Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide

MAKING AN OFFER OR INVITATION AND ACCEPTING OR DECLINING70.270.270.2.170.2.2Accepting or declining an offer or invitationThe expressions normally used when accepting an offer or invitation are the following:(Muchas) gracias. (formal/informal)Thank you (very much).¡Vale, gracias! (very informal, esp. Spain)OK, thank you.¡Bueno, gracias! (informal)All right, thank you.Me gustaría mucho. (formal/informal)I’d like to very much.Con mucho gusto. (formal)With great pleasure.Encantado/a. (formal)With great pleasure/delighted.Muy amable. (formal)That’s very kind.To decline an offer or invitation, Spanish uses expressions like the following:No hace falta, gracias. (formal/informal)It’s not necessary, thank you.No se moleste. (formal)Don’t worry.No, muchas gracias. (formal/informal)No, thank you very much.Lo siento, pero (no puedo). (formal/informal)I’m sorry, but (I can’t).Desgraciadamente/desafortunadamente no puedo. (formal/informal)Unfortunately I can’t.Me gustaría, pero (tengo otro compromiso). (formal/informal)I’d like to, but (I have another engagement/date).Lo siento mucho, pero me es imposible/no me es posible.I’m very sorry, but it’s impossible/not possible.70.3Enquiring whether an invitation is accepted or declined394To enquire whether an invitation is accepted or declined, use either a construction withir a + infinitive or the future tense, in sentences like the following:¿Va usted a venir a la fiesta?Are you coming to the party?