当收到别人的邀请参加活动，但很不巧你不能参加，必须婉拒对方的邀请时，最好先感谢对方的慷慨，你可以说：
Thank you so much for the invitation. I really appreciate it and it means a great deal.
(非常感激您的邀请，这对我意义重大)
然后真诚地说明为何不能参加活动的原因。
如果对方是口头邀约，你可以先说看一下自己的行事历，之后再确认。如果你已经有了安排，请预先让邀请者知道，并打电话婉拒。不管是正式还是口头邀请，能适当地婉拒邀请是最好不过。
来看看Helli邀请Jerry去她生日派对的对话：
Helli: Hi Jerry, it’s my birthday this weekend and I am throwing a party to celebrate.
Jerry你好，这个周末是我的生日，我举办了一个派对来庆祝。
Jerry: That is great news; we should celebrate in style and have a theme for the party.
太好了！我们应该大肆庆祝一番并且为派对设定一个主题。
Helli: Absolutely, I have guest appearances by Destiny’s Child and Mariah Carey. This will be the best party ever and you should not miss it.
当然，到时候有天命真女和玛利亚凯莉来友情客串，这绝对会是有史以来最好的派对，你绝对不会想错过的。
Jerry: No I won’t, Friday will be a night to remember!
放心，我不会错过的，星期五会是一个特别的夜晚！
Helli: Friday? What is happening on Friday?
星期五？那天有什么事会发生吗？
Jerry: Your party of course, silly.
当然是你的派对啦，傻瓜
Helli: No Jerry, my party is on Saturday night.
不，Jerry，我的派对是在星期六晚上。
Jerry: Oh no, Helli! I have to be at work on Saturday night as I’m working night shift, I appreciate the invitation but I cannot afford to miss work. 。
哦，不会吧，Helli！我星期六晚上必须工作因为我要轮晚班，我很感谢你的邀请，但是我不能因此丢了工作。
Helli: I understand, you have to work. Perhaps you can join us when your shift ends.
我明白，你必须要工作。还是你轮班结束后你再过来参加派对。
Jerry: It ends at 6am, I doubt Mariah Carey will still be there! Party safely and keep me posted on how the party goes!
可是我的工作必须到早上6点才结束，我猜想玛利亚凯莉应该已经不在了吧！玩得尽兴，到时候告诉我生日派对进行地如何就可以了！
Helli: Will do Jerry!
行，没问题，Jerry！
