A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

Making plans
Lesson code: TX8M-G329-ABIS INTERMEDIATE+

1 Warm-up
What are your plans for next week?

2 Types of arrangement
Match the following words with their correct definitions and complete the sentences below.

1. an appointment a. a formal arrangement to meet or visit someone at a fixed time and place
2. a date b. a medical examination to test the general state of your health
3. a get-together c. a meeting in which someone asks you questions to see if you are
suitable for a job or course
4. a dinner engagement d. an arrangement to meet somebody for an evening meal (very formal)
5. a check-up e. an informal meeting or social gathering
6. an interview f. a planned romantic meeting between two people

1
We are having a small tomorrow afternoon. Why don't you join us?
2
I have an to see Mr. Karlsson at 3pm.
3
How was your with Emily? Do you like her?
4
I'm going to the doctor's for a this afternoon. I haven't been feeling too well lately.
5
Professor Jones has a very important tonight with his university colleagues.
6
Good luck with your job tomorrow! I'm sure you'll do well.

3 Listening
Alice and Simon arrange to meet. Listen to their two telephone conversations and answer the following
questions:

1. Why can't Simon meet Alice on Thursday evening?

2. When and where do they arrange to meet?
3. What reason does Alice give for cancelling the meeting?
4. When and where do they finally agree to meet?
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 Making plans
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

4 Expressions for making arrangements

Now complete the dialogues with the expressions below. Listen to check your answers.

Can we do Sunday instead? Can you make it on Friday?

Friday sounds fine how about 8.15?
I'm afraid I can't make it I'm afraid Thursday isn't good for me
See you on Friday See you then
Shall we say Thursday evening? Sure, that suits me fine

DIALOGUE 1
Simon: Hello.
Alice: Hi Simon, it's Alice.
Simon: Hi there Alice. How are things?
Alice: Not too bad. Listen, there is a new film out with Russel Crowe. I've heard it's really good. Would
you like to go to the cinema to see it?
Simon: Sure, sounds great.
1
Alice:
2
Simon: . I'm having dinner with my family. It's my mother's birthday.
3
Alice: OK.
4
Simon: Err yeah, .
Alice: Great.
Simon: What time do you want to meet?
5
Alice: Well, they're showing the film at 8.30, so In front of the cinema.
6
Simon: Fine. .

DIALOGUE 2
Simon: Hello.
7
Alice: Hi Simon, it's Alice. Listen, I'm calling about Friday. . You see,
my cousin is coming to visit me for the weekend and I have to spend some time with her.
Simon: Oh, that's a pity.
8
Alice:
9
Simon: .
Alice: Great.
Simon: Same time, same place?
10
Alice: Yes. . Bye

Now read the dialogues in pairs.

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 Making plans
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

5 Phrasal vocabulary
The sentences below contain common phrases that are used when arranging meetings. Match the
underlined words/phrases with their correct definitions on the right:

1. I'm afraid I can't meet you. Something has come up. a. busy, unavailable
2. I'm afraid I'm tied up all weekend. b. cancel
3. Let's meet up at the fountain at 4pm. c. change to a later time/day
4. Can we bring forward the meeting to Tuesday? d. change to an earlier time/day
5. Can we put off the meeting to Friday? e. collect, go and get
6. I'm sorry, but I have to call off tomorrow's meeting f. happened unexpectedly
7. So, I'll pick you up at 8pm then. g. meeting as planned
8. Are we still on for tomorrow night? h. meet someone in order to do
something together

6 Present continuous for stating plans

Look at the following sentence from the dialogue:

I'm afraid Thursday isn't good for me. I'm having dinner with my family.

1. Why is the present continuous tense used here?

2. What is the form of the present continuous?

Look at the following sentence:

I'm afraid Thursday isn't good for me. I have an appointment.

Why isn't the present continuous used in this sentence?

Now complete the sentences below. In three of the sentences, the present continuous cannot be used.

1. I'm afraid I can't meet you. I (meet) a friend for lunch.

2. I'm afraid Thursday isn't good for me. My uncle (come) to see me for a few days.
3. I'm sorry, I have to call off tomorrow's meeting. I (have) a very busy day.
4. Friday is difficult. My friends (visit) me.
5. Next Saturday suits me fine. I (not/do) anything special.
6. I'm afraid I can't make it. I (have) a train to catch.
7. Tomorrow evening sounds good. I (not/have) any plans.
8. I'm afraid I can't make it. I (have) lunch with an old friend.
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 Making plans
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

7 Role play
Work in pairs. Think of a reason to meet your partner, e.g. for a coffee, to help you with your homework,
etc. Practise arranging the meeting. Your partner should not make it easy to arrange a time/date.
Reverse roles when you have finished.

Now practise cancelling the arrangement and changing the time or day of each plan.

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 Making plans - Transcripts
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

3- Listening

DIALOGUE 1
Simon: Hello.
Alice: Hi Simon, it's Alice.
Simon: Hi there Alice. How are things?
Alice: Not too bad. Listen, there is a new film out with Russel Crowe. I've heard it's really good. Would
you like to go to the cinema to see it?
Simon: Sure, sounds great.
Alice: Shall we say Thursday evening?
Simon: I'm afraid Thursday isn't good for me. I'm having dinner with my family. It's my mother's birthday.
Alice: OK. Can you make it on Friday?
Simon: Err yeah, Friday sounds fine.
Alice: Great.
Simon: What time do you want to meet?
Alice: Well, they're showing the film at 8.30, so how about a quarter past eight? In front of the cinema.
Simon: Fine. See you on Friday.

DIALOGUE 2
Simon: Hello.
Alice: Hi Simon, it's Alice. Listen, I'm calling about Friday. I'm afraid I can't make it. You see, my cousin
is coming to visit me for the weekend and I have to spend some time with her.
Simon: Oh, that's a pity.
Alice: Can we do Sunday instead?
Simon: Sure, that suits me fine.
Alice: Great.
Simon: Same time, same place?
Alice: Yes. See you then. Bye

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 Making plans - Key
A A A A PRACTICAL ENGLISH

1- Warm-up

Put students into pairs and monitor the activity. Write up corrections on the board. Do not spend too long on this
exercise. Students will study the use of the present continuous for stating future plans later in the lesson.

2- Types of arrangement

1. a 2. f 3. e 4. d 5. b 6. c

1. get-together 2. appointment 3. date

4. check-up 5. dinner engagement 6. interview

3- Listening

Play the audio file or use your mobile device to scan the QR code (make sure you have installed a QR code reader
app and can access the Internet on your device).

1. He's having a dinner with his family.

2. Friday, 8.15pm in front of the cinema
3. Her cousin is visiting her for the weekend.
4. Sunday, 8.15pm in front of the cinema

4- Expressions for making arrangements

1. Shall we say Thursday evening? 2. I'm afraid Thursday isn't good for me
3. Can you make it on Friday? 4. Friday sounds fine
5. how about 8.15? 6. See you on Friday
7. I'm afraid I can't make it 8. Can we do Sunday instead?
9. Sure, that suits me fine 10. See you then

5- Phrasal vocabulary

1. f 2. a 3. h 4. d 5. c 6. b 7. e 8. g

6- Present continuous for stating plans

1. The present continuous is used to state future plans or arrangements.

2. be + -ing

State verbs are not normally used in the continuous form. The verb `have' in `have dinner' is an action verb
meaning `eat', so `I'm having dinner' is correct. However, in the expression `have an appointment' the verb `have'
is a state verb meaning `possess', so we say `I have an appointment' rather than `I'm having an appointment'.

1. 'm meeting 2. is coming 3. have 4. are visiting

5. 'm not doing 6. have 7. don't have 8. 'm having
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