Making Plans in French: Essential Phrases and Scenarios

Essential Phrases for Planning

Suggesting Plans

1. "On pourrait..." (We could...)

• Casual way to propose an activity
• Shows possibility without pressure

2. "Ça te dit de..." (How about...)

• Very common among friends
• Example: "Ça te dit d'aller au cinéma?" (How about going to the movies?)

Asking About Availability

1. "Tu es libre..." (Are you free...)

• "Tu es libre samedi?" (Are you free Saturday?)
• Direct way to check someone's schedule

2. "Qu'est-ce que tu fais..." (What are you doing...)

• "Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce weekend?" (What are you doing this weekend?)
• Opens conversation about plans naturally

Time-Related Expressions

Specific Times

1. "à" + time

• "à 14h" (at 2 PM)
• "à midi" (at noon)

2. Time Periods

• "dans la matinée" (in the morning)
• "dans l'après-midi" (in the afternoon)
• "en soirée" (in the evening)

Common Scenarios

Casual Plans

1. "On se retrouve où?" (Where should we meet?)

• Used after agreeing to meet
• Focuses on location details

2. "On dit quelle heure?" (What time should we say?)

• Natural way to establish meeting time
• Common in informal settings

Confirming Plans

1. "C'est bon pour toi?" (Does that work for you?)

• Checks if arrangements are suitable
• Used after suggesting specifics

2. "On fait comme ça?" (Shall we do it like that?)

• Confirms final arrangements
• Used to wrap up planning

Response Phrases

Accepting

1. "D'accord" (Okay)

• Simple, universal acceptance
• Can add "avec plaisir" (with pleasure)

2. "Ça marche" (That works)

• Casual confirmation
• Very commonly used

Declining

1. "Désolé(e), je ne peux pas" (Sorry, I can't)

• Polite refusal
• Often followed by reason

2. "Une autre fois peut-être" (Another time perhaps)

• Softens the refusal
• Keeps door open for future plans

Practical Examples

Setting Up a Coffee Meeting

You: "Tu veux prendre un café demain?" (Want to get coffee tomorrow?) Friend: "Oui, volontiers. À quelle heure?" (Yes, gladly. What time?) You: "Vers 15h?" (Around 3 PM?) Friend: "Ça marche. On se retrouve où?" (That works. Where should we meet?)

Planning a Weekend Activity

You: "Ça te dit d'aller au musée samedi?" (How about going to the museum Saturday?) Friend: "Samedi je ne peux pas, mais dimanche je suis libre" (I can't Saturday, but I'm free Sunday) You: "Dimanche alors? Dans l'après-midi?" (Sunday then? In the afternoon?) Friend: "Parfait, on dit 14h?" (Perfect, shall we say 2 PM?)

French plans often involve more back-and-forth confirmation than in English. It's normal and polite to reconfirm plans the day before or the day of the meeting.