Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

INVITATIONS

419

Invitations are concerned with offering someone an opportunity to do or share

something (usually pleasurable) with the speaker. The listener may accept or

reject the invitation.

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Speech acts | 701

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Would you like to 

419a

Would you like to

is often used to give invitations:

Katrina looked at him. ‘I’ve got the tickets. You’ve met Gloria and Sophie,

they’re coming. 

Would you like to come too?

’ The opera? He had never been.

Opera had never appealed to him.

A: 

Would you like to come to dinner on Friday night?

B: Oh, I’d love to, yeah.

(note the typical polite/friendly reply with love to)

Do you want to

419b

Do you want to

is also used for invitations. It is less formal than would you like to:

[A and B are discussing plays which are on at London theatres; ‘Antony and

Cleopatra

’ is a play by Shakespeare]

A: And when’s ‘Antony and Cleopatra’? Monday? 

B: We’re going Monday. 

A: Excellent. 

B: 

Do you want to come? 

A: I can’t cos of work.