French - Plans

Lesson 144 of 159

Learner practicing French plan-making phrases while checking a calendar — plans and schedule vocabulary.

Goal: Simple French phrases to make, change, and check plans

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready to plan something in French? This short lesson helps you say invitations, accept or decline, and keep plans flexible. Have fun — try saying each line out loud!

Level A1: In this lesson (144) you will practice common French phrases for making and changing plans in France — like asking when someone is free, saying "That works for me", and suggesting to keep each other posted. The lesson is CEFR-aligned and focuses on 11 useful expressions you can use with friends and colleagues.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and say basic phrases for making and changing plans in French.
  • Respond politely to invitations (accept, decline, or ask for details).
  • Use casual French for everyday planning (Level A1).
Two friends in France talking about tonight: practice asking 'Tu fais quoi ce soir ?' and other planning phrases.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

On se voit plus tard ?

Shall we see each other later?

Meaning: Shall we see each other later?

When to use: Use this casual question when you want to suggest meeting later the same day or soon.

On se voit plus tard au café ?
Shall we see each other later at the café?
Si tu veux, on se voit plus tard vers 18h.
If you want, shall we meet later around 6pm?

On se tient au courant.

We'll keep each other posted.

Meaning: We'll keep each other posted.

When to use: Say this when plans may change and you want to update each other later.

On se tient au courant si le métro est en grève.
We'll keep each other posted if the metro is on strike.
Je travaille cet après-midi, mais on se tient au courant pour demain.
I'm working this afternoon, but we'll keep each other posted about tomorrow.

Ça me va

That works for me.

Meaning: That works for me.

When to use: Use this neutral phrase to agree with a suggested time or plan.

18h, ça me va.
6pm, that works for me.
On se retrouve au parc ? — Oui, ça me va.
Meet at the park? — Yes, that works for me.

Ça ne me va pas.

That doesn't work for me.

Meaning: That doesn't work for me.

When to use: Use this neutral phrase to say a suggestion is not suitable for you.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 'Ça ne va pas' which can mean 'it's not okay'—use the full phrase to be clear.

Samedi, ça ne me va pas, je suis pris.
Saturday doesn't work for me, I'm busy.
Le restaurant à 20h ? — Non, ça ne me va pas, j'ai trop de travail.
The restaurant at 8pm? — No, that doesn't work for me, I have too much work.

Tu es libre quand ?

When are you free?

Meaning: When are you free?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know the other person's available times. Use 'Vous êtes libre quand ?' for formal situations.

Tip: Remember to use 'vous' for people you don't know well: 'Vous êtes libre quand ?'

Tu es libre quand la semaine prochaine ?
When are you free next week?
Tu es libre quand pour prendre un café ?
When are you free to have a coffee?

Tu fais quoi ce soir ?

What are you doing tonight?

Meaning: What are you doing tonight?

When to use: Use casually to ask about someone's evening plans. For formal use: 'Vous faites quoi ce soir ?'

Tip: This is casual; don't use it with strangers—use 'Vous' instead.

Tu fais quoi ce soir ? On pourrait regarder un film.
What are you doing tonight? We could watch a movie.
Tu fais quoi ce soir ? Tu veux dîner ?
What are you doing tonight? Do you want to have dinner?

On fait quoi ?

What should we do?

Meaning: What should we do?

When to use: Use this casual question when deciding an activity together.

On fait quoi ? Cinéma ou resto ?
What should we do? Cinema or restaurant?
On fait quoi ce week-end ?
What should we do this weekend?

Je peux venir ?

Can I come?

Meaning: Can I come?

When to use: Ask this when you want to join someone's plan or event.

Si c'est d'accord, je peux venir ?
If it's okay, can I come?
Vous faites un pique-nique demain ? Je peux venir ?
You're having a picnic tomorrow? Can I come?

Je ne peux pas venir.

I can't come.

Meaning: I can't come.

When to use: Use this neutral phrase to decline an invitation because you are unable to attend.

Merci, mais je ne peux pas venir dimanche.
Thanks, but I can't come on Sunday.
Désolé, je ne peux pas venir ce soir, j'ai du travail.
Sorry, I can't come tonight, I have work.

J'ai déjà quelque chose.

I already have something on.

Meaning: I already have something on.

When to use: Use this to say you're busy without giving details (a polite way to decline).

Désolé, j'ai déjà quelque chose samedi soir.
Sorry, I already have something on Saturday night.
Je ne peux pas demain, j'ai déjà quelque chose.
I can't tomorrow, I already have something.

C'est annulé.

It's canceled.

Meaning: It's canceled.

When to use: Use to say a plan, event, or appointment has been canceled.

Le match ? C'est annulé à cause de la pluie.
The match? It's canceled because of the rain.
La réunion de demain, c'est annulé.
Tomorrow's meeting — it's canceled.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David planning tonight and next steps.

Anna and David use simple French planning phrases like 'On se voit plus tard ?' and 'Je ne peux pas venir.' in a short chat.

Who says they can't come tonight?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Tu fais quoi ce soir ?

What are you doing tonight?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Je ne peux pas venir. J'ai déjà quelque chose.

I can't come. I already have something.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

D'accord. On se voit plus tard ?

Okay. Shall we see each other later?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

On se tient au courant.

We'll keep each other posted.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Ça me va

That works for me.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

On fait quoi la semaine prochaine ?

What should we do next week?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

What does 'Ça me va.' mean?

Which phrase politely says you cannot attend?

If plans are not fixed yet and you want to update each other later, which phrase do you use?

How do you ask 'Can I come?' in French?

After work, you suggest: 'Shall we see each other later?'

Après le travail, tu proposes : 'On se voit ___'

To ask about availability, you say: 'When are you free?'

Pour connaître la disponibilité, tu demandes : 'Tu es libre ___ ?'

Before arriving at the party, you ask: 'Can I come?'

Avant d'arriver à la fête, tu demandes : '___'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

On se voit plus tard ?

Shall we see each other later?

Say this phrase out loud:

On se tient au courant.

We'll keep each other posted.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça me va

That works for me.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça ne me va pas.

That doesn't work for me.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu es libre quand ?

When are you free?

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu fais quoi ce soir ?

What are you doing tonight?

Say this phrase out loud:

On fait quoi ?

What should we do?

Say this phrase out loud:

Je peux venir ?

Can I come?

Say this phrase out loud:

Je ne peux pas venir.

I can't come.

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai déjà quelque chose.

I already have something on.

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est annulé.

It's canceled.