B1 · Invitations, Declines and Alternatives
Polite Decline and Replan Before a Wedding Eve Gathering
- CEFR level:
- B1
- Sentences:
- 12
- Duration:
- 1 min
- Speakers:
- Tom & Emma
"Polite Decline and Replan Before a Wedding Eve Gathering" is a B1-level English conversation about invitations, declines and alternatives, 12 lines long (about 1 minute) between Tom & Emma. Read the full script below with the translation next to each line, then try speaking one of the roles out loud.
Dialogue script
Each entry shows the English sentence first, with the translation on the line below it. To practise speaking, cover the translation and repeat after the audio.
- Line 1Tom 0:00
Emma, we're meeting Friday night before Nina's wedding. Can you come?
- Line 2Emma 0:04
I want to, but I promised to help my cousin pack.
- Line 3Tom 0:08
Could you join later, maybe after nine thirty?
- Line 4Emma 0:11
I might be too tired, and I don't want to be half-present.
- Line 5Tom 0:15
I thought you were avoiding our group lately.
- Line 6Emma 0:18
Not at all; I just don't want to cancel family support.
- Line 7Tom 0:22
Thanks for clarifying, then let's arrange another catch-up.
- Line 8Emma 0:25
How about brunch Sunday, when the wedding rush is over?
- Line 9Tom 0:29
Works for me; I'll reserve a table near your place.
- Line 10Emma 0:33
Great, I'll confirm by Saturday noon after family plans settle.
- Line 11Tom 0:38
If brunch fills up, we'll switch to the bakery next door.
- Line 12Emma 0:42
Perfect, and I'll message you once I know my exact time.
Native audio, line-by-line recording and pronunciation scoring for this dialogue are in the EngTalk app.
Key vocabulary
Content words from this dialogue, ranked by the CEFR level at which they appear across the whole 500-dialogue library. Function words and proper nouns are excluded.
- wedding /ˈwɛdɪŋ/ noun
a marriage ceremony
- promised /ˈprɑməst/ verb, adjective
said that one would do or give something
- half-present /ˌhæfˈprɛzənt/ adjective
not fully attentive or involved
- thought /θɔt/ noun
an idea or opinion in the mind
- avoiding /əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/ verb
keeping away from or preventing something
- lately /ˈleɪtli/ adverb
recently; in the recent past
- support /səˈpɔrt/ noun/verb
help, approval, or to help hold up or assist
- clarifying /ˈklɛrəˌfaɪɪŋ/ verb
present participle of clarify; explaining clearly
- catch-up /ˈkætʃˌʌp/ noun
a conversation or meeting to share recent news
- settle /ˈsɛtəl/ verb
to resolve or become calm and fixed
- fills /ˈfɪlz/ verb
makes a space or container full
- bakery /ˈbeɪkəri/ noun
a place where bread and cakes are made or sold