Short-term plans (Junior Cert German): Revision Notes
Short-term Plans
Learning to discuss your upcoming plans is essential for everyday conversations in German. This revision note covers the key vocabulary and structures you need to talk about weekend activities, holidays, and near-future arrangements.
Mastering future planning expressions in German will significantly improve your ability to have natural conversations about everyday activities and make social arrangements with native speakers.
Basic planning vocabulary
When expressing plans and intentions, these core verbs will serve you well in German conversations.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Plan | plan |
| planen | to plan |
| vorhaben | to intend |
| vorbereiten | to prepare |
The verb vorhaben is particularly useful as it directly expresses intention. Notice how it's used in context:
- Ich plane, am Wochenende ins Kino zu gehen. → I plan to go to the cinema at the weekend.
- Wir haben vor, einen Ausflug zu machen. → We intend to go on a trip.
- Er bereitet sich auf die Reise vor. → He is preparing for the trip.
- Hast du Pläne für die Ferien? → Do you have plans for the holidays?
Pronunciation tip: The 'ch' sound in machen is soft, like the 'h' in 'huge'.
Talking about weekend activities
Weekend plans are a common conversation topic. Here are the essential time expressions you'll need.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| am Wochenende | at the weekend |
| Samstag | Saturday |
| Sonntag | Sunday |
| Freitagabend | Friday evening |
German uses the preposition am (at the) with weekend and specific days. This is a crucial grammar point that many learners forget!
Study these natural examples:
- Am Wochenende besuche ich meine Großeltern. → At the weekend I'm visiting my grandparents.
- Am Samstag gehe ich einkaufen. → On Saturday I'm going shopping.
- Am Sonntag bleibe ich zu Hause. → On Sunday I'm staying at home.
- Am Freitagabend treffe ich meine Freunde. → On Friday evening I'm meeting my friends.
Discussing holidays and travel
Holiday vocabulary allows you to discuss longer-term plans and travel arrangements.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Ferien | holidays (school) |
| der Urlaub | holiday/vacation |
| verreisen | to go away (travel) |
| bleiben | to stay |
German distinguishes between school holidays (die Ferien) and general holidays (der Urlaub). Here's how to use them naturally:
- In den Ferien fahre ich ans Meer. → In the holidays I'm going to the seaside.
- Wir machen Urlaub in Italien. → We're going on holiday in Italy.
- Er verreist nächste Woche. → He's going away next week.
- Ich bleibe zu Hause in den Ferien. → I'm staying at home in the holidays.
Using the near future tense
To express future plans, German uses the auxiliary verb werden plus an infinitive verb at the end of the sentence.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| werden | will (future auxiliary) |
| morgen | tomorrow |
| nächste Woche | next week |
| bald | soon |
Grammar pattern: Subject + werden + other words + infinitive verb
The infinitive verb always goes at the very end of the sentence - this is essential for correct German word order.
Practice these future constructions:
- Ich werde morgen schwimmen gehen. → I will go swimming tomorrow.
- Wir werden nächste Woche nach Berlin fahren. → We will go to Berlin next week.
- Bald werden wir Ferien haben. → Soon we will have holidays.
- Sie wird am Samstag arbeiten. → She will work on Saturday.
Pronunciation tip: werden is pronounced 'VAIR-den' with emphasis on the first syllable.
Making social arrangements
When organising activities with others, these verbs help you coordinate plans effectively.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| sich treffen | to meet |
| vereinbaren | to arrange |
| abholen | to pick up |
| mitkommen | to come along |
Notice how reflexive and separable verbs work in these practical examples:
- Ich treffe mich mit Anna am Samstag. → I'm meeting Anna on Saturday.
- Wir haben vereinbart, um drei Uhr zu starten. → We arranged to start at three o'clock.
- Ich hole dich morgen ab. → I'll pick you up tomorrow.
- Willst du mitkommen? → Do you want to come along?
Common mistakes and tips
Word order errors: Remember that in sentences with werden + infinitive, the infinitive verb goes at the very end.
Incorrect: Ich werde gehen morgen schwimmen.
Correct: Ich werde morgen schwimmen gehen.
Time expressions: Always use am with weekend, days, and parts of days. Don't say in Samstag - say am Samstag.
Separable verbs: When using vorhaben or mitkommen, remember they split in simple sentences: Ich habe vor (not Ich vorhabe).
Register awareness: Use appropriate formality. Hast du Pläne? is casual, while Haben Sie Pläne? is more formal.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Use am with days and weekend expressions (am Samstag, am Wochenende)
- Form the future tense with werden + infinitive at the end of the sentence
- Die Ferien refers to school holidays, while der Urlaub means general holidays
- Separable verbs like vorhaben and mitkommen split in simple present tense
- Pay attention to word order - the infinitive always comes at the end in future constructions