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Lesson 123 of 240

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Plans for later in English

Ana is at the Blue Plate with a Saturday idea. She wants the farmers market, but she is not sure yet.

Dee asks about the weekend. Murray talks about his coffee, the one he never finishes.

You will say a firm plan, a possible plan, and that you still do not know. You will also say when the sky decides, and when you will go if nothing goes wrong.

I'm planning to is the firm one. I'm thinking about is still open.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you plan to do, and say when you have not decided.

  • I'm planning to ___.I have a future action in mind.
  • I'm thinking about ___.This is a possible plan, not a firm one.
  • I haven't decided yet.I still do not know what I will choose.
  • It depends on the weather.The plan changes if the sky is good or bad.
  • I hope to try it.I want a chance to do this later.
  • If everything goes well, I'll go.I will go if things go well.

Scene — weekend talk at the counter

Same Blue Plate counter on a Friday morning. Ana sits with her tote bag. Dee holds the coffee pot and waits for weekend news.

Murray sits on two stools with a black coffee he has not finished. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Ana, Dee, and Murray share the quiet Blue Plate counter on a Friday morning.

Learn — plans and not yet

Six short lines cover firm plans, possible plans, and not knowing yet.

You will also say when rain decides, and when you will go if nothing goes wrong.

  1. Ana considers a future trip to the weekend market while seated with her tote bag.

    I'm planning to ___.

    I have a future action in mind.

    When to use it: Say this when you already have a next step in mind.

    Learn I'm planning to as one piece, with planning as the -ing form.

    Say it: The stress is on planning.

  2. Dee pauses with the coffee pot, waiting for Ana to clarify her weekend plan.

    I'm thinking about ___.

    This is a possible plan, not a firm one.

    When to use it: Say this when the plan is still open.

    Learn I'm thinking about as one piece, with thinking as the -ing form.

    Say it: thinking starts with th, like thank.

  3. Ana hesitates over which market stall she might choose as Dee waits.

    I haven't decided yet.

    I still do not know what I will choose.

    When to use it: Say this when you still need time to choose.

    Haven't is have not, said as one piece.

  4. Ana looks toward the sky through the diner window, weighing how weather could change her plan.

    It depends on the weather.

    The plan changes if the sky is good or bad.

    When to use it: Say this when sun or rain will change the plan.

    Learn depends on as one piece.

    Say it: weather has th in the middle, like the.

  5. Dee leans toward Ana with the coffee pot lowered as Ana welcomes the chance to try the plan later.

    I hope to try it.

    I want a chance to do this later.

    When to use it: Say this when you want a later chance to do this.

    Learn I hope to as one piece for a later wish.

  6. Murray leans forward on his two stools, agreeing to join the market trip if things go well.

    If everything goes well, I'll go.

    I will go if things go well.

    When to use it: Say this when you will go only if nothing goes wrong.

    I'll is I will, said as one piece.

    Say it: I'll is short, like one small word.

Story — the market, maybe

Watch Ana talk about Saturday at the counter. She has a plan, then she does not.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The coffee pot is full. Dee looks at Ana.
  2. DeeDo you have plans this weekend?Ask if they already know their Saturday and Sunday.
  3. AnaYes. I have floor plans at work.She talks about work drawings, not Saturday.
  4. DeeNot those plans, hon. The weekend.Dee wants a weekend plan, not work.
  5. AnaI'm planning to go to the market.She has a future market trip in mind.
  6. DeeThat sounds good, hon. Which stall?She likes the plan. Then she asks which stall.
  7. AnaI haven't decided yet.I still do not know what I will choose.
  8. DeePick one, sweetie.She wants a short, clear choice.
  9. AnaI'm thinking about a new stall.The stall is a possible plan, not a firm one.
  10. DeeThen go try it.Dee tells her to give it a chance.
  11. AnaI hope to try it.I want a chance to do this later.
  12. DeeWill you go no matter what the weather is like?She asks if you will go in any weather.
  13. AnaIt depends on the weather.The plan changes if the sky is good or bad.
  14. MurrayI'm planning to finish my coffee.He has a future action in mind.
  15. Dee refills the cup. Murray still has a full coffee.
  16. DeeYou going too, hon?She asks if Murray will join the market trip.
  17. MurrayIf everything goes well, I'll go.I will go if things go well.

Practice — firm or still open

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    I'm thinking about ___.

  3. What do you say?

    Dee asks which stall you picked. You haven't picked one yet.

  4. True or false?

    This line means the plan never changes.

  5. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    There's a new stall at the market.

    She tells you about a new place to buy food.

    And you reply with:

  6. Build the line

    I want a chance to do this later.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    You will go to the market when nothing goes wrong.

    If everything goes well, I'll ____.

  8. Match the pairs

    English

    I'm planning to ___.Drop the Simple English here
    I'm thinking about ___.Drop the Simple English here
    I haven't decided yet.Drop the Simple English here
    It depends on the weather.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  9. What do you say?

    You want to know Dee's Saturday and Sunday.

  10. Pick the reply

    Murray says:

    I'm planning to finish my coffee.

    He has a future action in mind.

    And you reply with:

Say it — say your plan

Now you're Ana at the counter with weekend plans. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DeeDo you have plans this weekend?Ask if they already know their Saturday and Sunday.
  2. Ana (you)Tell her you have a market trip in mind.

    I'm planning to ___.

    I have a future action in mind.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I'm planning to ___.I have a future action in mind.
I'm thinking about ___.This is a possible plan, not a firm one.
I haven't decided yet.I still do not know what I will choose.
It depends on the weather.The plan changes if the sky is good or bad.
I hope to try it.I want a chance to do this later.
If everything goes well, I'll go.I will go if things go well.
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