Discussing Plans and Arrangements for the Future.

In this lesson you learn several natural ways to talk about the future in everyday situations. You start by reading and listening to people discussing weekend plans, work arrangements and long term goals. You notice how they use going to for intentions, present continuous for fixed arrangements and will for predictions or quick decisions. Guided practice helps you build questions and answers about plans with friends, family and colleagues. You also discuss your hopes and expectations for the next year or two, and consider which verb forms fit each idea. Short writing tasks ask you to describe your plans for the coming months in a message or short paragraph. By the end, you can choose an appropriate future form to talk about travel, social events, study and work with growing confidence.

1. Listening to weekend plans.

In this first part of the lesson, let us step into a very normal situation. Three friends are chatting about their plans for the weekend. You will hear them talk about what they are going to do, what they have already arranged, and what they think will happen with the weather. This will give you a natural first taste of different future forms. Do not worry about understanding every single word. Your main job is to notice how they talk about the future and to catch the main ideas. After you listen, you will see the conversation on the screen to read more slowly. I will highlight some useful phrases, like I am going to visit my parents next weekend, or We are meeting at six o'clock. Then you will answer a few questions in writing to check your understanding. Focus on the meaning first. Later, in the next blocks, we will look more carefully at the grammar patterns and you will start to use them to talk about your own future plans.

Three friends making weekend plans.

Here is a short conversation between three friends: Alex, Priya and Ben. They are talking about their plans for this weekend.

Read the conversation once quite quickly. Do not worry if some words are new. Then read it again more slowly and notice how they talk about the future.

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Alex: Hi both! Do you have any plans for the weekend?

Priya: Yes, I am going to visit my parents next weekend, so this Saturday I want to stay in London and relax.

Ben: I think I will just stay at home on Saturday. I am really tired after this week.

Alex: On Saturday morning I am going to clean the flat, and in the afternoon I am meeting my cousin in town.

Priya: Nice! What are you doing on Sunday?

Alex: On Sunday we are going to the coast. We are leaving at eight o'clock and we are meeting at the station.

Ben: Great idea! I am not going to work this Sunday, so I can come. I will buy the train tickets online now.

Priya: Perfect. It will probably be sunny. The forecast looks good.

Alex: Fantastic. So, to check: we are meeting at the station at eight o'clock on Sunday, and we are going to spend the day at the beach.

Ben: Yes, that is the plan!

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Noticing future language.

Look again at a few key sentences from the conversation.

• I am going to visit my parents next weekend.
• I am meeting my cousin in town.
• We are going to the coast.
• We are leaving at eight o'clock.
• I will buy the train tickets online now.
• It will probably be sunny.

You can already see three useful patterns:

1. be going to + verb (am going to visit, are going to spend) to talk about plans and intentions.
2. present continuous (am meeting, are leaving) to talk about fixed arrangements with a time.
3. will + verb (will buy, will probably be) to make spontaneous decisions or predictions.

Do not worry about using them perfectly yet. In this first step, just make sure you understand the basic situation and what each person is planning to do.

In the activity below, you will listen again without the text and answer some questions about their plans.

Practice & Feedback

Listen carefully to the conversation between Alex, Priya and Ben again. You will not see the text while you listen, so try to imagine the situation. After listening, look at the three questions below.

Write your answers in full sentences, not just one word. Use present or future forms naturally, for example: Alex is going to... or They are meeting at.... If you do not remember every detail, give your best answer from what you understood.

Try to:

• include the name of the correct person when necessary;
• use at least one future phrase in each answer, such as is going to, are meeting, will.

Do not worry if your spelling is not perfect. Focus on clear meaning. When you finish, send your answers. You will get feedback about your understanding and your sentences.

2. Talking about intentions with going to.

Now we are going to zoom in on one of the most useful patterns from that conversation: be going to. We use going to to talk about plans and intentions, things we have already decided to do, even if they are not fixed like a ticket or a booking yet. For example, Priya said she is going to visit her parents next weekend. This shows a clear plan in her mind. In this block, you will see a simple explanation of how to build sentences with going to. We will look at positive sentences, negatives and questions. You will also see some model sentences about travel, work and study plans so you can recycle the ideas and the vocabulary. After that, you will write a few sentences about your own intentions for the next few weeks. Do not worry about being creative; focus on being clear and accurate with the structure I am going to show you.

Using **be going to** for plans and intentions.

We often use be going to + verb to talk about plans, intentions and decisions for the future.

Think of it like this: the idea is already in your head, and you probably will do it, but it is not always a fixed arrangement like a ticket or an appointment.

Form.

We need the correct form of be (am, is, are) + going to + base verb.

We usually use contractions in speech and informal writing:

• I am going to → I’m going to
• You are going to → You’re going to
• He is going to → He’s going to
• We are going to → We’re going to

Meaning in examples.

• I am going to visit my parents next weekend.

→ This is a personal plan. Maybe the ticket is not bought yet, but the decision is clear.

• I am going to look for a new job.

→ This is an intention for the future, not necessarily a fixed arrangement.

• We are going to the coast on Sunday.

→ This could be a plan or an arrangement, especially when we mention times or places.

Negatives and questions.

To make a negative, add not after the verb be:

• I am not going to work on Saturday.
• She is not going to study this weekend.
• We are not going to cook tonight.

To make a question, put be at the beginning:

• Are you going to study abroad?
• Is he going to come with us?
• What are you going to do this evening?

In the task below, you will practise this structure by talking about your own real plans and intentions.

Practice & Feedback

Read the explanation above again and look carefully at the examples with be going to. Think about real plans or intentions you have for the next few weeks or months. They can be about travel, work or study, family, or hobbies.

Write 5 sentences about your own intentions using be going to. Try to:

• use I’m going to at least three times;
• include one negative sentence, for example: I’m not going to...;
• include one question that you could ask a friend, for example: Are you going to... ?.

Make your sentences as clear and specific as you can, using time expressions like next weekend, this summer or in September. When you finish, send your sentences. You will get feedback about your structure and some ideas on how to make them sound even more natural.

3. Describing fixed arrangements with present continuous.

You have now practised talking about general plans and intentions with going to. Let us move to the next step: how to talk about **fixed arrangements**, things that are already organised, often in a diary or calendar. For this, we often use the present continuous, the same form we use for actions happening now. Think about Alex from our first dialogue. He said we are leaving at eight o'clock and we are meeting at the station. These are not just ideas; they are clear arrangements with times and places. In this block you will look at a simple weekly diary and see how to turn notes into full sentences using the present continuous for the future. Then you will practise writing your own sentences from similar diary notes. The focus is on being precise with time and place, so that other people can understand your arrangements easily.

Present continuous for future arrangements.

We often use the present continuous to talk about fixed future arrangements, especially when we mention a time and sometimes a place. These are things in your diary or calendar.

The form is:

> am / is / are + verb-ing + future time

For example, from the earlier conversation:

• I am meeting my cousin in town on Saturday afternoon.
• We are leaving at eight o'clock on Sunday.

These are fixed plans. The time is clear and probably other people are involved.

Alex’s diary for next week.

Look at Alex’s simple diary. All of these notes are future arrangements.

We can turn these notes into full sentences with the present continuous:

• On Monday I am going to the dentist at half past nine.
• On Wednesday I am having dinner with Priya at seven o'clock.
• On Friday I am flying to Dublin at four o'clock.
• On Saturday I am meeting my old school friends at eleven.
• On Sunday I am coming back home in the evening.

Notice that we always add a future time expression: on Monday, on Friday, at four o'clock, in the evening.

Present continuous or going to?.

• Use going to for general plans and intentions.

I am going to look for a new job.

• Use present continuous for fixed arrangements in your diary.

I am starting a new course next month.

We are meeting at six o'clock.

In reality, both forms are sometimes possible, but thinking like this will help you choose more confidently.

In the activity, you will read a new diary and write full sentences about future arrangements.

Practice & Feedback

Imagine that the diary below is your diary for next week. You are going to practise turning these short notes into full sentences about fixed future arrangements using the present continuous.

Write 5 sentences, one for each diary note. Follow these steps:

1. Start each sentence with a future time expression: On Monday, On Wednesday, On Friday, etc.
2. Use am/is/are + verb-ing to describe the arrangement.
3. Add the time and, if possible, the place or person.

For example: On Monday I am seeing the dentist at half past nine.

Try to make your sentences natural and complete. When you have written all five, send them. You will receive feedback on your verb forms, word order and use of time expressions.

4. Making predictions and quick decisions with will.

You have seen how going to is useful for plans and how the present continuous helps you describe fixed arrangements. There is one more very common future form we need to look at: will. We often use will when we make a prediction, when we think about what will probably happen, and when we make a quick decision at the moment of speaking. Think back to the earlier conversation. Ben said, I will buy the train tickets online now. He decided in that moment, during the conversation. Priya said, It will probably be sunny. That is her prediction about the weather. In this block, you will read a short weather report and some messages between friends as they react to it. You will notice how they use will to talk about the future. Then you will answer a few questions to show that you understand the difference between predictions and arrangements.

Using **will** for predictions and quick decisions.

We often use will + verb to talk about the future in two main situations:

1. Predictions – what we think will happen.
2. Spontaneous decisions – decisions we make at the moment of speaking.

The form is simple:

> will + base verb

We usually use I’ll, you’ll, he’ll, she’ll, we’ll, they’ll in speech.

A short weather report.

Read this short text from a British weather website:

> Weekend weather

> On Saturday it will be dry and sunny in most of the country. Temperatures will reach 22 degrees. On Sunday morning it will probably rain in the north and west, but the south will stay dry. In the afternoon, the rain will move east and the wind will get stronger.

Friends reacting to the forecast.

Now read the short chat between Alex and Priya.

• Alex: It looks like it will be sunny on Saturday. Great!
• Priya: Yes, so I think we will go to the park in the morning.
• Alex: Good idea. I will bring some snacks.
• Priya: On Sunday it will probably rain. Maybe we will stay at home and watch a film.

Here they use will to:

• talk about what they think the weather will be like;
• make quick decisions about what they will do.

Compare this with our earlier forms:

• We are meeting at six o'clock. → fixed arrangement (present continuous).
• We are going to visit my parents. → intention/plan (going to).
• We will stay at home. → decision now or prediction about the future.

In the activity below, you will answer some questions about the text using will where it is natural.

Practice & Feedback

Read the weekend weather report and the short chat again. Then answer the questions below in full sentences. Try to use will in each answer where it is natural.

Remember:

• use will for predictions (what you think will happen);
• use will for quick decisions in the moment.

For example, you might write: On Saturday it will be sunny, or They will probably stay at home on Sunday.

Write 3–5 sentences in total, answering the questions clearly. Do not just copy whole sentences from the text; try to put the ideas in your own words. When you finish, send your answers. You will receive feedback on your understanding and on your use of will.

5. Chatting with a friend to arrange the weekend.

You now have three key tools for the future: going to for intentions, the present continuous for fixed arrangements, and will for predictions and quick decisions. In real life, we often mix these forms together in short messages when we are arranging something with a friend. In this block, you will see a model chat between two friends who are arranging their weekend. Notice how they ask about plans, suggest ideas and confirm times. You will also see some useful question patterns, like What are you doing this evening? and Do you have any plans for Saturday? After exploring the model, you will write your own short chat. You will write messages from both people, so you can practise asking and answering questions and making small decisions. This is good preparation for real WhatsApp or Messenger conversations in English.

A model chat about weekend plans.

Look at this short WhatsApp-style chat between Alex and his friend Sam.

> Alex: Hi Sam! What are you doing this Saturday?

> Sam: Hi! I am not doing much. I am going to study in the morning, but I am free in the afternoon.

> Alex: I am going to visit my parents next weekend, so this weekend I am staying in town. Do you want to meet?

> Sam: Yes, that sounds good. What time are we meeting?

> Alex: Let us meet at three o'clock in front of the cinema.

> Sam: Great. I will buy the tickets when I get there.

> Alex: Perfect. It will probably be busy, so I am booking the seats online now.

Useful patterns from the chat.

Questions about plans:

• What are you doing this Saturday?
• Do you have any plans for the weekend?
• What time are we meeting?

Giving information about plans and arrangements:

• I am going to study in the morning.
• I am free in the afternoon.
• This weekend I am staying in town.
• Let us meet at three o'clock in front of the cinema.

Making decisions and predictions with will:

• I will buy the tickets when I get there.
• It will probably be busy.

Notice how they mix the forms naturally:

• am going to for general plans (study, visit parents);
• am staying / are we meeting for fixed arrangements;
• will buy / will probably be for quick decisions and predictions.

In the activity, you will write a similar chat, using these patterns to arrange your own weekend plans with a friend.

Practice & Feedback

You are now going to simulate a chat with a friend about plans for next Saturday. Imagine you are messaging a real friend in an app.

Write a short chat with at least 8 lines. Write both sides of the conversation, like in the model. You can:

• start with a simple question, for example: Hi! What are you doing next Saturday?;
• include at least two questions with the present continuous about arrangements (What time are we meeting?);
• include at least two sentences with going to about intentions (I’m going to visit my grandma in the morning.);
• include at least one sentence with will for a quick decision or prediction (I’ll bring some snacks.).

Write it in a chat style, with each message on a new line and the names of the speakers (e.g. You: and Friend:). When you finish your mini-conversation, send it. You will receive feedback, and I will reply as your friend with one or two extra messages to continue the chat.

6. Writing about your future plans and hopes.

You have now practised all the key future forms for this lesson in short sentences and in a chat. To finish, let us bring everything together in one longer piece of writing. Imagine you are writing to an English-speaking friend who lives in another country. They ask you, So, what are your plans for the next few months? In this final block, you will see a model message from one person to a friend. The message includes intentions with going to, fixed arrangements with the present continuous and predictions or quick decisions with will. You will also see a simple checklist to help you plan your own writing: what to include and what language to use. Then you will write a short message about your real future plans and hopes: travel, work or study, family, hobbies. Try to make it personal and realistic. This is your small performance task for the lesson, and it will show you how much future language you can already use.

A model message about future plans.

Read this message from Marta to her friend Emma.

> Hi Emma,

>

> How are you? I hope everything is good in Australia. I want to tell you about my plans for the next few months.

>

> First, I am going to finish my English course in June. After that, I am starting a new job in a small company near the city centre. I am really excited about it. In July I am going to visit my parents for two weeks. We are having a big family party for my dad’s birthday.

>

> This summer I am not going to travel abroad because I want to save money, but next year I am going to look for a job overseas. Maybe I will move to the UK one day. I think it will be difficult at the beginning, but it will also be a great adventure.

>

> What about you? Are you going to stay in Australia or are you planning to come back to Europe?

>

> Take care,

> Marta

What language does Marta use?.

• going to for intentions and general plans:

I am going to finish my English course.

I am going to visit my parents.

• present continuous for fixed arrangements:

I am starting a new job in June.

We are having a big family party.

• will for predictions and long-term hopes:

Maybe I will move to the UK one day.

I think it will be difficult at the beginning.

Checklist for your writing.

When you write your own message, try to:

• say what you are going to do in the next few months (study, work, travel, hobbies);
• describe one or two fixed arrangements in your diary using the present continuous;
• include one or two predictions or hopes using will (I think it will... / Maybe I will...);
• use future time expressions like next month, this summer, in September, in two years;
• write in a friendly, personal style, as if you are really writing to a friend.

In the activity below, you will write your own message about your future plans and hopes.

Practice & Feedback

Now it is your turn to write a message about your future plans and hopes.

Imagine you are writing to a friend who lives in another country. They want to know what your life will be like in the next few months or year. Write a message of about 120–150 words. You can follow Marta’s structure:

• Start with a friendly opening.
• Describe your plans and intentions using going to.
• Describe one or two fixed arrangements using the present continuous.
• Mention one or two predictions or hopes using will.
• Finish with a short closing sentence or question.

Try to make your message personal and realistic. Use time expressions like next weekend, this autumn or in a few years. When you finish, send your text. You will get feedback on your ideas and on how you use the different future forms.