How to make plans with a friend in English
Do you want to grab a coffee?
“Do you want to have a coffee with me?”
When: When you want to meet a new friend again
The moment
You are chatting with a new friend after your English class in Brooklyn. Invite them to get coffee, agree on a day and a time, and confirm the plan before you say goodbye.
A1 · Unit 4 · People
The lines
Inviting someone
To invite a friend, say 'Do you want to' and the activity: 'Do you want to grab a coffee?' 'Grab' means 'get' and sounds relaxed and friendly. Americans often say it fast: 'Wanna grab a coffee?'
Do you want to grab a coffee?
“Do you want to have a coffee with me?”
When to use it: When you want to meet a new friend again
What you’ll hear back: Sure, I'd love to! (Yes, I want to.)
Picking a day and time
Suggest a day and a time as a question: 'How about Saturday at ten?' 'How about' means 'is this okay for you?' Change the day or time: 'How about Friday at five?'
How about Saturday at ten?
“Is Saturday at ten good for you?”
When to use it: When you choose when to meet
What you’ll hear back: Saturday works for me. (Saturday is good for me.)
Words for this scene
| Word or phrase | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| That works for me. | THAT WURKS fer MEE | That day and time are good for me. |
Friday at six? That works for me. Friday at 6 pm? Yes, that is good for me. Tip: The most common way Americans say yes to a plan. | ||
| Let's meet at the café. | lets MEET ad-thuh ka-FAY | We can see each other at the coffee shop. |
Let's meet at the café on Bedford Avenue. We can see each other at the coffee shop on Bedford Avenue. Tip: Name a street or corner; New Yorkers give places, not directions. | ||
| See you Saturday! | SEE-yuh SAD-er-day | Goodbye, I will see you on Saturday. |
Great, ten o'clock. See you Saturday! Good, at 10 o'clock. I will see you on Saturday. Tip: Americans usually text the day before to confirm plans. | ||
Your objective
Invite them for a coffee and agree on a day and a time to meet.
- an invitation
- a day
- a time
Lines that get it done
- Do you want to grab a coffee?
- How about Saturday at ten?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You want to invite a new friend for coffee. What do you say?
- Do you want to grab a coffee?
- Do you want to grab my coffee?
- Do you grab a coffee every day?
- Did you want a coffee yesterday?
Show the answer
Do you want to grab a coffee?
'Do you want to grab a coffee?' is a friendly, relaxed invitation.
2. Your friend asks, 'When are you free?' How do you suggest a time?
- How about Saturday at ten?
- How are you on Saturday?
- How much is Saturday at ten?
- How long is Saturday?
Show the answer
How about Saturday at ten?
'How about' plus a day and time suggests when to meet.
3. Your friend says, 'Friday at six?' What does 'That works for me' mean?
- Yes, that time is good for me.
- I have to work on Friday.
- No, I am busy then.
- I work at six every day.
Show the answer
Yes, that time is good for me.
'That works for me' is how Americans say yes to a plan.