Arrangingto Meet
Functional language for plans & arrangements
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
When did you last invite someone to do something? How did they reply?
How do you decline politely in your language? Compare with your partner.
Arrange a real coffee with your partner in 30 seconds — time, place, confirm.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minFunctional language for arrangements
Arrangements follow a 5-step arc: 1) SUGGEST — 'Fancy a coffee?' / 'How about Saturday?' / 'Why don't we…?' / 'Shall we…?' 2) ACCEPT — 'Sounds good.' / 'I'd love to.' / 'I'm in.' 3) DECLINE POLITELY — 'I'd love to, but…' / 'I can't make Friday, sorry.' 4) SUGGEST ALTERNATIVE — 'How about Saturday instead?' / 'Could we do Sunday?' 5) CONFIRM — 'See you at 7.' / 'I'll text you the address.' / 'It's a date.' After modal suggestions (shall, why don't, could), the verb is bare infinitive.
→ How about meeting at 7?
→ I'd love to, but I'm busy on Friday. Could we do Saturday?
→ Shall we say 8 at the usual place?
→ I'll text you when I'm 5 minutes away.
Question 1.____ ____ we go for a drink Friday?
Question 2.I'd love to, ____ I'm busy that day.
Question 3.____ ____ ____ Saturday instead?
Question 4.____ ____ meet at the café?
Question 5.I'll ____ you the address.
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.
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 make it
be able to attend
"Can you make it on Friday?"
Ask: 'Can you make it…?' about a real plan.
to fit in
find time for
"I can fit in a quick coffee at 3."
Where can you fit in a meeting this week?
to be tied up
very busy
"I'm tied up all morning."
When are you tied up this week?
to push back
move to a later time
"Can we push it back to 8?"
Push back a plan with your partner now.
to bring forward
move to an earlier time
"Could we bring it forward to 6?"
Bring something forward with your partner.
to confirm
say a plan is fixed
"I'll confirm by Thursday."
Promise to confirm a real plan.
to bail (on)
cancel last minute (informal)
"Sorry — I'm going to have to bail tonight."
How do you feel when someone bails on you?
rain check
polite postponement
"Can I take a rain check? Next week maybe?"
Take a rain check politely from your partner.
Discuss with a partner
- →Tell a story about someone bailing on you.
- →How do you feel about people who never confirm?
Finish the sentence about you
- Can we push it back to…? …
- Could I take a rain check? …
- I'm tied up until… …
60-second write
Write a 5-message text exchange arranging a coffee. Use 3 vocab phrases.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minFriendly rising intonation in suggestions
- • Fancy a drink ↗?
- • How about 7 at the café ↗?
- • Sounds great ↘ — see you then.
- • I'd love to, but ↗ I'm tied up.
How to say it
Suggestions should rise at the end — they're real questions inviting a yes. 'Fancy a coffee ↗?' 'How about Friday ↗?' Falling intonation here sounds like a demand. When accepting, fall confidently: 'Sounds great ↘.' When declining, soften with a rise on 'but': 'I'd love to, but↗ I can't make it.'
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minThree messages, one plan
Marco texted Ella at 10 a.m.: 'Hey! Fancy lunch Thursday? That new ramen place opened on Elm Street.' Ella replied: 'I'd love to, but I'm tied up till 2 on Thursday — could we push it back to 2.30? Or Friday works better if that's easier.' Marco: 'Friday is even better for me actually. Bring forward to 1? I can fit it in before my 3 o'clock meeting.' Ella: 'Perfect, 1 at Ramen House Friday. I'll text you when I'm 5 minutes away.' Marco: 'Sounds great. Don't bail on me — I've been thinking about this ramen for days.' Ella: 'No bailing. It's a date.' Total messages exchanged: six. Plans confirmed: time, place, expectation. That's how arrangements should go.
Question 1.When did they finally agree to meet?
Question 2.Why did Ella suggest pushing it back?
Question 3.How many messages did it take?
Q1.Marco wanted Thursday originally.
Q2.Ella suggested Friday at 2.30.
Q3.They confirmed the place and time.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minA messy arrangement on the phone
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Pat:Hey, fancy catching up this week?
Jo:Yes! When works for you?
Pat:Tuesday evening?
Jo:I'd love to, but I'm tied up till 8 on Tuesday. Could we push it back to 8.30?
Pat:Hmm, that's a bit late for me. How about Wednesday instead?
Jo:Wednesday's good. Shall we say 7?
Pat:Perfect. The wine bar on Mill Street?
Jo:Done. I'll confirm Wednesday morning. Don't bail!
Question 1.When did they finally agree?
Question 2.Why not Tuesday?
Question 3.Where will they meet?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Speaking Part 2 (collaborative task) & writing email
Task
With your partner, arrange to meet for an evening out this week. Negotiate at least one change of time or place.
Strategy
Hit all 5 arc steps: SUGGEST → ACCEPT or DECLINE+ALTERNATIVE → CONFIRM. Vary your suggestion phrases ('Fancy…?' 'How about…?' 'Why don't we…?'). When declining, ALWAYS add 'but' + alternative — never just say no. Close with a confirmation sentence ('I'll text you.' / 'See you at 7.').
Example
Fancy dinner Friday? — I'd love to, but I'm tied up at work till 8. Could we push it back? — How about Saturday lunch instead? — Saturday at 1? — Sounds great. Same place as last time? — Perfect. I'll confirm Friday evening.
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.Can you ____ ____ on Friday?
Question 2.Can we ____ it ____ to 8?
Question 3.Could I take a ____ ____?
Question 4.I'm completely ____ ____ till 5.
Question 5.I'll ____ Thursday morning.
Q1.Suggest a coffee Saturday: 'Fancy…?'
Q2.Polite decline + alternative: 'I'd love to, but…'
Q3.Confirm a 7pm Friday meet: 'See…'
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 100-word text exchange between you and a friend arranging to meet. Include all 5 arc steps and 3 vocab phrases from today.
Show model answer
ME: Hey! Fancy dinner this week? — SAM: Yes please. When works? — ME: Wednesday evening? — SAM: I'd love to, but I'm tied up till 8 on Wednesday. Could we push it back, or do Thursday? — ME: Thursday's great. How about 7.30 at the new Greek place? — SAM: Perfect. Shall I book? — ME: Yes, leave it to me — I'll confirm Thursday morning. Don't bail on me! — SAM: No bailing, I promise. I'll bring the wine. — ME: It's a date. See you Thursday at 7.30. — SAM: Can't wait!
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
ARRANGE & RE-ARRANGE · Pairs. Round 1: arrange a coffee — fast success. Round 2: arrange dinner, but ONE partner must decline once and suggest an alternative. Round 3: arrange a weekend trip and confirm details. Teacher monitors for full-arc completion.
Useful phrases
- • Fancy …?
- • I'd love to, but…
- • Could we push it back / bring it forward?
- • Shall we say…?
- • How about …instead?
- • I'll confirm…
- AFancy lunch on Thursday?
- B_______________
- A2.30 works. Where shall we meet?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Force whole-arc completion; isolated steps don't count. ~28 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Write a full text exchange arranging a real meet-up with a friend (use the 5-step arc).
Record a 60-second voicemail inviting a friend to dinner — suggest, accept, alternative, confirm.
Read 2 short English texts/emails arranging plans; note which arc steps are missing.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- 5-step arc: suggest → accept / decline → alternative → confirm.
- Suggestion frames: Fancy…? / How about…? / Shall we…? / Why don't we…?
- Soft no: 'I'd love to, but…' — always add 'but' + alternative.
- Confirm with concrete time, place and follow-up message.
- Rising intonation on suggestions; falling on confirmation.