Are you free on Sunday?
想要約會別人,首先要問別人有沒有空?你可說:Are you available? / Are you free? / Are you busy? 都是‘你有空嗎?’的意思,如果要問星期天有沒有空,就是:Are you free on Sunday? 如果你有空,可以回答:I have no plans. (我沒有任何計劃)、I'm free. / I'm available.(我有空)、 I'm not busy.(我不忙),如果不太肯定,可說:Let me check. (讓我查查看) 或 I'll check my schedule. (讓我查查看我的時間表)。
對話
A:(on the phone) Ok, see you on Sunday. Bye. Ricci, are you free on Sunday?
B:Yes, I don't have any plans yet. What do you have in mind?
A:Aunt Amy has invited us to her house for a weekend party.
B:Sounds great. I'd love to meet your family.
甲:(電話中)好的,星期天見,再見。麗琪,你星期天有空嗎?
乙:有啊,我沒有任何計劃,你有何建議?
甲:艾美阿姨邀請我們這個周末到她家開派對。
乙:聽起來不錯,我也想認識一下你的家人。
約會的用語,前面我們有簡單談過了,現(xiàn)在不妨詳細一點介紹應邀或婉拒的用語。 接納人家的邀請,說話一定要顯得雀躍,例如:I'd like nothing better.(再好沒有了)、I'd like to very much. / I'd love to very much / With pleasure / Why yes, that would give me the greatest of pleasure.(我高興之至)、That would be great fun.(那將是一大樂事)。Nothing better、the greatest of pleasure、great fun等說法頗為夸張,正是客氣的表現(xiàn)。
假如答應赴約,但須遲一點到達或早一點離去,則可在上述說法之后補上一句:....but I may be a bit late.(但我可能會遲一點)、....but I have to go by X o'clock.(但我X點之前就得離去)。
又假如不能肯定能不能赴約,那么可用以下說法:I'll try my best to come. / I'll try to make it. / I'll come if possible.(我會盡量抽身前來)。
婉拒人家的邀請最是困難,但一般可用以下理由:What a pity! I have another engagement/appointment.(真可惜,我已約了別人)、Oh, shame! I have something else to do./ I'm otherwise engaged.(啊,真可惜,我有其它事情要辦)、I'm afraid I can't. There's lots of work to do.(我恐怕不能來了,有很多工作要做)。What a pity、shame、I'm afraid. 等,當然也都是客氣說法,表示不是不想而是不能赴約。