Making Plans
The single biggest upgrade you can make to your spoken English is mastering 'would' and 'could'. They're the difference between sounding like a tourist and sounding like a professional. This unit teaches you to invite, suggest, request, and decline — politely, naturally, and like a native.
Polite Frames Builder
For each casual sentence, see the polite B2 upgrade. The same idea, expressed the way native speakers actually say it.
What you'd say now:
"Do you want to get coffee?"
¿Quieres tomar un café?
The B2 upgrade:
Dialogue Practice
A polite invitation in action. Notice how every line uses 'would' or 'could' to soften the conversation.
Elena
Hey Mark — a few of us are getting together for dinner on Friday. Would you like to come along?
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Mark
Oh, that sounds lovely! I'd really like to. Where were you thinking of going?
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Elena
We were thinking the new Italian place on 5th Street. If you wanted, you could meet us there at 7.
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Mark
That would be perfect. Would you mind if I brought my partner along?
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Elena
Not at all — we'd love to meet them! I should mention, though, the place can get crowded. We might want to make a reservation.
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Mark
Good thinking. Would you like me to call and book it? I could do it on my lunch break.
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Elena
That would be amazing. Thank you, Mark — I really appreciate it.
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Key Phrases
Would you like to come along?
¿Te gustaría acompañarnos?
The standard polite invitation. Always sounds warm, never pushy.
I'd really like to.
Me gustaría mucho.
Enthusiastic acceptance using the contracted 'would'. Warmer than 'yes'.
Would you mind if I...?
¿Te importaría si...?
The most polite way to ask permission. Use it for any small request.
Would you like me to...?
¿Te gustaría que yo...?
The polite way to offer help. Always lets the other person say no gracefully.
Structure Builder
Build sentences with 'would', 'could', and the second conditional — the foundation of polite English.
Would you like a glass of water?
¿Te gustaría un vaso de agua?
I would prefer to leave early, if possible.
Preferiría irme temprano, si es posible.
We would appreciate your help with this.
Apreciaríamos tu ayuda con esto.
It would be wonderful to see you again.
Sería maravilloso verte de nuevo.
Error Correction
Six errors that make B1 Spanish speakers sound less polished than they are.
Pronunciation Lab
Modal reductions — how 'would you' becomes 'wʊdʒə' in real speech.
would you
Spanish stress pattern
WOULD YOU
English stress pattern
wʊdʒə (linked)
'Would you' links into one sound: /wʊdʒə/. The 'd' and 'y' merge into a 'j' sound. 'Would you like' = 'wʊdʒə-LIKE'. This linking is what makes natives sound fast.
Self-Test
Test yourself on everything from this unit — polite frames, modals, and key vocabulary.
¿Te gustaría...?
expression