What happens in the video
Theo wants to ask Nadia out, but he says it like a work email: "Would you be available for a meeting? About... dinner." Nadia is confused, so Theo tries again with a simple line: "Do you wanna grab a coffee sometime?" Nadia points out that they're having a coffee right now, but she says yes.
1 Do you wanna grab a coffee sometime?
Tone Casual and easy
Use it for a casual invitation to meet for coffee. Wanna is an informal spoken form of "want to." In formal messages, write "want to."
Hey. Do you wanna grab a coffee sometime?
For example:
A: Hey. Do you wanna grab a coffee sometime?
B: Sure, I'd like that. How about Thursday?
A: Thursday works for me.
2 Do you want to get a drink sometime?
Tone Relaxed, for the evening
Use it when you want to meet in the evening and you're happy for it to feel a bit more like a date. If you're not sure the other person drinks, coffee or food may be a safer offer.
Do you want to get a drink sometime?
For example:
A: Do you want to get a drink sometime?
B: Yes, I'd love to. Are you free on Friday?
3 Would you like to have dinner with me?
Tone Clear and polite
Use this for a polite invitation to dinner. Would you like is a polite way to ask. Dinner can be a date or a friendly meal, so clarify what you mean if the other person is unsure.
Would you like to have dinner with me?
For example:
A: Would you like to have dinner with me?
B: Like a date?
A: Yes, like a date.
B: Then yes, I would.
4 Are you free this weekend? I'd love to take you out.
Tone Warm and direct
Use it when you already know the person a little and want to sound confident. Take you out means you're inviting them on a date. Don't use it with a coworker or classmate unless you're sure the interest is mutual.
For example:
A: Are you free this weekend? I'd love to take you out.
B: I'm free on Saturday afternoon.
A: Great. I'll find somewhere nice.
5 There's a new place near here. Want to check it out together?
Tone Light, activity-based
Use it when a shared activity feels easier than the word date. It works well with a new friend. The meaning can be unclear, so add more if you want them to know it's romantic.
For example:
A: There's a new place near here. Want to check it out together?
B: Oh, the bakery? Yes, let's go after work.
6 No pressure, but would you want to go out sometime?
Tone Gentle and careful
Use it when you want to make it easy for the other person to say no. No pressure shows you'll be fine with either answer. Don't repeat it many times, or you'll sound nervous.
For example:
A: No pressure, but would you want to go out sometime?
B: That's sweet. Can I think about it?
A: Of course.
7 I had a really good time today. Can I see you again?
Tone Sincere, after meeting
Use it at the end of a first meeting or a first date that went well. It asks for a second meeting without naming a plan. Don't use it if the meeting was only for work.
For example:
A: I had a really good time today. Can I see you again?
B: I'd like that. Text me.
8 Want to get lunch one day this week?
Tone Friendly, low-key
Use it when you see the person often, for example at work or in class, and want a daytime plan. Lunch feels friendly and not too serious. It can sound like friends only, so it's a soft first step.
For example:
A: Want to get lunch one day this week?
B: Sure. Wednesday?
A: Wednesday's perfect.
Common mistakes
-
Not quite
Do you want grab a coffee sometime?Better Do you want to grab a coffee sometime?
Want needs to before the next verb. In speech, want to often sounds like wanna, but you can't drop to completely.
-
Not quite
Would you like having dinner with me?Better Would you like to have dinner with me?
For an invitation, would like is followed by to plus a verb. Would you like having sounds unnatural here.
-
Not quite
Would you be available for a meeting about dinner?Better Would you like to have dinner with me?
Words like available and meeting sound like work. As Theo learns, formal business language makes an invitation sound strange.
Quick quiz
Choose your answer for each question, then open the answer to check it.
-
You want to invite someone for coffee in a casual way. Which line fits?
- Would you like to have dinner with me?
- Do you wanna grab a coffee sometime?
- I'd love to take you out this weekend.
Show the answer (Question 1)
Answer: Do you wanna grab a coffee sometime? This line suggests meeting for coffee. Wanna is informal, and sometime leaves the day open.
-
You want to invite someone to dinner politely. Which line fits?
- Want to get lunch one day this week?
- There's a new place near here. Want to check it out together?
- Would you like to have dinner with me?
Show the answer (Question 2)
Answer: Would you like to have dinner with me? Would you like is a polite way to invite someone. This line suggests dinner. It can be a date or a friendly meal, so clarify what you mean if needed.
-
What does wanna mean?
- Want to
- Wonder
- Want a lot
Show the answer (Question 3)
Answer: Want to Wanna is the spoken form of want to.
-
Why does Nadia get confused when Theo asks for "a meeting about dinner"?
- Meeting sounds like work, not a date
- Dinner is too casual
- He asks too quietly
Show the answer (Question 4)
Answer: Meeting sounds like work, not a date Business words like meeting and available make an invitation sound formal and strange.
-
Which line works best at the end of a first date that went well?
- Would you be available for a meeting?
- I had a really good time today. Can I see you again?
- Do you want grab a coffee?
Show the answer (Question 5)
Answer: I had a really good time today. Can I see you again? It says you enjoyed the date and asks for another meeting.
Questions learners ask
How do you casually ask someone out in English?
Ask a short question and suggest an activity, such as "Do you wanna grab a coffee sometime?" Sometime leaves the day open. If the person says yes, you can agree on when to meet.
Is "Do you want to get a drink sometime?" a date?
Often, yes. A drink usually happens in the evening, so it sounds a bit more like a date than coffee. The context and your tone still matter.
Is "wanna" okay to use?
Yes, in speech and in casual texts to friends. It's how most people say want to in relaxed conversation. In formal writing, use want to.
What's the most polite way to ask someone on a date?
"Would you like to have dinner with me?" is a polite invitation. Would you like sounds softer than do you want. Dinner can be friendly or romantic, so make your intention clear if you mean a date.
Film lines are short quotes used for language teaching. The dialogue belongs to its rightsholders. Theo and Nadia are animated characters made with Google Flow.
