English on the Move
Inviting people
Inviting someone to visit your office
Rita: Well, thanks for your interest in our products. Are you intending to visit any more stands at the fair today?
Lindsey: It’s getting late. I think I’ll leave that until tomorrow.
Rita: I’ve just been looking at your business card, and it seems we’re almost neighbours. Why don’t you come and visit us? I could give you a much better rundown on what we offer then.
Lindsey: OK. Let’s check our calendars and make a date. I know I’m pretty free the week beginning on the 11th next month.
Rita: How about the morning of the 11th? I’m free then.
Inviting someone to lunch
Rita: I think that just about wraps things up. You’ve heard from Mary how we can tailor the products to your specific demands. And from Karl, you got an idea of our different price levels and delivery terms. Lindsey: Yes, it’s been really interesting. Now, I need to go back and discuss what I’ve learned with my team.
Rita: It’s just after 12. Why don’t you join us for lunch? We’ve got our own small canteen. It’s not gourmet cooking, but it’s not bad. Lindsey: I should be getting back…
Rita: It won’t take long. It’s self-service. And if we go now, we’ll beat the mad rush at 12.30. Lindsey: Well, if you’re sure…
Rita: Very sure. And, of course, you will be our guest.
Lindsey: That’s kind of you.
Rita: No problem. All part of the service!
Inviting someone on a guided tour of the facilities
Lindsey: I must say your canteen is better than ours. We’ve had some problems with our caterer. Does your production site have similar facilities?
Rita: I think theirs might even be a bit better. That’s given me an idea. Why don’t you come up to the production site and I could give you a guided tour? I spend half my time there and half my time down here in HQ.
Lindsey: It would be good to see your facility and to have the chance to talk to your production people about our special requirements. Rita: Great! I’ll talk to Mike, our production manager, and ask him to arrange a tour for you.
Inviting someone to dinner at your home
Rita: I hope you had a good chat with Mike and can see how we can manage your needs. Tomorrow, we can go to the warehouse and discuss deliveries and your just-intime demands.
Lindsey: I’m looking forward to that. But now, I think I’ll go back to the hotel and catch up on some emails.
Rita: Do you have any plans for dinner?
Lindsey: Not really. I was thinking of eating in the hotel restaurant.
Rita: I actually live here. I use a company flat when I’m down at HQ. So, why don’t you come and have dinner with me? You could meet my husband, Ron, and my son, Jack.
Lindsey: I wouldn’t want to intrude.
Rita: It would be our pleasure. You’d have to take pot luck, though, as I’m not sure what we have in the fridge!