How to Extend (or Decline) an Invitation in French

There are a number of different ways to extend, accept, and refuse invitations in French, with a tone that is either formal or informal.   The verb choice, word choice, and sentence structure  all play a big part in how invitations and responses are expressed. Role of Verb Tense and Mood, Person, Tone, and Structure Formal: In more formal invitations and responses, the speakers seek the highest standards of politeness and so choose sentences using the very polite conditional mood in the main clause. Whats more, the polite vous of the main verb is preferred, and the language is more elevated throughout.  Sentences also tend to be more complex in more formal communications. Informal: In informal invitations and responses, the simple present tense in any part of the sentence or phrase  is adequate to convey the intended message, meaning, and casual mood. Whats more, the main verb uses the informal tu form, and the language is light and often breezy.  Sentences or phrases tend to be short and to the point. Extending an Invitation In the phrases that follow, the blank ___ must be filled with an infinitive in French. In English, however, youd add either an infinitive or a gerund—depending on the verb that precedes it. Again, notice the difference in sentence structure for formal versus informal invitations and responses. Vous nous feriez trà ¨s plaisir si vous pouviez nous consacrer une soirà ©e. (formal) We would be delighted if you could spend an evening with us.Nous serions trà ¨s heureux de vous accueillir chez nous. (formal)   We would be very happy to welcome you to our home.Je vous invite à   ___ (formal) /  Je tinvite à   ___  (informal)   I invite you to ___Êtes-vous libre ? (formal) /  Tu es libre ? (informal) Are you free?Avez-vous envie de ___ (formal)   Do you want to ___?Tu as envie de ___ ?  (formal)   Do you feel like ___?Ça te dit de ___ ? (informal)   How does ___ sound?Et si on (mange, voit un film)  ?  (informal)   How about (eating, seeing a movie)?Venez donc ___ (formal) /  Viens donc ___  Ã‚  Come and ___Rà ©ponse souhaità ©eRSVP  (Rà ©pondez sil vous plaà ®t) Accepting an Invitation   Bonne idà ©e  ! (informal)   Good idea!Ça va à ªtre gà ©nial  ! (informal)   Thatll be cool!Ça va à ªtre sympa  ! (informal)  Ã‚  Thatll be nice!Cela me ferait grand plaisir.   I would be delighted.Cest gentil (de votre part).   Thats kind (of you).Daccord.   OK.Jaccepte avec plaisir.   I accept with pleasure. / Ill be happy to come.Je viendrai avec plaisir.   I will be glad to come.Je vous remercie. I  thank you. / Thank you.Oui, je suis libre.   Yes, Im free. Declining an Invitation Je me vois malheureusement obligà © de refuser. (formal)  Ã‚  Unfortunately, Im obliged to decline.Cest dommage, mais ___  Ã‚  Its too bad, but ___Cest gentil, mais ___  Ã‚  Thats kind, but ___Dà ©solà ©, mais ___  Ã‚  Im sorry, but ___Jai quelque chose de prà ©vu.   I have something planned.Je ne peux pas.   I cant.Je ne peux pas me libà ©rer.   Im unavoidably busyJe ne suis pas libre.   Ã‚  Im not freeJe suis occupà ©.   Im busy.Je suis pris.   Im otherwise engaged. Invitation-Related Verbs accepter (avec plaisir)   to accept  (gladly, with pleasure)  accueillir to welcomeinviter   to inviteune invitation   invitationrefuser   to decline