Spanish course

Lesson 179 of 238

New here? This is lesson 179 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.

Start hereHow this works

Free Spanish CourseLesson 179 of 238

I'm planning to in Spanish

The shift is over and Alex wants to know about next month. Do you have a plan, a hope, or just a maybe?

In this lesson you'll say what you're planning to do, what your plan is, what you hope to do, what you'll probably do, and what you might do if something happens.

You'll also learn how to say you're supposed to do something, even when you'd rather not.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you're planning, hoping, and might do if something happens.

  • Estoy planeando ___I'm planning to ___
  • Mi plan es ___My plan is to ___
  • Espero ___I hope to ___
  • Probablemente voy a ___I'll probably ___
  • Podría ___ si ___I might ___ if ___
  • Se supone que tengo que ___I'm supposed to ___

Scene — clocking out

Café Laurel after closing. Justin has just untied his apron and Alex is stacking the last chairs.

The night is cool, and Alex has one more question before they both head home: what about next month?

The café has just closed: Justin, apron untied, is stacking the last chairs while Alex, a friendly coworker, chats with him near the counter, and Yako relaxes on two chairs.

Learn — plans, hopes and maybes

Six lines that cover the whole range: firm plans, hopeful plans, likely plans, and plans that depend on something else.

Notice how each one leaves a blank for the verb. You fill it with whatever you're going to do.

  1. Justin, still holding a chair, answers Alex's question about next month by saying he is planning something, shown by his open, hopeful gesture.

    Estoy planeando ___

    I'm planning to ___

    When to use it: Say this when you already have something in the works for the near future.

    Planeando ends in -ndo, like English -ing, and the next verb stays in its infinitive form.

    Say it: Say it as one word: estoyplaneando.

  2. Justin taps a finger on his palm like counting off steps of his plan while speaking to Alex by the counter.

    Mi plan es ___

    My plan is to ___

    When to use it: Say this to state your plan in a slightly more formal or definite way.

    Es links your plan to the infinitive, just like English 'my plan is to'.

  3. Justin, hands pressed together at his chest, hopefully says what he hopes to do next month while Alex nods.

    Espero ___

    I hope to ___

    When to use it: Say this when you want something to happen but it isn't settled yet.

    Espero plus an infinitive is 'I hope to'; espero que introduces a full clause.

  4. Justin shrugs with one shoulder and tilts his head, saying he'll probably do something, as Alex gathers her bag.

    Probablemente voy a ___

    I'll probably ___

    When to use it: Say this when something is likely but not one hundred percent certain.

    Probablemente up front signals a guess; voy a plus infinitive is the going-to future.

  5. Justin raises a skeptical finger with a half-smile, saying he might do something if something else happens, while Alex pauses at the door.

    Podría ___ si ___

    I might ___ if ___

    When to use it: Say this when your plan depends on a condition that may or may not happen.

    Podría is the conditional of poder, so the whole idea stays hypothetical.

    Say it: Podría is po-DREE-ah, with the stress on -dría.

  6. Justin, apron folded over his arm, admits with a resigned grin that he is supposed to do something, while Alex waves goodbye from the door.

    Se supone que tengo que ___

    I'm supposed to ___

    When to use it: Say this when someone expects you to do something, whether you like it or not.

    Se supone que often carries a sigh: it's what should happen, not what you chose.

Story — next month's question

Alex has one question on the way out, and Justin's answer grows from a plan to a hope to a maybe.

The highlighted words are today's lines. Turn on Show English if a turn gets away from you.

  1. Closing time. Justin hangs up his apron while Alex stacks the last chairs.
  2. AlexAntes de irnos: ¿ya pensaste en el mes que viene?Before we go: have you thought about next month?
  3. JustinSí. Estoy planeando visitar a mi familia en Chicago.Yes. I'm planning to visit my family in Chicago.
  4. Alex¿En serio? ¿Cuántos días te vas?Really? How many days are you going for?
  5. JustinMi plan es quedarme dos semanas completas.My plan is to stay two whole weeks.
  6. Alex¡Qué bien! ¿Y cuándo sales?That's great! And when do you leave?
  7. JustinEspero viajar en diciembre, si encuentro vuelo barato.I hope to travel in December, if I find a cheap flight.
  8. AlexDiciembre está carísimo.December is super expensive.
  9. JustinPor eso probablemente voy a comprar el boleto hoy mismo.That's why I'll probably buy the ticket today.
  10. Alex raises an eyebrow. December, tickets, bosses.
  11. Alex¿Y si Michael no te da los días?And what if Michael doesn't give you the days off?
  12. JustinPodría irme en enero si me los da hasta entonces.I might go in January if he gives them to me by then.
  13. AlexSuena razonable. ¿Y antes de todo eso?Sounds reasonable. And before all that?
  14. JustinUf. Se supone que tengo que entregar un reporte el viernes.Ugh. I'm supposed to turn in a report on Friday.
  15. Alex¿Ya lo empezaste?Have you started it yet?
  16. JustinTodavía no tengo planes para el reporte, la verdad.I don't have plans for the report yet, honestly.
  17. AlexYa veremos. Vámonos, que cierran el metro.We'll see. Let's go, they're closing the metro.

Practice — a plan and a maybe

Nine exercises ahead: listen, match, put a conversation in order, and fill the one word that changes everything.

Each one uses the lines from today, plus a couple of old friends you've already learned.

0 of 9 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Mi plan es ___Drop the English here
    Espero ___Drop the English here
    Probablemente voy a ___Drop the English here
    Podría ___ si ___Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Alex asks what you'll do if Michael doesn't give you the days off until January. Your trip depends on it.

  4. Fill the gap

    I'm supposed to ___

    Se ____ que tengo que ___

  5. What does it mean?

    Todavía no tengo planes

  6. Put the chat in order

    1. AlexWhat comes first?
    2. Justin…
    3. Alex…
    4. Justin…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

  7. True or false?

    This line means the speaker is completely sure the thing will happen.

  8. What do you say?

    It's Friday night and Alex asks what you're doing about next month. You've already looked at flights to Chicago.

  9. Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — your turn to plan

Now you're Justin, walking out with Alex. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and say the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the model. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. AlexÚltima pregunta: ¿qué planes tienes para el mes que viene?Last question: what plans do you have for next month?
  2. Justin (you)Say you're planning to visit your family in Chicago.

    Estoy planeando ___

    I'm planning to ___

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Estoy planeando ___I'm planning to ___
Mi plan es ___My plan is to ___
Espero ___I hope to ___
Probablemente voy a ___I'll probably ___
Podría ___ si ___I might ___ if ___
Se supone que tengo que ___I'm supposed to ___
Next: lesson 180I haven't decided

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Keep your plans, hopes and maybes in one place: grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A daily round with the Yak Cards keeps your planeando, espero and podría ready when someone asks about next month.

Open Yak Cards