Beginner· A1–A2 Social & small talk6 min

Making plans with a friend

Suggest an activity, agree on a time and place, and confirm your plans.

The scene

Your friend sends you a voice message and then calls you. You want to meet this weekend and need to decide what to do and when.

Speaker A: Friend
Speaker B: You

Your goals

Make suggestions with 'How about…?' and 'Why don't we…?'
Agree on a day, time and place
Confirm the plan at the end

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

to hang out
to spend time together in a relaxed way (informal)
Do you want to hang out on Saturday?
free
not busy
Are you free on Sunday?
to meet up
to meet someone by arrangement
Let's meet up at the café.
sounds good
an informal way to agree
Sounds good to me!
to grab lunch
to have a quick, informal lunch
Let's grab lunch after the movie.
see you then
a way to say goodbye after making a plan
OK, see you then!

Useful phrases

Are you free on …?
Asking if someone has time
How about …?
Making a suggestion
Why don't we …?
Making another suggestion
What time works for you?
Asking about time
Sounds good!
Agreeing informally
See you then!
Ending the call after making a plan

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

Speak as YouSpeak as Friend

Voice speed

Friend
Hey! Are you free this weekend?
You
Hi! I'm busy on Saturday, but I'm free on Sunday.
Friend
Great. Do you want to hang out?
You
Sure. How about a movie? There's a new comedy at the cinema downtown.
Friend
Sounds good! Why don't we grab lunch first?
You
Good idea. What time works for you?
Friend
How about twelve thirty at the Italian place near the cinema?
You
Perfect. The movie starts at two fifteen, so that's enough time.
Friend
Great. So, Sunday, twelve thirty, at the Italian place.
You
Yes, exactly. See you then!

You speak 5 lines as You; Friend is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

1. Invite a friend to do something this weekend and suggest a time.
2. Your friend is busy. Suggest another day and activity.
3. Repeat the final plan: day, time and place.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

1. Which phrase makes a suggestion?
2. What does 'hang out' mean?
3. Your friend says, 'Twelve thirty?' How do you agree informally?
4. Why repeat the plan at the end?

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

Avoid: ~~Why don't we to go to the cinema?~~
Say: Why don't we go to the cinema?
After 'Why don't we', use the base verb without 'to'.
Avoid: ~~How about go to the park?~~
Say: How about going to the park?
After 'How about', use the -ing form or a noun.
Avoid: ~~I am free in Sunday.~~
Say: I'm free on Sunday.
Use 'on' with days.

Tips

Offer two options so the other person can choose easily.
Always confirm the day, time and place before you hang up.
Send a short message afterward with the plan if it is complicated.

Questions about this lesson

How do you invite a friend in English?

Ask 'Are you free on…?' then 'Do you want to…?' or 'How about…?' Keep it light and give a time.

How do you say no to a plan politely in English?

Say 'I'd love to, but I'm busy on Saturday. How about Sunday?' Offering another time keeps it friendly.

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

Next lesson: Meeting new people at a party

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