way to decline an invitation.

BBC Learning english dot com.

So so far I haven't had much luck finding someone to have a drink with me after Hina declined my invitation.

I asked calum if he wanted a pint after work.

Oh no sorry I've got to meet someone.

Then maybe another time he said I've got to meet someone I've got two is an informal way of saying I have to.

So Callum can't come for a drink because he has to meet someone later.

I don't know if I believe Callum but if he is telling the truth then he has no choice.

He's got to meet someone so he can't come for a drink with me.

Oh no sorry I've I've got to meet someone then maybe another time notice that in english it isn't rude to say no if you can't do something.

In fact it's often best to be clear when we're making arrangements but Callum does say sorry.

Which is polite when we're declining an invitation.

What's the phrase that he uses at the end?

Oh, no, sorry, I've I've got to meet someone.

Then maybe another time.

Callum says maybe another time he's suggesting that we go for a drink on another day when he isn't busy.

Maybe another time if I often go for a drink after work, he could also say maybe next time now if I asked calum to come to my wedding, I do hope he wouldn't say, oh no, sorry, I've got to meet someone.

Then maybe another time in general.

If you decline an invitation to a bigger or a more important event, you'll probably take longer to explain why you can't come and to show how much you'd like to come.

If only you could.

I asked him to come to my house for dinner.

Listen to how he declined my invitation.

I'd love to will, but sadly, I'm actually going out for a meal with my girlfriend.

I really appreciate the invite, but sorry, I can't make it tim sounds so sad that I almost believe his excuse.

Tim also uses two useful phrases.

I really appreciate the invite, but sorry, I can't make it.

I really appreciate the invite.

That's like saying thanks for inviting me.

Tim's using invite as a noun instead of the word invitation.

This is very informal.

Modern english.

I really appreciate the invite, he says, but sorry, I can't make it.

I can't make it is also informal.

English.

And it means I can't come to a meeting or an event.

I can't make it.

So what do you think?

Do I need to find some new friends?

I mean when one person declines your invitation, it's a bit disappointing.

But when four people do it in a row you start to worry.

Maybe it's something I said, or maybe I did something that they didn't like or maybe somebody said something BBC learning english dot com.