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Making appointments

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English for Beginners: Making Appointments

Dialogue

Bob: Hey Alice! You won’t believe what I just saw.

Alice: Oh, hi Bob! What’s got you so excited? A flying squirrel?

Bob: Even better! A new ice cream shop opened. They have pickle-flavored ice cream!

Alice: Pickle?! You’re kidding! My curiosity is piqued.

Bob: So, I was thinking… Are you free this weekend to try it? For scientific research, of course.

Alice: Hmm, ‘scientific research’ with ice cream? Sounds like my kind of lab work! Let me check my calendar. Saturday afternoon looks good. What about you?

Bob: Saturday afternoon? Perfect! I’m free all day.

Alice: Great! So, how about 2 PM on Saturday?

Bob: 2 PM, Saturday. Got it. Do you know where the place is?

Alice: It’s called ‘Crazy Cones’ on Elm Street. We can meet there, or I can pick you up.

Bob: ‘Crazy Cones’! Sounds appropriate. I can meet you there. Saves you a trip.

Alice: Okay, so meet at Crazy Cones, Saturday at 2 PM. Just to confirm.

Bob: Confirmed! I’ll wear my bravest taste buds.

Alice: Wonderful! I’m actually a bit scared but also excited. What if it’s actually delicious?

Bob: Then we’ve discovered a new culinary frontier, Alice! Or a new way to prank our friends. Maybe bring some water… just in case.

Alice: Ha! Smart thinking! I’ll come prepared. My taste buds are ready for battle.

Bob: Excellent! May the best flavor win! See ya, Alice!

Alice: See you, Bob!

Current Situation

Making appointments is a very common and essential part of daily life. Whether you want to meet a friend for coffee, schedule a doctor’s visit, or arrange a business meeting, you need to know how to ask about someone’s availability and suggest a time and place. This dialogue shows a friendly way to do this for a social gathering. It’s important to be clear about the day, time, and location to avoid any confusion.

Key Phrases

  • Are you free…?: Used to ask if someone is available. Are you free this evening?
  • Are you available…?: Similar to “Are you free?”, often used for a bit more formal contexts but fine for friends too. Are you available on Friday afternoon?
  • How about…? / What about…?: Used to suggest a specific time, day, or activity. How about 3 PM? / What about going to the park?
  • Let’s meet at…: Used to suggest a place to meet. Let’s meet at the coffee shop.
  • Does that work for you?: Used to check if a suggested time/plan is convenient for the other person. We can meet on Tuesday. Does that work for you?
  • Is that good for you?: Another way to ask if a suggestion is okay. The movie starts at 7 PM. Is that good for you?
  • I’m busy on… / I can’t make it.: Used to decline an invitation or suggest unavailability. I’m busy on Monday. / Sorry, I can’t make it to the party.
  • How about another time?: Used when you can’t make the suggested time but want to reschedule. I can’t meet on Wednesday. How about another time?
  • What time works for you?: Used to ask the other person to suggest a convenient time. I’m free on Friday. What time works for you?
  • Sounds good! / Great! / Perfect!: Enthusiastic ways to agree to a plan. “How about lunch?” “Sounds good!”
  • Just to confirm.: Used to double-check the details of an appointment. So, coffee at 10 AM tomorrow? Just to confirm.
  • See you then! / See ya!: A friendly way to say goodbye when you have an appointment. “Okay, Tuesday at 6.” “Great! See you then!”

Grammar Points

1. Prepositions of Time and Place

We use specific prepositions to talk about time and place when making appointments:

  • On: Used for specific days of the week or dates. Meet me on Saturday. My birthday is on August 15th.
  • At: Used for specific times. Let’s meet at 2 PM. The class starts at 9 o’clock.
  • In: Used for months, seasons, years, or general parts of the day (morning, afternoon, evening, but not ‘night’). We’ll go in July. I’ll see you in the afternoon.
  • At: Used for specific locations or addresses. Meet me at the park. We are meeting at Crazy Cones.

2. Simple Present for Future Arrangements

When you have a fixed plan or appointment, especially something scheduled, you can use the simple present tense to talk about future events. This makes the plan sound definite.

  • We meet at Crazy Cones on Saturday. (Instead of “We will meet…”)
  • The train leaves at 6 PM.

3. Modal Verbs for Suggestions and Availability

Modal verbs like “can” and “should” are very useful for making suggestions, asking about availability, and expressing possibility or inability.

  • Can: Used to ask about ability or possibility, also to suggest. Can you meet on Friday? I can come at 5 PM.
  • Can’t / Cannot: Expresses inability or unavailability. I can’t meet tomorrow. I cannot make it to the party.
  • Should: Used to ask for or give advice, or to suggest something gently. Should we meet earlier? (Suggestion)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with Prepositions (on, at, in)

  1. Let’s meet ______ Saturday afternoon.
  2. The movie starts ______ 7:30 PM.
  3. I usually study English ______ the evening.
  4. Her birthday is ______ October 24th.
  5. Can you come ______ 5 o’clock?
  6. We’re going to travel ______ July.

Answers:

  1. on
  2. at
  3. in
  4. on
  5. at
  6. in

Exercise 2: Choose the Best Response

Read the first sentence and choose the best reply.

  1. “Are you free this Friday?”
    a) “I’m busy.”
    b) “Yes, I’m free.”
    c) “How about Monday?”
    d) All of the above are possible, depending on your situation.
  2. “How about 6 PM?”
    a) “That works for me!”
    b) “No, it’s bad.”
    c) “I don’t know 6 PM.”
  3. “I can’t meet tomorrow.”
    a) “Okay, what about you?”
    b) “Okay, how about another time?”
    c) “Tomorrow is a good day.”

Answers:

  1. d) All of the above are possible, depending on your situation.
  2. a) “That works for me!”
  3. b) “Okay, how about another time?”

Exercise 3: Complete the Dialogue

Fill in the blanks to complete the conversation between Maya and Leo.

Maya: Hi Leo! ______ free for coffee on Wednesday?

Leo: Hmm, Wednesday is a bit difficult. I’m ______ in the afternoon. ______ about Thursday?

Maya: Thursday sounds ______. What ______ works for you?

Leo: Let’s ______ at 10 AM. ______ that good for you?

Maya: Perfect! See ______ then!

Answers:

Maya: Hi Leo! Are you free for coffee on Wednesday?

Leo: Hmm, Wednesday is a bit difficult. I’m busy in the afternoon. How about Thursday?

Maya: Thursday sounds great. What time works for you?

Leo: Let’s meet at 10 AM. Is that good for you?

Maya: Perfect! See you then!

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