当我们要和别人一起参加某项活动时，需要事先征求对方的意见。在此类场合中常用的语句有以下这些：

　　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.