When you need this

Someone has mentioned a party and you're interested. Now you need the practical details, and asking for them is completely normal. Americans ask a lot of logistics questions before a party, and hosts expect them: what time, where, what to bring, whether you can bring a friend. The questions come in two rounds. Before the party, you're planning. After the party, you're catching up with people who went, or who didn't.

The "can I bring a friend" question is the one to phrase carefully. "Is it okay if I bring my roommate?" gives the host room to say no. "I'm bringing my roommate" doesn't. With a small party at someone's apartment, always ask; with a big open party, people will tell you "the more the merrier."

Phrases

the first practical question

asking where to go; people often text it

the polite way to ask about a guest

offering to contribute

asking about the size and mood

asking about clothes

finding out if you'll know people

asking how far it is

offering company

the question the next day

checking what happened while you weren't there

a friendly, slightly teasing question

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Practice · 3 min

Ask the question. What you need to know on the left, one natural question on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.