This lesson will provide you with some practical English phrases to use when hosting people at your home or visiting other people at their home.
Phrases for Hosting Others at Your Home
"Come on in!" = inviting the guest into your home
"I'm glad you could make it" = telling the guest that you are happy that they came
"You didn't have to do that!" = if the guest gives you a gift (bottle of wine, food, etc.)
"Can I take that for you?" = offering to take the guest's jacket or other items
"Make yourself at home" = inviting the guest to do whatever they want in your home
"Please have a seat" = encouraging the guest to sit down and relax
"Please help yourself" = telling the guest that they can take the food without asking
"What do you like to drink? Beer? Wine?" = offering drinks to your guests
"Can I get you anything?" = offering to give a guest more food or drink
"Shall we move to the living room?" = suggesting a change of location
"Did you have enough to eat?" = checking if your guest is still hungry
"Thank you so much for coming" = thanking the guest for visiting
Visiting Another Person's Home
"Thanks again for the invitation" = showing appreciation for the invitation
"We brought you something small" = giving a small gift to the host (ex. wine)
"You have a beautiful home" = complimenting the host on their home
"Can I help you with anything? = offering to help with preparing food, serving, etc,
"Something smells delicious" = commenting on the smell of the food
"Thank you for the meal" = showing appreciation for the food
"Well, I should get going" = politely saying that you have to leave now
"We had a lovely time" = saying that you enjoyed the experience
"Thank you again for hosting" = thanking the host
"We'd love to have you over next time" = offering to host next time
Practice
Complete the phrases below with the missing words:
Hosting:
take / home / help / shall / get / make / at / seat
I'm glad that you could _____ it.
Please make yourself ____ ____
Can I ____ that for you?
Please have a ____
Please ____ yourself.
____ we move to the living room?
Can I ____ you anything?
Visiting:
hosting / going / have / something / lovely / small / over / help / time
We brought you ____ ____
Can I ____ you with anything?
Well, I should get ____
We had a ____ ____
Thank you again for ____
We'd love to ____ you ____ next time.
Answers
Hosting:
I'm glad that you could make it.
Please make yourself at home.
Can I take that for you?
Please have a seat
Please help yourself.
Shall we move to the living room?
Can I get you anything?
Visiting:
We brought you something small
Can I help you with anything?
Well, I should get going.
We had a lovely time.
Thank you again for hosting
We'd love to have you over next time.