12.1 Requests, Offers, Invitations and Suggestions

12.1 Requests, Offers, Invitations and Suggestions

Quick Answer: Use Can you / Could you…? for requests, Would you like…? for offers and invitations, and Let's / Shall we / Why don't we / How about…? for suggestions. Always add a polite accept or refuse (Yes, I'd love to / Sorry, I can't…) and a short reason when you say no.

Functional language is the English of doing things with words: asking someone to help, offering a drink, inviting a friend, suggesting a plan. Cambridge A2 Key tests this language heavily because real life at CEFR A2 is full of short social tasks. You need these phrases in Speaking Part 1 (personal plans and free time), Speaking Part 2 (collaborative choices with a partner), and Writing Part 6 (emails and notes with content points such as invite, ask, or suggest).

This section gives you clear phrase banks, mini dialogues, accept/refuse patterns, and register warnings. Learn the frames, not long memorised speeches. Examiners reward language that is polite, clear, and flexible.

Why functional language matters for A2 Key scores

If you only know vocabulary lists (cinema, pizza, bus) but cannot invite someone to the cinema, you will struggle on productive tasks. Functions turn topic words into communication.

The four functions at a glance

These four families share politeness tools: please, thanks, soft modals (could), and reasons when you refuse.

Requests: Can you…? Could you…? Can I…?

A request asks another person to act, or asks for permission.

Phrase bank: requests

Mini dialogue: request (Speaking style)

A: Excuse me. Could you pass me the menu, please?
B: Sure. Here you are.
A: Thanks!

A: Can you help me with my homework later?
B: Yes, of course. Shall we meet at five?
A: Perfect. Thanks.

Accepting and refusing requests

At A2, a refuse without sorry or a reason often sounds rude: No. → upgrade to Sorry, I can't. I have a class.

Writing Part 6: request lines

Content points often say things like “ask Sam for the time” or “ask about the place.” Use full, polite sentences:

• Could you tell me what time the party starts?
• Can you send me the address, please?
• Please can you bring some music?

Avoid telegram style: Time? / Address please now — too abrupt for a friendly email.

Offers: Would you like…? Can I help…?

An offer gives something or proposes help.

Phrase bank: offers

Would you like…? is especially valuable because it is polite in both speaking and writing and fits CEFR A2 cleanly.

Mini dialogue: offer

A: You look tired. Would you like some water?
B: Yes, please. That's kind of you.
A: Can I get you a sandwich too?
B: No, thanks. The water is enough.

Accepting and refusing offers

Common register mistake: refusing with only No. sounds cold. Add thanks almost every time.

Writing Part 6: offer lines

• I can meet you at the station.
• Would you like me to bring some food?
• I can help you with your project on Saturday.

Invitations: Would you like to…? Do you want to…?

An invitation asks someone to join an activity. It is extremely common in Writing Part 6 (invite your friend to a film / party / picnic).

Phrase bank: invitations

Add time + place so the invitation is useful:

• *Would you like to go to the cinema on Friday at 7 p.m.?
• Do you want to play football in the park after school?

Mini dialogue: invitation (Speaking Part 2 flavour)

A: Would you like to go to the museum this weekend?
B: I'd love to, but I'm busy on Saturday.
A: How about Sunday morning?
B: Sunday is perfect. Shall we meet at ten?

Accepting and refusing invitations

I'd love to, but… is a high-value A2 refusal: friendly + clear + open for a new plan.

Writing Part 6 model fragment (invite + ask + suggest)

Imagine content points: invite friend to a picnic; ask what food they like; suggest a time.

Hi Anna,
Would you like to come to a picnic in Green Park on Sunday? Can you tell me what food you like? How about meeting at 12 o'clock?
Bye,
Leo

Three function frames cover three content points in simple, polite English.

Suggestions: Let's… Shall we…? Why don't we…? How about…?

A suggestion proposes an idea for we or for a shared plan. This is the heart of Speaking Part 2 interactive communication.

Phrase bank: suggestions

Form traps (very common)

Mini dialogue: suggestions in Speaking Part 2

Interlocutor: Talk together about a good day out for your class.
A: How about going to the zoo?
B: The zoo is fun, but it's expensive. Why don't we go to the park instead?
A: Good idea. Shall we take a picnic?
B: Yes. Let's meet at the school gate at ten.

Notice the pattern examiners like: suggest → respond → new suggestion → decide. You are not giving a monologue; you are building a short plan together.

Accepting and rejecting suggestions politely

Never say You're wrong or That's stupid in the exam. Soft disagreement keeps Interactive Communication healthy.

Speaking Part 1: weaving functions into personal answers

Part 1 is mainly personal interview, but functional language still appears:

You do not force every function into every answer. You use them when they sound natural.

Speaking Part 2: the interactive function toolkit

Part 2 rewards candidates who can open, invite, request, suggest, and close.

Essential turns

1. Open: What do you think? / Shall we start with this picture?
2. Suggest: How about…? / Why don't we…?
3. Request clarification: Sorry, can you say that again? / Do you mean…?
4. Offer a turn: Would you like to choose first? / What about you?
5. Invite agreement: Shall we choose this one?
6. Close gently: OK, so let's choose the museum. / Yes, I agree.

Mini dialogue: full function mix

A: Shall we talk about the restaurant first?
B: Yes. Would you like to eat Italian food?
A: I'm not sure. How about a pizza place? It's cheaper.
B: Good idea. Can you see the time on the card?
A: It says 7 p.m. Let's go at seven.
B: Perfect.

In about six lines you used suggestion, invitation-style preference, soft doubt, counter-suggestion, request, and decision language—exactly the interactive range A2 Key wants.

Writing Parts 6–7: putting functions on paper

Part 6 checklist for function content points

When a bullet says invite / ask / suggest / offer, write a full sentence for each:

Keep the email friendly: greeting, three clear points, closing (Bye / See you / Best wishes as appropriate for the task).

Part 7 story touch

In a picture story you may need characters to interact:

• “Would you like some help?” asked Mia.
• Tom said, “Let's take a taxi.”
• “Can you open the door, please?”

Short quoted offers and suggestions make the story feel real without needing advanced grammar.

Register: sounding polite at A2 (not robotic, not rude)

Register means how formal or informal your language is. A2 Key usually wants friendly everyday polite English—not slang, not business legal language.

Common register mistakes

Politeness mini-kit (memorise)

• please / thank you / thanks
• Sorry…
• Excuse me… (to start a request to a stranger)
• I'd love to, but…
• That's kind of you, but…

These small words carry a large politeness load at A2.

Practice set: transform the function

Say or write each idea three ways (request / offer / suggestion) where possible.

1. You need help with a heavy bag.

   • Request: Could you help me with this bag, please?
   • Offer (to someone else later): Can I help you with your bag?
   • Suggestion: Let's carry it together.

2. Cinema plan with a friend.

   • Invitation: Would you like to go to the cinema tonight?
   • Suggestion: How about watching the new comedy?
   • Request: Can you buy the tickets online, please?

3. Class project.

   • Offer: I can make the poster.
   • Suggestion: Shall we meet after school?
   • Request: Could you bring the photos?

Study routine (15 minutes)

1. 3 minutes: Read the four phrase banks aloud.
2. 5 minutes: Practise the Part 2 mini dialogue with a partner or recorder; swap roles.
3. 5 minutes: Write one Part 6 email that invites, asks one question, and suggests a time (25+ words).
4. 2 minutes: Check register: Did you use please/thanks/sorry? Did you avoid orders?

Linking forward

Requests, offers, invitations and suggestions are half of everyday interaction. The next section trains opinions, agreeing, disagreeing and preferences—the other half of Speaking Part 2 decisions and of Writing answers that explain what you prefer and why. Together, these functional sets turn simple vocabulary into full exam communication.

Master the frames, pair them with polite accepts and refuses, and practise them in short dialogues and short emails. That combination is exactly what A2 Key rewards.