约会是人们日常交际中重要的活动。当我们需要和别人一起参加某项活动,或拜访他人,就应当征求别人的意见,提前约定:
Would Dr. Norman be able to see me at nine sharp tonight?(今天晚上九点诺曼尔医生有时间见我吗?)
Alice, do you happen to be free this afternoon?(爱丽丝,你今天下午有空吗?)
I was wondering if you were doing anything on Saturday evening? (星期六晚上您是否有空?)
How about going on a hike tomorrow? (去踏青,好吗?)
Should I make an appointment with you for the next few days?(以后几天我还需要和你预约吗?)
对别人的邀请,我们应该先表示感谢,然后表明我们的态度,接受或者不接受。如果我们不能接受,就应向对方委婉表明缘故,并感谢对方的好意。
在英语中,我们可以经常这样说:
Oh, surely I can, I'd really appreciate it.(哦,当然可以,我非常乐意!)
That's settled then.(就这么定了。)
I'd love to, but I...(我很想去,但是……)
我们也可以从下面的对话中体会:
A: Good morning. Doctor Croat's office. Can I help you?
B: I'd like to make an appointment to see the dentist.
A: Let me see. I can arrange for you to see the doctor in a week.
B: Can't I see him tomorrow?
A: I'm afraid you can't. The dentist is very busy these days.