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Talking about weekend plans

Episode 240816 / 16 Aug 2024

(Image: Getty)

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Introduction

Georgie and Neil have a real conversation in easy English about their weekends. Learn to talk about your plans and how certain they are.

Vocabulary

looking forward to
be pleased or excited that something is going to happen

Grammar tip:
Use present continuous with going to to talk about plans that are certain

  • I'm going to visit my parents this weekend.

Use might or may with the present simple to talk about plans that are uncertain

  • I might meet my friend for a meal. We may go for a drink.

Transcript

Georgie
Hello, I'm Georgie.

Neil
And I'm Neil. Welcome to Real Easy English from BBC Learning English.

Georgie
Every week, we have a real conversation in easy English to help you learn.

Neil
You can find the vocabulary from this episode and a text version to read along on our website: bbclearningenglish.com

Georgie
How are you, Neil?

Neil
I'm well, thank you, Georgie. How are you?

Georgie
I am pretty good, too, thank you. I'm very excited for the weekend.

Neil
Oh, really? Well, today we're talking all about the weekend. We’re going to talk about what we plan to do at the weekend.

Georgie
Great! Let's start.

Neil
So, Georgie, do you have any weekend plans?

Georgie
Yes, I do have plans. I'm going to visit my parents at the weekend. So I'm gonna get the train to my home town. What about you?

Neil
I don't really have any special plans, but I might spend lots of time doing sport with my kids.

Georgie
Nice, which sports?

Neil
Cricket in the summer and football as well.

Georgie
Nice. So that's what you usually do?

Neil
That's what I usually do. I usually spend most of the weekend taking my kids to sport.

Georgie
Do you like it?

Neil
Actually, I really do. I really do like it. It's fun to watch them trying their hardest.

Georgie
Ah nice! Is there anything else you'd like to do this weekend?

Neil
Well, I might meet up with a friend and we might go for some food or maybe just a drink or we might go for a walk or something.

Georgie
Ooh, nice!

Neil
And how about you, Georgie? What do you plan to do when you get home?

Georgie
Well, we have a lunch on Saturday. And we live in the countryside, so we'll probably go for a walk with the dogs and we’re likely to go to the pub as well.

Neil
Is this a typical weekend for you?

Georgie
It's not because I don't usually go home to see my parents. Most weekends I stay in London. I meet some friends.

Yeah. So this is not a typical weekend, but it's nice to visit my parents.

Neil
What are you looking forward to?

Georgie
This weekend?

Neil
Yeah.

Georgie
I'm really looking forward to spending time in the countryside. When I'm in London, I really miss the peace and quiet. And I miss my dog. So I'm looking forward to seeing my dog.

Neil
And it's good to get some fresh air.

Georgie
Yes, exactly, exactly.

Neil
So, Georgie, you said you are looking forward to being in the countryside.

Georgie
I did.

Neil
And looking forward to means that you're excited about something you're going to do in the future.

Georgie
Exactly, yes. Like I'm looking forward to seeing my dog.

Neil
Is your dog looking forward to seeing you?

Georgie
Yes, I'm sure he is.

So, Neil, I have quite clear plans. I know what I'm going to do this weekend. And to talk about plans like that we usually use be going to or the present continuous so I said, I'm going to visit my parents at the weekend. And sometimes we shorten going to to gonna when we're speaking quickly.

Neil
Yeah, now your plans are certain. Mine are not so certain. So I used might and may. I said I might meet my friend. I may go for a meal or I may go for a drink. It means I'm not completely sure.

Georgie
Well, Neil, I'm sure whatever you do this weekend, you'll have a nice time.

OK, let's look at the vocabulary we learned during the conversation.

Neil
We learned might, which we use to talk about possible plans. I might meet my friend.

Georgie
Going to which we used to talk about future plans that are a little bit more certain. So I'm going to visit my parents this weekend.

Neil
And looking forward to which means to be pleased or excited that something is going to happen.

Georgie
That's it for this episode off Real Easy English, but I'm looking forward to the next episode when we'll talk about saving the planet.

Neil
If you can't wait, you can find lots of courses, programmes and activities on our website: bbclearningenglish.com

Georgie
Bye for now.

Neil
Goodbye.

Now try this...

Learn how to use may and might to talk about the weather

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