Making Plans and Decisions in English: phrases + dialogue

Do you enjoy planning trips or meet-ups, or do you find it hard to decide what to do?

Making plans and decisions is a key part of everyday communication in English.

In this post, you’ll learn some common, real-life English phrases for making plans, sharing preferences, and deciding what to do!

Contents

Making plans: example dialogue

In this natural English dialogue, Jim and Kim are deciding where to go for their next trip. They discuss a few options, share their plans, and eventually agree on somewhere to go.

Making Plans and Decisions in English: phrases + dialogue - Dan's Real English (1)

Listen!

First, listen to the dialogue without reading the transcript. Try to answer these questions as you listen:

Which places do Jim and Kim mention in their dialogue?
Why do they decide not to go to New York and Greece?
Where do they decide to go?

Phrases for making plans and decisions

Here are some informal English phrases for making plans and decisions. These expressions are useful for suggesting ideas, sharing your preferences, and agreeing on what to do.

1. Asking for suggestions

In the dialogue, Jim asks:

Where do you fancy going? = Where do you feel like going?
How about we stay closer to home? = Would you prefer somewhere nearby?
What do you reckon? = What do you think?

Other useful phrases for asking for suggestions include:

Got any ideas?
What do you think we should do?
Any suggestions for where we should go?

2. Sharing preferences

In the dialogue, Kim says what she wants to do like this:

I’ve always liked the idea of… = I’ve always wanted to try…
I think I’d rather go to… = I’d prefer this option.
Let’s not go where we went last time. = I’d prefer something new.

Other ways to share preferences include:

I’m more interested in…
I’d love to try…
I’m not really keen on…

3. Agreeing on plans

In the dialogue, Jim and Kim agree on Paris using these phrases:

Why not? = I agree with your suggestion.
I’m up for it if you are. = I’ll go if you want to go.
Ok! Paris it is, then! = We’ve made a decision!

Other ways to agree on plans include:

That sounds great to me. = I like that idea.
I think we should go with that. = I think we choose that option
Let’s go for it! = Let’s do it!

Making plans: dialogue transcript

Try to follow the transcript while you’re listening to the dialogue. This will help you pick up each speaker’s stress, intonation, and timing.

Jim: So, where do you fancy going, then? Come on, the world is our oyster!
Kim: Well, I’ve always liked the idea of going to New York, but it’s a bit too far away, really, isn’t it?
Jim: Not to mention a bit too pricey! How about we stay a bit closer to home, then? What about a Greek island?
Kim: Ooh, yeah, somewhere nice and warm. Greece is still a bit of a trek, though, isn’t it? I think I’d rather go to Italy, instead. Or maybe France.
Jim: Yeah, France is a bit closer, isn’t it? I’d definitely be up for a trip to France.
Kim: But let’s not go where we went last time, though. You know, I think I’d rather try somewhere new.
Jim: Well, how about Paris, then? I’ve never even set foot in Paris. What do you reckon?
Kim: Why not? I’ve never been there, either, but I’d love to go. I’m up for it if you are. Up to you!
Jim: Ok! Paris it is, then!

Extra vocabulary from the dialogue

Here are some additional useful phrases and idioms from the dialogue. These expressions can help you sound more natural when making plans and decisions:

fancy going.. = want to go
- example: “where do you fancy going?” = where do you want to go?
the world is our oyster = we have many possibilities or opportunities to choose from.
- example: “come on, the world is our oyster!” = we can go anywhere we want.
a bit of a trek = quite far away or difficult to reach.
- example: “Greece is a bit of a trek, though, isn’t it?” = Greece is quite far away.
set foot in = visit or go to a place.
- example: “I’ve never even set foot in Paris.” = I’ve never been to Paris.
not to mention = and also (used to add emphasis).
- example: “not to mention a bit too pricey!” = and it’s also expensive.
up for it = ready or willing to do something.
- example: “I’m up for it if you are.” = I’ll do it if you want to.
up to you = you decide; the choice is yours.
- example: “I’m up for it if you are. up to you!” = I’ll go if you want to. you decide.

Other phrases for making plans

Here are a few more specific phrases you can use when making plans or decisions. These expressions are helpful for different situations, like adjusting or rejecting plans, confirming details, or suggesting changes.

Asking about availability

Here are some phrases to ask if someone is available:

Are you free this weekend? Do you have any free time this weekend?
Do you have time this weekend? Are you available this weekend?
When’s best for you? What time is good for you? (When’s = when is)
What time’s good for you? What time can you meet?
What’s your schedule like? When are you free?
What are you up to this week? Do you have any plans this week? (up to = doing)

Confirming plans

How do you check if you’ve got the time and place right for your meeting? Use these natural phrases:

So, we’re meeting at 7 p.m., right? We’ will meet at 7 p.m. Is that correct?
Let’s meet at the station. Does that work for you? Is meeting at the station OK for you?
Can we meet at the train station? Is that okay? Is the train station a good meeting point?
Are we still on for tomorrow? Are we still meeting tomorrow?
Are we still meeting tomorrow? Do we still have a plan to meet tomorrow?

Adjusting plans

Use these English phrases to change or update your plans if you need to:

Actually, can we make it a bit later? Can we meet later than planned?
Can we meet a little later? Can we meet at a later time?
I’m running late. Can we push it back 30 minutes? I’ll be late. Can we delay it by 30 minutes?
I’ll be late. Can we start 30 minutes later? Can we begin 30 minutes later than planned?
Something’s come up. Can we reschedule? Something happened. Can we plan a new time?
I’m busy now. Can we choose a new time? Can we pick a new time later?

Making flexible suggestions

Sometimes, we need to “offset” plans for meet-ups in case other things come up. Use these phrases to keep your plans open:

How about we decide closer to the date? Let’s decide later.
Let’s decide later. We don’t need to plan now.
Why don’t we keep it open and see how we feel? Let’s leave it open and decide later.
Let’s not plan now. We can decide later. We’ll plan later.
Let’s play it by ear. We’ll decide as we go.

Rejecting plans politely

Sometimes you may need to turn down plans, but we need to do this politely!

I’m sorry, but I can’t make it this time. I’m unable to attend.
I’d love to, but I already have plans. I want to come, but I’m busy.
That sounds great, but I don’t think I can make it. It’s a good idea, but I can’t come.
I’ll have to pass this time, sorry! I can’t join you this time.
Can we try another time? I’m not free then. Let’s plan for later; I’m busy now.

Present Continuous for arrangements

When we’ve arranged events, meetings or appointments (especially with other people), we often use the present continuous tense (am/is/are + verb+ING).

This tense is usually for things happening now. However, for arrangements, we use present continuous to talk about the future:

Examples

We’re meeting at the café at 6 p.m. (a fixed meeting time)
I’m flying to New York next month. (a scheduled trip)
I’m having my hair cut tomorrow. (a scheduled appointment)

Making Plans and Decisions in English: phrases + dialogue - Dan's Real English (2024)