Yes or No? Replying to a Party Invitation
Read a birthday invitation and write two short replies: one accepting and one saying sorry, you can't come.
- Time
- 15 min
- Length
- 50-70 words
Writadia · A2 · Notes & messages
NameClassDate
The situation
You get this message from your classmate Leo:
Hi everyone! It's my birthday next Saturday and I'm having a party at my house from 6 to 10 pm. There will be pizza, music and games. Can you come? Please tell me by Wednesday. Also, can anyone bring some drinks? Leo
Your task
Write two short replies to Leo.
- Say yes. Thank him, say what you will bring and ask a question about the party.
- Say no. Say sorry, explain why you can't come and suggest another time to meet.
Writing toolkit
Open these only when you need them. Try the first draft on your own.
Plan it in steps
- Read the invitation and underline the questions.
- In reply 1, accept and offer to bring something.
- In reply 2, apologise and give a reason.
- Keep each reply short: four or five sentences.
Useful phrases
Saying yes
Saying no
Suggesting
Closing
Tap a phrase to add it to your text. Gaps (…) are selected so you can type over them.
Vocabulary
- invitation
- a message asking you to come to an eventThanks for the invitation.
- I'm afraid
- a polite way to give bad newsI'm afraid I can't come.
- bring
- take something with you to a placeCan you bring some music?
- suggest
- give an ideaI suggest a film on Sunday.
Model answer (84 words)
Read it after you’ve written your own version. Notice the highlighted parts. The numbers explain why they work.
Reply 1
Hi Leo,
Thanks for the invitation! I'd love to come.1 I can bring some orange juice and lemonade. Is it OK if I come at 6:30? I have a piano lesson until 6.
See you on Saturday! Mert
Reply 2
Hi Leo,
Thanks for inviting me, but I'm afraid I can't come.2 My family is visiting my aunt in Ankara that weekend. I'm really sorry!
How about going to the cinema together on Sunday next week?3 Have a great party!
Mert
- Accept clearly in the first two sentences.
- "I'm afraid" softens the bad news.
- Suggest another plan so Leo knows you still care.
Teacher notes
Pragmatics: many learners write only "I can't come." Show how a reason and a suggestion change the feeling of the message.
Role play extension: students write their own invitation and swap. Each student must reply to two invitations.
Extra challenge
Write your own invitation to a class picnic. Include the day, time, place and one thing everyone should bring.
Lesson plan
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 6 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: invitation, I'm afraid, bring, suggest.
- 7 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “Thanks for the invitation!”, “I'd love to come.”, “I can bring some juice and lemonade.”.
- 15 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (50-70 words)
- 5 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 2 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
Assessment rubric
| Criterion | 4 · Excellent | 3 · Good | 2 · Developing | 1 · Beginning | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task | All the requested information is there. | One point is missing. | Several points are missing. | Little connection to the task. | |
| Organisation | Sentences in order; and, but, because used well. | Mostly in order. | Order is confusing. | Unconnected sentences. | |
| Vocabulary | Topic words used; most spelled correctly. | Simple but enough. | A lot of repetition and spelling errors. | Words do not carry the meaning. | |
| Grammar and mechanics | Capitals, full stops and basic tenses correct. | A few errors, meaning clear. | Frequent errors, meaning sometimes lost. | Hard to understand. | |
| Total | / 16 | ||||
Each criterion scores 1–4 (total 16). Use the task checklist below to tick what the student actually did.
Task checklist
- Reply 1 says yes, offers something and asks a question.
- Reply 2 says sorry, gives a reason and suggests another time.
Teacher comment
Peer-review sheet
Students swap texts and give each other feedback with this sheet.
Before you finish
Before you finish
- Reply 1 says yes, offers something and asks a question.
- Reply 2 says sorry, gives a reason and suggests another time.
Writadia · A2 · Notes & messages
Assessment rubric: Yes or No? Replying to a Party Invitation
| Criterion | 4 · Excellent | 3 · Good | 2 · Developing | 1 · Beginning | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task | All the requested information is there. | One point is missing. | Several points are missing. | Little connection to the task. | |
| Organisation | Sentences in order; and, but, because used well. | Mostly in order. | Order is confusing. | Unconnected sentences. | |
| Vocabulary | Topic words used; most spelled correctly. | Simple but enough. | A lot of repetition and spelling errors. | Words do not carry the meaning. | |
| Grammar and mechanics | Capitals, full stops and basic tenses correct. | A few errors, meaning clear. | Frequent errors, meaning sometimes lost. | Hard to understand. | |
| Total | / 16 | ||||
Each criterion scores 1–4 (total 16). Use the task checklist below to tick what the student actually did.
Task checklist
- Reply 1 says yes, offers something and asks a question.
- Reply 2 says sorry, gives a reason and suggests another time.
Teacher comment
Writadia · A2 · Notes & messages
Peer-review sheet: Yes or No? Replying to a Party Invitation
WriterReviewer
Read your partner’s text carefully. Be kind and specific: say why, not just “good”.
Task checklist
| Yes | Partly | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reply 1 says yes, offers something and asks a question. | |||
| Reply 2 says sorry, gives a reason and suggests another time. |
Questions
- Does the text give all the information asked for?
- Does every sentence start with a capital and end with a full stop?
- Did the writer use and, but or because? Copy one example.
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Writadia · A2 · Notes & messages
Lesson plan: Yes or No? Replying to a Party Invitation
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 6 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: invitation, I'm afraid, bring, suggest.
- 7 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “Thanks for the invitation!”, “I'd love to come.”, “I can bring some juice and lemonade.”.
- 15 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (50-70 words)
- 5 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 2 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
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