CLASS:XI

SUBJECT: ENGLISH
SHORT WRITING SKILL
INVITATIONS AND REPLIES
(FORMATS, PARAWISE CONTENT, SAMPLES & PRACTICE QNS)
 SHORT WRITING SKILL- INVITATIONS & REPLIES

❖ MARKS- 4 (CONTENT-2 M + EXPRESSION – 1 M + FORMAT- 1 M)

❖ WORD LIMIT- 50 WORDS

TYPES OF INVITATIONS

(1) FORMAL (2) INFORMAL

a) in the form of CARD

b) in the form of LETTER

TYPE-I

FORMAL INVITATIONS

A. FORMAL INVITATION IN THE FORM OF CARD

GUIDELINES:

• To be written in third person

• No abbreviations to be used

• The entire content to be centrally aligned

• Should be in a box

• To be written in a single sentence, or max two sentences.

• Each detail to be mentioned in a separate line

• Important information to be highlighted (using blue ink only)

• May also use different font and font size for highlighting

• At the bottom of the box, left hand corner, RSVP to be written

• (RSVP- Respondez s'il vous plait, which means 'Please Reply’)

WHAT IS COVERED IN EACH LINE OF A FORMAL INVITATION ON CARD ?

The invitation is laid out so that each of the following is in a separate line:
• the name(s) of the host(s) issuing the invitation
• the standard expression 'request the pleasure of the company of…'
• the reason for the invitation (the event)
• the time and date of the event
• the venue of event

• In case a VIP is to be invited (at an official function), his/her name appears

prominently, followed by his designation in the next line
• No punctuation is required at the end of a line
• Simple present tense is used.
SAMPLE QUESTION- 1- FORMAL INVITATION FOR AN EVENT

Your school is organizing the Annual Day next month in one of the prestigious
auditoriums of your city. Draft an invitation in not more than 50 words giving all
the essential details. Do not forget to include necessary instructions against mobile
phones and cameras.

The Management, Staff and Students of

Lotus Valley School, Chandigarh

cordially invite you to their

ANNUAL FUNCTION‘TARANG’
on September 4 , 2020 (Friday) at 6:00 pm
in The National Auditorium

Sh. Pramod Kumar

(Secretary Higher Education, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India)
has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest
RSVP
Principal
(The use of mobile phones and cameras is prohibited)
PRACTICE QUESTION-1- INVITATION FOR AN EVENT

Key Value Solutions Pvt Ltd, Kochi is celebrating its 10th year by organizing a Musical Evening
by renowned band ‘Raga’ shortly. Draft an invitation in the name of the Management and staff
of the company, to be sent to its valued clients. Invent all necessary details. (50 Words)

SAMPLE QUESTION-2 WEDDING INVITATION

As Sarita and Satish Mehra, draft an invitation to be sent out to expected guests, for the wedding
of your daughter Namita. Invent all the necessary details.

Sarita Mehra & Satish Mehra

Cordially invite you to the wedding of their daughter

NAMITA

(Granddaughter of Mrs. Seema Mehra and Mr. Ajay Mehra)

with

VARUN

(Son of Mrs. Leela Kapoor and Mr. Sanjay Kapoor)

on August 24, 2022 (Monday) at 7:00 pm

at The Taj Hotel

RSVP Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai

The Mehras
(Programme Overleaf)

PRACTICE QUESTION-2 WEDDING INVITATION

You are Somasundaram Iyer from Tambaram, Chennai. Draft an invite for the wedding of your
daughter Shilpa with Shekhar. Invent all the necessary details. (50 Words)
SAMPLE QUESTION- 3 (EVENT)

The Literary Society of Modern Public School, Noida is organizing a lecture session by Mr V S
Naipaul, Nobel Prize Winner writer. The President of the Society asks Priya Singh, the Secretary
to draft a formal invite to be sent to various schools. Draft the invite in 50 words.
The Literary Society

of

Modern Public School, Noida

has great pleasure in inviting you to a

LECTURE SESSION

by

MR. V S Naipaul

on August 24, 2020 (Monday) at 10:30 am

In the school auditorium
RSVP
PRINCIPAL (Kindly be seated by 10 am)

B. FORMAL INVITATIONS IN THE FORM OF LETTER

GUIDELINES:

• To be written for an individual person of importance like the Chief Guest, the Guest of
Honour, a Judge or a Resource Person.

• Format of a formal letter to be used as it is. (Sender’s & Receiver’s address, date in between,
subject, salutation, body, complementary close)

• In receiver’s address, in the place of Receiver’s Designation, write the name of

the invitee, his designation,followed by his/ her address

• Para-1: …Name of the event, day, date, venue, time, inviting as…
• Para-2: A line in acceptance will be greatly appreciated.

• Para-3: Looking forward to welcoming you.

• Yours Sincerely followed by sign, name and designation of the person who is inviting.
 SAMPLE QUESTION- 1

Your school is organizing the Annual Day next month in one of the prestigious auditoriums of
your city. Draft an invitation in not more than 50 words to be sent to the Chief Guest, Mr Pramod
Kumar, Secretary Higher Education, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India.
Lotus Valley School
Chandigarh

August 5, 2020

Sh. Pramod Kumar

Secretary, Higher Education
Ministry of HRD, Government of India

Subject‐ Invitation for Annual Function

Sir

We are pleased to inform you that our school is organising the Annual Function‐
‘Tarang’ on Friday, September 4, 2020 at 6:00 pm in the National Auditorium.
We shall consider it a great honour if you would preside over the function as
our Chief Guest.

A line in acceptance would be greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to welcoming you

Yours sincerely

Sign

(Rekha Verma)
PRINCIPAL

PRACTICE QUESTION-1

You are Gomati Mann, Principal, Rajagiri School, Ranchi. Write an invitation to Mr.Gajendra
Pal, IAS, an alumnus of the school, inviting him as the Chief Guest for the Scholars’ Day
ceremony of the school. (50 words)
SAMPLE QUESTION-2

Literary Society of Modern Public School, Noida is planning to organize a lecture session by
Mr V S Naipaul, Nobel Prize Winner writer. The President of the Society asks Priya Singh, the
Secretary to draft a formal invite to be sent to Mr V S Naipaul. Draft the invite in 50 words.

Modern Public School

Noida

August 5, 2020

Mr. V S Naipaul

House No‐ 68

Haus Khas, New Delhi

Subject‐ Invitation for Lecture Session

Sir

We are pleased to inform you that the school is organizing a Literary Week in the first week of September,
2020. We would be honoured, if you could deliver a lecture to ourstudents on the importance of
literature. Kindly give us a suitable date and time , between September 1‐8, 2022.

A line of acceptance of the invitation would be greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to welcoming you

Yours sincerely

Sign

(Rekha Verma)
PRINCIPAL

PRACTICE QUESTION-2

Draft an invite for Ms. Neena pant, Secretary of the Rotary Club of your region, inviting her for
a fund raising programme being organized by your firm to support an orphanage in the city. You
are Rakesh Kumar, CEO, KPM Technologies, Chandigarh.
SAMPLE QUESTION-3

As Malati Soman, HOD of English Dept, DPPS, Ghaziabad, write an invitation, inviting
Ms.Latika Sinha, Head, Department of English, Bennet University, inviting her to judge an Inter
School debate competition.

Delhi Police Public School

Ghaziabad

August14, 2022

Ms. Latika Sinha

Dept Head, English

Bennet University, Greater Noida

Sub: Invitation to be the Judge at an Inter school event

Ma’am

The school is organising an Inter School Debate competition on Monday, August 31, 2022 from
10 am to 11.30 am. We would like to have you as one of the three adjudicators for theevent.

A line of consent by mail from you will be appreciated.

Looking forward to welcoming you

Yours sincerely

Sign

(Malati Soman)

HOD, Dept of English

 PRACTICE QUESTION-3

As Arti Kumar, Director, Ummeed, an NGO in town, write an invitation for Ms. Monika
Suri, Director, Kiran, another well known NGO in town, requesting her to inaugurate your
new branch office at Mayur Vihar,Delhi. Invent all necessary details.(50 words)
REPLY TO FORMAL INVITATIONS

GUIDELINES:

• Mention the address and date on the top left hand corner
• To be written in third person/ first person, depending on the person being invited
• Not to be signed in the end in case of 3rd person reply
• In case of reply in first person, write sender’s address and date, followed by content and sign &
name with designation in the end. (No need for full letter format as it is a line of confirmation
being asked)
• Should be in a box
• Whether sending a reply of acceptance or refusal, confirm the day, date, time and venue
of the event

• In case of refusal, specify a formal reason (just write this reason- due to a prior
engagement)

• Only formal language to be used

A. REPLY OF ACCEPTANCE OF FORMAL INVITATION

SAMPLE QUESTION-1

Draft a reply in the name of Pramod Kumar, Secretary, Higher Education, M/O HRD, accepting
the invitation to be the Chief Guest at the school’s Annual Function.
(Reply by high profile VIPs to be written by PA, hence in 3rd person and no name in the end)

Ministry of HRD

Government of India

August 8, 2022

Sh. Pramod Kumar thanks Mrs. Rekha Verma, Principal, Lotus Valley School, Chandigarh for
her kind invitation to the school’s Annual Function‐ ‘Tarang’ onFriday, September 4, 2022
at 6:00 pm in the National Auditorium. He is glad toaccept the invitation and confirm
attendance for the function.

Best wishes
SAMPLE QUESTION-2

Surya & Shankar Iyer of 123/7, Juhu, Mumbai, received the invitation for the wedding of the
daughter of Mr.& Mrs. Mehra. Write a reply to the invitation, accepting the same.
(Reply to all wedding invites in 3rd person)

123/7,Juhu Mumbai August

15,2022

Surya and Shankar Iyer are glad to receive the invitation for the wedding of thedaughter of
Mrs and Mr. Mehra, to be held on August 24, 2022 at The Taj Hotel, Nariman Point, Mumbai.
They confirm their presence with thanks.

Best wishes

SAMPLE QUESTION-3

As Ms. Latika Sinha, Head, Department of English, Bennet University, write a reply to Ms.
Malati Sonman, HOD, English. DPPS, Ghaziabad, accepting her invite to judge the debate
competition in their school. (Reply by an invitee who is equal or lower in status , in Ist person in
letter format)
Bennet University

Greater Noida

August 20,2022

Dear Ms. Malati

I am glad to be invited as one of the adjudicators for the Inter School debate being held in
your school on September 1, 2022. I accept the invitation with thanks.

Best wishes for the programme.

Sign

(Latika Sinha)

HOD, Dept of English

B. REPLY OF REFUSAL (DECLINE) OF FORMAL INVITATION

SAMPLE QUESTION-1

Draft a reply in the name of Pramod Kumar, Secretary, Higher Education, M/O HRD, declining
the invitation to be the Chief Guest at the school’s Annual Function. State a reason for the same.

Ministry of HRD
Government of
India

August 8, 2022

Sh. Pramod Kumar thanks Mrs. Rekha Verma, Principal, Lotus Valley School, Chandigarh for her
kind invitation to the school’s Annual Function‐ ‘Tarang’ on Friday, September 4, 2022 at 6:00
pm in the National Auditorium. However, he regrets to turn down the invitation due to a prior
commitment on the same day.

Best wishes for the programme.

SAMPLE QUESTION-2

Surya & Shankar Iyer of 123/7, Juhu, Mumbai, received the invitation for the wedding of the
daughter of Mr.& Mrs.Mehra. Write a reply to the invitation, declining the same.

123/7
Juhu, Mumbai

August 15,2022

Surya and Shankar Iyer are glad to receive the invitation for the wedding of the daughter of
Mr &Mrs. Mehra, to be held on August 24, 2022 at The Taj Hotel, Nariman Point. However,
they regretto state that they would not be able to make it to the function due to a prior
engagement on the same day.

Best wishes for the function.

 SAMPLE QUESTION-3

As Ms.Latika Sinha, Head, Department of English, Bennet University, write a reply to Ms.Malati
Sonman.HOD, English. DPPS, Ghaziabad, declining her invite to judge the debate competition
in their school.

Bennet University
Greater Noida

August 20,2022

Dear Ms. Malati

I am glad to be invited as one of the adjudicators for the Inter School debate being held in your
school on August 31, 2022. However, I regret to inform that I would not be able to accept your
invitation due to a prior commitment on the same day.
Best wishes for the programme.

Sign

(Latika Sinha)

HOD, Dept of English

PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

a. You are Varun Aggarwal, a client with Key Value solutions, Kochi. Write a reply
accepting the invite for the 10th year celebration of the company.( 50 words)

b. As Gajendra Pal, IAS, write a reply to Ms.Gomati Mann, Principal, Rajagiri School,
Ranchi, accepting the invite to attend the Scholars’ Day ceremony of the school.

c. As the Secretary of the renowned writer V.N.Naipaul, write a reply to Ms.Priya Singh,
Secretary of the Literary Society of Modern School, Noida, declining the invite to attend
the Lecture session in the school.

d. As Monika Suri, Director of the NGO, Kiran, write a reply to Ms.Arti Kumar, Director,
Ummeed, an NGO in town, accepting the invitation to attend the inauguration of the branch
office of Ummeed.

e. As Rakesh Kumar, CEO of KPM Technologies, Chandigarh, write a reply to Ms.Neena

Pant, Secretary of the District Rotary Club, declining the invitation to attend a fund raising
programme by the Club.
TYPE-2

INFORMAL INVITATIONS

GUIDELINES:

• Mention the address followed by the date on the top left hand corner

• Begin with- Dear along with the name

• Date, Venue and Time of the event to be mentioned

• To be written in first person

• The language is warm and personal

• Should be in a box

• Last sentence suggests that a reply is expected

• Don’t mention RSVP

• Just write the name of the sender in the end

SAMPLE QUESTION

You are Harshita. Your birthday is falling in the coming week. Invite your best friend for a
movie and your treat thereafter. Draft the invite in 50 words.

12, Kasturba Marg

New Delhi

August 10, 2022

Dear Anu

It’s my birthday on August 16, 2020 and I wish to celebrate the day with my friends ,
watching the movie‐ ‘Ice Age’ at the 4:00 pm show at Ansal Mall. We will then go for
dinner at Green Castle. Hope you will join me in the celebrations.

Please confirm if you will be coming.

See you soon.

Harshita
SAMPLE QUESTION-2

Draft an Invitation to your friend Ashima/ Ashish for the get together you are planning, to celebrate
your selection as Head Girl /Boy of the school. You are Garima/ Gaurav of H.No-21/B,KMP
Nagar, Trivandrum.

H.No‐21/B

KMP Nagar,

TrivandrumAugust 14,

2022

Dear Ashima

I have been selected as the Head Girl of the school for the session, 2022‐23. I
would like to celebrate this feat with my friends by having a get together at
myplace on Wednesday, August 19 at 2 pm. Please join me for the
celebration.

Please confirm if you will be coming .

Garima

REPLY TO INFORMAL INVITATIONS

GUIDELINES:

• Mention the address and date on the top left hand corner

• To be written in first person

• Name of the sender to be written in the end (No designation)

• Should be in a box

• Whether sending a reply of acceptance or refusal, confirm the day, date, time and venue
of the event

• In case of refusal, specify a reason

• Language must be warm and personal

A.REPLY OF ACCEPTANCE OF INFORMAL INVITATION

SAMPLE QUESTION-1

As Anu, write a reply accepting the birthday invitation by your friend Harshita.

C‐110, Ashiana Orchids,

Lucknow

August 12, 2020

Dear Harshita

Heartiest wishes on your birthday! It will give me immense pleasure to join you forthe
movie‐ ‘Ice Age’ on August 16, 2020 at 4:00 pm at Ansal Mall and stay on for the dinner at
Green Castle. Thanks for inviting me.

Looking forward to having a great time with you

Anu

SAMPLE QUESTION-2

As Ashish/Ashima of H/No-12/C, Pattom, Trivandrum, write a reply, accepting the

invitation by Gaurav/Garima for the get together to celebrate selection as Head Boy/Head
Girl.

H.No‐12/C

Pattom, Trivandrum

Dear Gaurav

I am glad to be invited for the get together on August 20, 2022 at your residence
to celebrate your selection as the Head Boy of your school. I acceptthe invitation
with thanks.

See you soon.

.Ashish
B. REPLY OF REFUSAL OF INFORMAL INVITATION

SAMPLE QUESTION-1

As Anu, write a reply, turning down the birthday invitation by Harshita. Cite a suitable reason for
the same.

C‐110 Ashiana Orchids

Lucknow

August 12, 2020

Dear Harshita

Thanks for the invitation for your birthday party, however, I

shall not be able to join you for the movie‐ ‘Ice Age’ on
August 16, 2020 at 4:00 pm at Ansal Mall and also for the
dinner at Green Castle, due to a prior engagement. Sorry
about the same.

Heartiest wishes on your birthday in advance.

Anu

SAMPLE QUESTION-2
As Ashish/Ashima of H/No-12/C,Pattom, Trivandrum, write a reply, declining the invitation by
Gaurav/Garima for the get together to celebrate selection as Head Boy/Head Girl.

H.No‐12/C

Pattom, Trivandrum

Dear Garima

I am glad to be invited for the get together on August 20, 2022 at your
residence to celebrate your selection as the Head Girl of your school.
However, I would not be able to attend the party due to an urgent prior
engagement.

Best wishes for the programme.

Ashish
PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

a. You have bought a new car and are planning to throw a party for your
friends at your residence to share your joy. Draft an invitation for the
same. You are Navneet from B- 11/8, ABC Society, Whitefield,
Bangalore.

b. As Pawan of B-11/6, Jayanagar, Bangalore, write a reply, accepting the

invitation from Varun for the party to celebrate buying your new car.

c. Your son Vihan has cleared NEET and to celebrate the occasion, you
are organizing a party for your relatives. Draft the invite in 50 words.
You are Vijay Lakhania of H.N.23, Vijayanagar, Perambur, Chennai.

d. You are Aruna Shoorie of Flat No.12, The Address Residency, Anna
Nagar, Chennaiwho has received an invite from Vijay Lakhania for the
party to celebrate his son’s achievement in the NEET exam. However,
you have another engagement on the day and hence would not be able
to make it for the party. Write a reply to Vijay, declining his invite, with
reasons.

e. Draft an invitation to be sent to your dear and near, inviting them for the
Naming Ceremony of your son. You are Ajit Kumar of 2C/8, Elite
Presidency, Kaloor, Kochi.

TIPS IN A NUTSHELL

• Formal Invitations by card in 3rd person, centrally aligned, each line with one
information
• Reply to Card invites- Address of sender, date, content in 3rd person- no
name in the end, no salutation

• Formal invite through letter- VIPs, and Special Guests- - 1st person. In
the format of a formal letter, but in 50 words

• Reply to formal invitation by letter- Reply by PA in case of VIP guests-

- Sender’s address, Date, Content in 3rd person -No salutation, no name
in the end

• Reply to formal invitation by letter – In case of both parties being of

equal status, Reply by Invitee himself/ herself –Address of invitee, date,
Salutation (Sir/Ma’am or Dear Ms………), Content in 1st person, Sign
and Name of the sender in the end with designation.

• Informal invite- just like an informal letter.(Address of the sender, date,

content in 1st person, name of the sender in the end)
• Reply to informal invite – Format same as Informal Invitation.

• All invitations to be written in 50 words and put inside a box.

❖ The students need to read the questions carefully and decide for
themselves which type and format of invitation best suits a given
question.