如火的7月，大家的情绪疯狂燃烧。Do your friends sometimes invite you to dinner, a movie, or a party? 面对老外朋友的盛情，你了解如何同意或者拒绝才算得体吗？Do you know some customs concerning1 invitations in English-speaking countries?
我心所向处 欣然前往之 Accept
To accept an invitation, you should thank the inviter for the invitation, and express the pleasure of being invited. 开心赴约，嘴巴可要甜点哦。
提出邀请前需要开场白吗？
People usually do not begin a conversation with an invitation; instead, they preface an invitation in some way. 在大家的flash对话中， Latoya 先问小刘周六有没空，然后她再说出事由 ，并且发出邀请。
另一种邀请的方法就是舍弃开场白，直接提出邀请。It is also possible to state the occasion2 and then invite the listener without checking out whether the listener is free at that particular time .?In a sense the second way is better in that it states the occasion first and allows the listener to decide whether to accept the invitation or not.
所以说，是不是需要开场白还是由你一个人来决定。
用于非正式场所的表达邀请的方法：
We are having a dance on Sunday. Will you join us?
We're going to have a few friends over on Friday and we'd love you to come.
Are you free on Wednesday? Would you like to go to a concert?
We're having a meeting tomorrow. We'll be very glad if you can make it.
同意邀请看上去简单，真的是如此吗？
不是就同意那样简单。First, you should thank the person for the invitation and /or express pleasure at being invited Another step is to get the detail of time and place.
邀请你的人对你说不需要购物，你真的会空手去吗？
The offer to bring something to a dinner or party is considered good manners, although the host or hostess in most cases will turn it down. However, bringing a small gift is always a very considerate thing to do. 礼多人不怪，小小的一点意思能够帮助有来有往。
关于需不需要送礼物物的问题，双方还可以如此表达：
Offering Responses
Can I bring anything? No, don't bother. We've got everything here.
Is there anything I can bring? No, just bring yourself. Thanks, anyway.
What should I bring? Well, why don't you bring salad?
Can I bring the wine? Well, thanks, if you'd like to.
同意or拒绝这是个问题 Decline3
You may have other arrangements or simply because you don't like the inviter. In either case, you have to turn down the invitation politely. But how?
拒绝得漂亮，你做得到吗？
拒绝得漂亮分四步，你知不知道？
If an invitation must be refused, it is always wise to turn it down politely.
拒绝四步曲：
1 apology 道歉
2 reason or excuse for refusal4 拒绝是什么原因
3 thanks for the invitation 感谢邀请
4 perhaps a second apology 第三致歉
当然啦，被拒绝的人也要be very polite in expressing disappointment and understanding，譬如说What a pity. Never mind。
模棱两可的回答可以助你逃脱邀请
Sometimes you can't decide whether to accept the invitation when invited, or you want to refuse the invitation after you've said you're free at the time the inviter mentioned, it is then necessary to give an indecisive response to the invitation. You can tell the inviter that you have to make sure that you're really available at that time and that you'll tell him or her later. 譬如，你可以说Let me check again with Cathy. I'll call you tonight and let you know for sure, OK？
告诉你拒绝的话该如何说
That's very kind. But I'm afraid I can't go because ...
I'd love to, but I can't. I must go somewhere else.
I'm sorry, but I've already arranged to go somewhere.
Oh, that's a lovely idea but I'm really sorry. I can't go. I can't really afford the time.
邀请门道多礼节不可废 Customs
There are different types of invitations Americans extend5 and there is a lot of cultural information you need know about this social skill. 礼数周到，才不会出丑哦。
口头邀请还是书面邀请好呢？
Spoken invitations are fine for most occasions6, but for certain special events, such as weddings, anniversaries7, and baby showers, formal written invitations are traditionally sent. They should be answered in writing and returned to the RSVP address. It is fairly common to send printed party invitations for large 百度竞价推广i-formal cocktail9 parties. They may say Regrets only and give a telephone number at the bottom, which means you call only if you cannot attend.
对邀请说不适合吗？
In many cultures, it is rude to say directly No, I can't come. Even if a person knows that he or she cannot accept an invitation, the response might be, Yes, I'll come. But in America it is OK to turn down an invitation. 假如你对老美说去却不去，老美才会真的生气。 Most Americans would prefer to hear directly No, I'm sorry, I won't be able to make it.
But if you can't accept an invitation right away, most Americans would expect you to give a reason for not being able to respond. If you don't give a reason, it can seem like you are not interested in getting together with the person who invited you. Sometimes, after you have written accepting an invitation, something else happens to prevent your going after all. In such a case, you must phone or write immediately to your hostess and explain to her in such a way that she will feel your coming is really impossible. If possible, you should give her the real reason why you cannot come. It is extremely discourteous10 to fail to appear when you have accepted an invitation unless an explanation is given. 假如暂时不可以决定是不是同意邀请，必须要诚挚地给出理由。可能的话，最好告诉他们真实是什么原因。
假如受邀去外面聚会，会有哪些问题吗？
In many instances11 it is the inviter who pays, as one would expect, but in some instances each one pays his or her own check. This is often the case with friends in informal situations, such as Lets go get a beer or Want a cup of coffee? 朋友间的邀请，通常都是邀请方结帐。
If you want to invite someone for a meal at a restaurant, be explicit12: I'd like to take you to... Americans should be explicit also, but they often assume13 that you know the local customs in the matter. Ask a friend's advice if you are not sure. 假如你不太了解邀请老美吃饭的礼仪，必须要开口去问，不要不懂装懂哦。
送什么礼物最合适呢？
In the US, there are no exact rules about gift giving, but there are some general customs. When you're invited to a meal at someone's home or to someone's birthday party, it is a good idea to bring small gifts, although not absolutely necessary. The list below includes occasions when many people give gifts and includes types of things people give. 送什么东西没肯定之规，只有一些习惯可供大伙参考。
场所 礼物
a meal at someone's home a bottle of wine, flowers,candy
an overnight14 stay at someone's home an object from your country
friends's birthday, particularly the bigbirthdays books, records, clothing, decorations for the house, photo albums.
weddings item for the home such as dishes, pots, towels, blankets, photo albums
birth of a baby clothes, toys, stuffed animals, things for the baby's room
