Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide

Making an offer or invitation70.1Vamos a tomar una copa.Let’s go and have a drink. 16.1.1.6 (p. 62); 17.13 (p. 81)70.1.3¿Por qué no + present?¿Por qué no . . . ?, ‘Why don’t you . . . ?’, followed by a verb in the present, can be usedto make formal as well as informal invitations.¿Por qué no se queda a cenar con nosotros?Why don’t you stay and have dinner with us?¿Por qué no pasas por casa esta noche?Why don’t you come round to our house tonight?70.1.4Present of querer + infinitive/nounThe use of querer, ‘to want’, in the present to make an invitation or to offer somethingto somebody is regarded as informal. In a formal situation querer may sound a littleabrupt. For a formal equivalent expression see 70.1.5 below.¿Quieres venir a nuestra fiesta?Do you want to come to our party?¿Quieres un café?Do you want a coffee? 21.4 (p. 101)70.1.5Desear + infinitive/nounDesear, ‘to want’, ‘to wish’, a verb which is much less common than querer, isregarded as more formal than this, and therefore suitable for making formal invitationsor offers.¿Desea usted comer algo?Would you like to eat something?¿Desea usted un aperitivo?Would you like an apéritif? 26.2.2.1 (p. 134)70.1.6Querer que + subjunctiveThis construction with a subjunctive is used with both formal and informal invitationsand offers.¿Quiere usted/quieres que le/te ayude?Do you want me to help you?¿Quieres que te acompañe a casa?Do you want me to accompany you home?391