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Holidays are made for parties.  It's a great time to get together with your family or friends.  On the mainland, Thanksgiving is a holiday usually spent with the immediate family.   Let's read this conversation at a Thanksgiving party.

Guest:  Hello.
Hostess:  Hi.  It's so good to see you.
Guest:  It's good to see you too. Here, this is for you.
Hostess:  Thank you, but you didn't have to bring anything.
Guest:  I know but I wanted to.
Hostess:  This pie looks delicious. I'll go put it in the refrigerator.  Excuse me.

When you are invited over to someone's house for a party, you are not expected to bring anything.  But if you want to bring something like a dessert or a bottle of wine, it will be warmly accepted.

Read these example conversations:

Host:  You didn't have to bring anything.
Guest:  I know but I wanted to.

Host: You shouldn't have.
Guest: No problem.

The guest said, "no problem"  That means it was no trouble for him to bring a gift.   If you are carrying a coat or umbrella, you will want to know where to put these items.  Sometimes a host or hostess will offer to take your coat for you. In that case they will say:

"Here, I'll take it."


Once you are inside, the host or hostess will ask you to have a seat. They might use one of these sentences.  Read these example sentences.

"Please have a seat.  Make yourself comfortable"

"Please make yourself at home"


While you are waiting, the host or hostess might provide some food to snack on before dinner.  These are called hors d'oeuvres or appetizers.  In Hawaii, they are called "pupus."

Read these example conversations:

Michael:  Would you like some hors d'oeuvres?
Michiko:  Yes, please.

Michael:  Would you like to try these appetizers?
Michiko:  Thank you.

If the appetizers are already on the table, the host or hostess might say:

"Please help yourself"





The food served at most parties will vary.  But the food served at some holiday parties will be the same wherever you go.

Before beginning the party, someone will pray.  Read a conversation at a dinner party:

Guest:  Wow, the food looks delicious.
Hostess:  I hope it tastes as good as it looks.
Guest:  How long did it take to cook everything?
Hostess:  I spent the whole day preparing.
Guest:  That's great.   I have to give  you a lot of credit.  Not many people would be able to do that.
Hostess:  Well, I enjoy i





One way you can compliment the host or hostess is to talk about the food.  If you talk about how delicious it is, they will be happy. Read this example compliment:

"The food looks delicious"


The Host and Hostess might say this sentence.  Read this example sentence:

"I hope it tastes as good as it looks"


What do you do if you accidentally drop something on the floor while you are eating?  This can happen to anybody but especially clumsy people.  Read this example conversation:

Guest:  Oops.  I knocked my glass over.
Hostess:  That's OK.  I'll get something to clean it up.
Guest:  I'm so sorry.  I hope the stain will come out of your carpet.

In this conversation, Michael said:

"I knocked my glass over"


That means that he tipped the glass over and spilled all of the contents.   "Potluck"  is a party where everyone brings a dish.  For example, one person will bring drinks, another person will bring meat or main dish and another person will bring a salad.

When someone invites you to a party, you might want to know what the purpose of the party is.  There are parties to celebrate birthdays, holidays and other special occasions.  You could say:

"What's the occasion?"


That means, what is the purpose of the party?  Depending on the situation, you might want to know who else is attending the party?  Also, you might want to know how many people to cook for if it's a potluck party.  Let's practice that question.  Read this example conversation:

Michael: Who's going?
Michiko:  Everybody is going. About 15 people in all.

When you go to a potluck party, you should always bring something.  If you can't bring some food, then you should bring some drinks like soda or juice.






Read these example conversations:

Michael:  What should I bring?
Michiko:  Anything will be fine.

Michael:  What would you like me to bring?
Michiko:  You can bring anything you want.

Michael:  What can I bring?
Michiko:  Whatever you like.

Also, it's ok to suggest what to bring to your friend.  For example:

Michiko:  What should I bring?
Michael:  Why don't you bring some kind of dessert?


Also, you should know where and when it is supposed to take place. Read these example questions:

"What time does it start?"

"Where will it be?"







Now, read this next conversation where someone can't keep a secret.

John:  Wow, today's weather is so awful!
Mary:  Yeah, it's raining cats and dogs.
John:  I hope it'll let up by tonight. I'm having a party over at
my house tonight.
Mary.  What party is that?
John.  Oops, I guess I let the cat out  of the bag.  It was supposed to be your  surprise party.

"It's raining cats and dogs" means that it's raining very heavily.  "Let the cat out of the bag"  means to tell  a secret when you're not supposed to.  Read these example sentences:

"It's raining cats and dogs"

"Let the cat out of the bag"







Now let's read this next conversation:

Michael:  Michiko, are you going to Janet's housewarming party?
Michiko:  Yes, I am.  Are you?
Michael:  I'm planning on it, but I don't know whether I should
bring a gift or not?
Michiko:  Why don't we all "chip in" and buy her something?
Michael:  That sounds like a good idea.  What do you think she needs?
Michiko:  Let's buy her some small guest towels for the bathroom. She can always use those.

In this conversation, Michael asked:

"Are you going to Janet's housewarming party?"







You should only use this question if you are sure that the other person is invited.  Otherwise, the person might feel bad because they weren't invited.

Read this next conversation:

Michael:  Michiko, are you going to Janet's housewarming party?
Michiko:  I didn't hear about the party.
Michael:  Uhh ooh.  I guess your invitation is late or maybe it was lost in the mail.
Michiko:  No, I don't think I was invited.

This is an embarrassing situation.   Of course there will be times when someone is not invited.  We can't all be invited to every party. Anyway, be careful when asking this question.   If this situation happens, there are several ways to answer.  For example:

"I guess your invitation is late or maybe it was lost in the mail"


Michael and Michiko were planning to put their money together and buy something for Janet.  When people combine their money, this is called "chipping in".  For example:

"Why don't we all "chip in" and buy  her something?"







Now, let's talk about bridal showers and bachelor parties.  Both of these parties occur before a man and woman get married.  At a bridal shower, the bride - to - be will receive many gifts.   At these types of parties, you will hear people giving congratulations.

Read these example sentences:

"Good luck to you in the future"

"I'm really happy for you"