LESSON 3.3 | MAKING ARRANGEMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

LESSON 3.3 | MAKING ARRANGEMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

Making arrangements

Think about these points when the purpose of your email is to make an arrangement.

Useful questions

Here are some typical questions used for making arrangements:

• Are you free next Tuesday afternoon?
• What time would you like to meet?
• When would be convenient for you?
• Could you please let me know?

Expressions of time

Use on with days: Could we meet on Monday?

Use in with months, years and other expressions: I'm going to visit my grandparents in October.

Use at with times and other expressions: Could you please call me at 3pm?

Use next to refer to future times: I hope we can meet again next week.

Use when to start a future time clause: Let's meet again when it is convenient.

Tenses

To speak about a timetable, use the present simple: Next term runs from 1 September until 16 December.

To speak about a future arrangement, use the present continuous: Mr Toshiko is coming to our next meeting.

To speak about a plan, use 'be going to': Next term we are going to learn about pollution.

See the talking about the future page for more practice.

Tenses in complex sentences about the future

Use the present simple after when, if and next time in future time clauses:

• I will call you when I get to the station.
• I'm going to work with my dad when I finish school.
• Let's go for a walk if the weather is good.
• Will you visit the Eiffel Tower next time you are in Paris?

MAKING SUGGESTIONS. 

What Shall We Do?

In this exercise, two friends are trying to decide what to do for the weekend. By making suggestions, Jean and Chris make a decision that they're both happy with. See if you can identify where the suggestion is.

Jean: Hi Chris, would you like to do something with me this weekend?

Chris: Sure. What shall we do?

Jean: I don't know. Do you have any ideas?

Chris: Why don't we see a film?

Jean: That's sounds good to me. Which film shall we see?

Chris: Let's see "Action Man 4."

Jean: I'd rather not. I don't like violent films. How about going to "Mad Doctor Brown?" I hear it's quite a funny film.

Chris: OK. Let's go see that. When is it on?

Jean: It's on at 8 p.m. at the Rex. Shall we have a bite to eat before the film?

Chris: Sure, that sounds great. What about going to that new Italian restaurant Michetti's?

Jean: Great idea! Let's meet there at 6.

Chris: OK. I'll see you at Michetti's at 6. Bye.

Jean: Bye.

Chris: See you later!

When Jean says, "I'd rather not. I don't like violent films. How about going to 'Mad Doctor Brown?' I hear it's quite a funny film," he is making a suggestion.

More Practice

Once you've mastered the dialogue above, challenge yourself with some additional role-playing exercises. What suggestions would you make if a friend said to you:

• Why don't you/we go to the movies tonight?
• You/we could visit New York while you're/we're there.
• Let's go to the travel agent's this afternoon to book our ticket.
• What about asking your brother for help?
• How about going to Hawaii for your vacation?
• I suggest you/we take all the factors into consideration before we decide.

Before answering, think about your response. What will you suggest? What related information should you tell your friend? Think about the necessary details, such as time or location.

Key Vocabulary

If you're being asked to make a decision, that suggestion usually comes in the form of a question. For example:

• Would you like to...?
• (What) shall we go...?

If someone else has made a decision and they want your opinion, it may be made as a statement instead. For example: 

• Let's go...
• Why don't we go...
• How about going...
• What about going...