In Canada and the United States, people enjoy entertaining(请客)at home. They often invite friends over for a meal, a party, or just for coffee and conversation.
Here are the kinds of things people say when they invite someone to their home:
" Would you like to come over for dinner on Saturday night? "
" Hey, we're having a party on Friday. Can you come'? "
To reply to an invitation, either say thank you and accept(接受), or say you're sorry and give an excuse(借口):
" Thanks, I'd love to. What time would you like me to come?" or " Oh, sorry. I've tickets for a movie." Sometimes, however, people use expressions(措辞)that sound like invitations, but which are not real invitations(邀请). For example:
" Please come over for a drink sometime? "
" Why not get together for a party sometime? "
"Why don't you come over and see us sometime soon?"
They are really just polite ways of ending a conversation. They are not real invitations because they don't tell time or date. They just show that the person is trying to be friendly. To reply to expressions like these, people just say: "Sure, that would be nice!" or "OK. Yes, thanks."
So next time when you hear what sounds like an invitation. Is it a real invitation or is the person just being friendly?
【小题1】 Why do Canadians and Americans often invite friends for meals at home?

In Canada and the United States, people enjoy entertaining(请客) at home. They often invites friends for a meal, a party or just for coffee and conversation.
Here are the kinds of things people say when they invite someone to their homes: “Would you like to come over for dinner this Saturday night?” “Hey, we’re having a party on Friday. Can you come?”
To answer an invitation, either say thank you and accept or say you are sorry and give an excuse. “Thanks, I’d love to. What time would you like me to come?” or “ Oh, sorry. I’ve tickets for a movie.”
Sometimes, however, people in the west use expressions(语句) that sound like invitation but which are not real invitation. For example, “Please come over for a drink sometime.” “Why not get together for a party sometime?” or “Why don’t you come over and see us sometime soon?” They are really polite ways of ending a conversation. They are not real invitations because they don’t mention(提到、涉及) a certain time or date. They just show that the person is trying to be friendly. To answer expressions like this, people just say, “Sure, that would be great!” or “OK! Thanks.”
So next time when you hear what sounds like an invitation, listen carefully. Is it a real invitation or is the person just being friendly?
【小题1】Why do Canadians and Americans often invite friends for meals at home?