BBC World Service | Learning English

Asking someone out

In a different episode of How To we looked at how to chat someone up - that is, how to make someone interested in you, in a romantic way! Let's imagine you have succeeded in getting someone interested... now it's time to ask them out. Is it possible to do this in a way that avoids embarrassment?

Don't forget to practise what you've learned with the activity further down this page.

Listen - realmedia Download - mp3 (1.8 MB) Script (pdf - 23k)

You can listen again to the conversations featured in this programme, below.

Listen - realmedia Download - mp3 (560 KB) Script (pdf - 16k)

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Seeing if someone is free at a particular time
What are you	up to doing	this weekend?

Making an invitation
Don't embarrass yourself by using the word date! ~~Do you want to come on a date with me?~~ Try this invitation instead:
Do you want to meet up Do you fancy meeting up	sometime	for a drink? outside work?
Inviting someone to join you
I was thinking I might go to the films tomorrow... If you'd like to join me, feel free. I was thinking I might go to the films tomorrow if you fancy it.
Offering someone your phone number
Why don't I give you my mobile phone number? Let me give you my mobile number.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT?

Quiz
For each question choose the best answer.

Flash not working? You can download a pdf version of the quiz at the bottom of the page.

Download quiz (17k)