Want to set up a date or arrange a meeting? Here’s an intermediate (B1+) level activity you can do on your iTouch on the way to work. It’s one way of revising vocabulary for making plans and arrangements which you’ve already learned, or simply to see how good your ‘English instincts’ are.

Plans and arrangements

In one of my classes last week we looked at phrasal words and expressions for making plans and arrangements. What follows is a short activity to revise some things we did.

What’s the next word in the following sentences?

Example:
– Why was the match called ………………….. ?
– Because the oval was flooded. Someone had left the sprinklers on all night!

answer: OFF
to call off an event | meeting = to cancel

1. – Hey Laurence what are you up …………………..?
   – Nothing just now.
   – Great. How about we head out for a beer?

 

1. I’m hoping to go to Brazil this Christmas, if all goes according to …………………..

 

1. – About today’s meeting.. I’m really busy now with work. Do you mind if we put it …………………..?
   – Not really. How about Wednesday then?

 

1. – I think I’ll be ok for 3 o’clock Monday. I’ll pencil that …………………..
   – Ok, but please confirm it tomorrow as I’ll need some time to prepare.

 

1. – Do you think the project will go …………………..?
   – I hope so. We’ve put so much effort into it already, it’d be a shame if it didn’t work out.

1. – I’m really sorry, I’ll be late – something’s just come …………………..

 

1. – Shall we fix up a meeting to talk about our new project?
   – Sure, that sounds …………………..

 

1. – Are you free on Friday?
   – Sorry, I’ve already got something …………………..

 

1. – John, sorry, I’ve got too much work on today. I won’t be able to make …………………..

 

1. – Is Eva there please?
   – Sorry, she’s tied …………………..
   – Well, when will she be free? I didn’t expect her to be so busy this morning…

 

How did you go? Scroll down for the answers.

Fix Up

One of my students took a liking to this phrase in last week’s lesson:

“Why don’t we FIX UP a meeting for Friday?”

FIX UP is a phrasal verb used in a friendly way to arrange a meeting or event.

eg “Let’s fix up a time to meet this week.”

FIX UP can also be used in these sentences:

• “We finally fixed up our shelves” = repair or mend
• “I’m sure we can fix you up with a room, Betty” [fix someone up with something] = provide; supply
• “I can’t believe you tried to fix me up with Terrace, he’s awful!” [fix someone up with someone else] = set someone up with someone else to have a date; to introduce a potential romantic partner or date to someone

Answers

There may be more than one possible answer, so if you have something else, please add a comment below + we can check it together 😉

1. to 2. plan 3. off/back 4. in 5. ahead 6. up 7. good/great/fine (or a similar word) 8. on/planned/organised 9. it [or whatever ‘it’ is eg the meeting/the conference] 10. up

Language from today

Do you feel comfortable with what these phrasal verbs and expressions mean?

The meeting was called off
What are you up to?
How about we head out for a (drink/beer)
If all goes according to plan..
Do you mind if we put it off?
I’ll pencil that in
I hope the project will go ahead
I hope it works out
Something’s just come up
Let’s fix up a meeting
That sounds great
Are you free on Friday?
Sorry, I’ve already got something on
I won’t be able to make it
I’m tied up

Homework

• Call up or text a friend to organise a meeting this weekend. Which of these phrases can you use?
• Text another friend to put off your meeting and suggest a new time.
• For my Prague students, which of these phrases can you use to organise our next lesson?

Further reading

Check out Oxford Idioms and Phrasal Verbs Intermediate: Unit 45 I can discuss plans and arrangements

Expressing future time: plans and arrangements
Phrases for emailing

And if you’re an advanced level (C1+) learner, check out the previous ‘What’s the next word?’ here

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