Arrangingto Meet
Functional language for plans · social English
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
When was the last time someone invited you somewhere in English? How did you reply?
Tell your partner THREE different ways to say no to an invitation without being rude.
A plan just got cancelled at the last minute. How would you respond — annoyed or chill? Show the language.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minFunctional language for arranging — the natural patterns
Native speakers follow a clear social script: SUGGEST → RESPOND → CONFIRM → (sometimes) CANCEL POLITELY.
→ Shall we grab a coffee on Friday?
→ How about Saturday around 4?
→ Do you fancy seeing that new film?
→ I'd love to, but I'm tied up that day. Maybe next week?
→ Sounds great — let's say 7 at the usual place.
→ Can I take a rain check? Something came up.
More detail
Build a bank of chunks for each move. 'Shall we…?', 'How about…?', 'Why don't we…?', 'Do you fancy…?' all suggest. 'I'd love to', 'Sounds great', 'I'm in' all accept. 'I'd love to, but…', 'Can I take a rain check?' politely decline.
Question 1.____ we meet at 6 instead of 7?
Question 2.____ about Thursday evening?
Question 3.Do you ____ going to that new pizza place?
Question 4.I'd love to, ____ I already have plans.
Question 5.Can I take a ____ check? I'm not feeling great.
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.Which is the most NATURAL way to politely decline?
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
to grab a coffee / a bite
to meet quickly for coffee or food (informal)
"Fancy grabbing a coffee after work?"
Invite your partner to grab a coffee — pick a place and time.
to catch up
to meet and share news after some time
"Let's catch up properly next week."
Who do you need to catch up with this month?
to take a rain check
to politely postpone an invitation
"I'll have to take a rain check — sorry!"
Politely take a rain check on your partner's invitation.
to be up for (something)
to be keen / willing to do something
"I'm up for anything tonight."
What are you up for this weekend?
to drop by / pop in
to visit briefly, often without much planning
"Pop in any time — we're home all day."
Tell a friend they can drop by yours this weekend.
to hang out
to spend casual time together
"We just hung out at the park."
Where do you usually hang out with friends?
to confirm / to let someone know
to finalise plans
"I'll confirm by Thursday."
Promise to let your partner know about a plan by a specific time.
to bail (on someone)
informal: to cancel last-minute
"She bailed on me at the last minute."
Have you ever bailed on a plan? Why?
Discuss with a partner
- →Invite, accept, decline, postpone — go through all four with your partner.
- →When is it OK to bail on plans?
Finish the sentence about you
- Are you up for …
- I'll have to take a rain check on …
- Let's grab a …
60-second write
Write a 4-message text exchange where one person bails and reschedules.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minFriendly intonation for suggestions and polite refusals
- • ↗ Shall we meet on Friday?
- • ↗ How about 7 at mine?
- • ↘ I'd love to, ↘ but I'm tied up.
- • ↗ Are you up for it? ↗
- • ↘ Can I take a rain check? ↘ Really sorry.
How to say it
Suggestions need a rising tone at the end — they sound warm and open: 'Shall we grab a coffee? ↗'. Polite refusals need a SOFT, slightly falling tone with a clear 'but': 'I'd love to, ↘ but I can't ↘ — sorry!' A flat or hard tone makes both sound rude.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minText thread: making it actually happen
MAYA, 6:12 p.m.: Hey! Are you around this weekend? Fancy a proper catch-up — it's been ages. JULES, 6:18 p.m.: YES. I was literally about to message you. Saturday or Sunday? MAYA, 6:19 p.m.: Saturday's tricky, I've got my niece's birthday thing. Sunday brunch? JULES, 6:21 p.m.: Sunday brunch is a YES. How about that place near the canal — the one with the pancakes? MAYA, 6:22 p.m.: Sold. Shall we say 11? JULES, 6:23 p.m.: Perfect. I'll book it now. Can't wait! MAYA, 6:24 p.m.: Same. Don't bail on me 😉 JULES, 6:24 p.m.: Never. See you Sunday x
Question 1.Why is Saturday no good for Maya?
Question 2.Who is going to book the place?
Question 3.What does Maya joke about?
Q1.Both friends are happy to meet on Sunday.
Q2.Maya suggested the café first.
Q3.They have already met recently.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minTrying to make plans
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Priya:Hey, do you fancy doing something this weekend? We've been talking about it for weeks.
Sam:Yes, I'm so up for it. What were you thinking?
Priya:How about that new Korean place on Friday evening?
Sam:Ah, Friday I'm tied up actually — my brother's in town. Can I take a rain check on Friday?
Priya:Of course. Saturday lunch then? We could grab a quick bite, even just an hour.
Sam:Saturday works. Shall we say one o'clock? I'll book a table and message you to confirm.
Priya:Sounds great. And don't bail on me this time!
Sam:I promise I won't. See you Saturday.
Question 1.Why does Sam say no to Friday?
Question 2.What do they finally agree on?
Question 3.What does Priya joke about?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Speaking Part 2: collaborative arrangement
Task
With a partner, plan a real outing (cinema, dinner, day trip). Reach a clear agreement on what, when, where.
Strategy
Always loop through SUGGEST → RESPOND → COUNTER-SUGGEST → CONFIRM. Don't accept the first idea — push back politely once. End with a clear CONFIRMATION line: 'OK, so Saturday at 7 at X — agreed?'
Example
'Shall we go to the cinema?' — 'I'd love to, but I saw a film last week. How about dinner instead?' — 'Sounds great. Saturday?' — 'Saturday works. Let's say 8 at the Italian place. I'll book.'
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.____ we meet at 7 instead of 6?
Question 2.Do you ____ a quick coffee after work?
Question 3.I'd love to, ____ I'm tied up that night.
Question 4.Can I take a ____ check? I'm really sorry.
Question 5.I'll ____ the table and message you to confirm.
Q1.Suggest meeting Friday with 'how about'. →
Q2.Politely decline an invitation for tonight. →
Q3.Reorder: 'fancy / coffee / a / do / quick / you / ?'
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 6–8 message text thread between you and a friend arranging a meet-up. Must include: 1 suggestion, 1 polite refusal with reason, 1 counter-suggestion, 1 confirmation, 1 informal closer. Keep it short and natural.
Show model answer
ME, 7:02 p.m.: Hey! Do you fancy grabbing a bite this week? ALEX, 7:10 p.m.: Yes! Always up for it. Wednesday? ME, 7:11 p.m.: I'd love to, but I'm tied up with work till late on Wednesday. How about Thursday? ALEX, 7:12 p.m.: Thursday works! Shall we say 7 at the noodle place? ME, 7:13 p.m.: Perfect. I'll book a table and message you to confirm. ALEX, 7:14 p.m.: Don't bail! Looking forward to it. x
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
MEETING MAYHEM: Groups of 3 (A, B, C). All three have busy diaries (invented). They must arrange a group dinner this week. Constraints: at least one suggestion is politely refused, at least one rain check is offered, the final plan must be confirmed clearly. Bonus round: someone bails 1 hour before — group must rearrange on the spot using 'I'll'.
Useful phrases
- • Shall we…? / How about…? / Do you fancy…?
- • Sounds great. / I'm so up for it.
- • I'd love to, but…
- • Can I take a rain check?
- • Let's say 7 at…
- • I'll book / I'll let you know.
- ADo you fancy dinner on Friday?
- B_______________
- ASaturday works. Where shall we go?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Make it social — pairs and groups must REACH an agreement, not just exchange phrases. ~26 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Send a real invitation text in English to a classmate. Reply to theirs using at least 2 functional phrases.
Record a 60-second voice note inviting a friend somewhere — include suggestion + alternative + confirmation.
Watch any 'making plans' scene in an English series; note 5 functional chunks you heard.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Suggest: 'Shall we…?', 'How about…?', 'Do you fancy…?'
- Accept warmly: 'Sounds great', 'I'm so up for it', 'I'd love to'.
- Refuse politely: 'I'd love to, but…', 'Can I take a rain check?'
- Always CONFIRM clearly: time + place + 'I'll book / let you know'.
- Tone matters — rising for suggestions, soft falling for refusals.