how to decline an invitation in French

Summary

In this video, Pascal teaches viewers how to politely decline invitations in French. He presents various expressions and approaches to refuse an invitation, such as using conditional phrases or simply stating 'no.' Viewers learn to express gratitude for the invitation while explaining their inability to attend. Pascal emphasizes different scenarios, including declining offers in casual settings like restaurants. He highlights the importance of politeness in communication and suggests using non-verbal cues, like shaking one's head, to decline politely. The video is a valuable resource for mastering polite refusals in French conversation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video focuses on how to politely decline invitations in French.
• 😀 Using the past conditional, such as 'I would have loved to accept, but...', conveys a stronger refusal.
• 😀 A polite way to refuse is to express gratitude, like saying 'Thank you, but I can't tonight.'
• 😀 A direct way to say no is 'I'm sorry, but I have to say no.'
• 😀 The phrase 'What a shame' can be used to express regret when declining an invitation.
• 😀 If you need time to think about an invitation, you can say, 'Let me call you later to confirm.'
• 😀 To soften a refusal, you might say, 'I need to check my diary first.'
• 😀 When declining smaller offers (like food or drink), you can nod and say 'Merci' to politely refuse.
• 😀 The video emphasizes that there are various expressions available for declining invitations.
• 😀 For more expressions and guidance on declining invitations, viewers are encouraged to visit the tutor's website.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video discusses how to politely refuse invitations in French.

Who is the presenter of the video?

The presenter is Pascal, from FrenchSpanishOnline.com.

What is one way to politely decline an invitation?

You can say, 'I would have loved to accept, but it won't be possible.'

How can you express gratitude when refusing an invitation?

You can say, 'Thank you for the invitation, but I can't make it tonight.'

What is a more direct way to say no to an invitation?

You can simply say, 'I'm sorry, but I have to say no.'

What phrase can be used to express regret about declining an invitation?

You can use the expression, 'What a shame, I already have something planned.'

How can someone delay their response to an invitation?

You can say, 'Let me call you later to confirm,' allowing time to think before declining.

What is a non-verbal way to decline something at a meal?

You can say 'merci' while shaking your head to indicate 'no.'

Where can viewers find more expressions for declining invitations?

Viewers can find additional expressions on Pascal's website.

What grammatical form is used in the phrase 'I would have loved to accept'?

The phrase uses the past conditional form, which is considered more polite.