Short-Term Plans (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Short-Term Plans
When discussing your immediate future in German, you'll need specific vocabulary and structures to express your intentions clearly. This topic covers essential language for talking about weekend activities, upcoming holidays, and making arrangements with friends.
Basic planning vocabulary
Understanding how to express different types of plans is fundamental for everyday German conversation. Each verb has a slightly different nuance when talking about your intentions, so choosing the right one will make your German sound more natural and precise.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der Plan | plan |
| planen | to plan |
| vorhaben | to intend |
| vorbereiten | to prepare |
| sich treffen | to meet |
| vereinbaren | to arrange |
| abholen | to pick up |
| mitkommen | to come along |
Basic Planning Examples:
Using "planen" (to plan):
- Ich plane, am Wochenende ins Kino zu gehen. (I plan to go to the cinema at the weekend.)
Using "vorhaben" (to intend):
- Wir haben vor, einen Ausflug zu machen. (We intend to go on a trip.)
Using "vorbereiten" (to prepare):
- Er bereitet sich auf die Reise vor. (He is preparing for the trip.)
Weekend activities
Germans often use specific time expressions when discussing weekend plans. These terms help you sound more natural when making arrangements and are essential for structuring your conversations about free time.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| am Wochenende | at the weekend |
| Samstag | Saturday |
| Sonntag | Sunday |
| Freitagabend | Friday evening |
| der Ausflug | trip/excursion |
| einkaufen | to go shopping |
| zu Hause bleiben | to stay at home |
Notice how German uses prepositions with time expressions: "am" is used with days and specific times (am Samstag, am Wochenende), while other time expressions may use different prepositions.
Weekend Activity Examples:
Visiting family:
- Am Wochenende besuche ich meine Großeltern. (At the weekend I'm visiting my grandparents.)
Going shopping:
- Am Samstag gehe ich einkaufen. (On Saturday I'm going shopping.)
Meeting friends:
- Am Freitagabend treffe ich meine Freunde. (On Friday evening I'm meeting my friends.)
Holiday vocabulary
Whether you're staying home or travelling abroad, these terms will help you discuss your holiday plans effectively. German distinguishes between different types of holidays, so understanding these nuances is important for accurate communication.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Ferien | holidays (school) |
| der Urlaub | holiday/vacation |
| verreisen | to go away (travel) |
| bleiben | to stay |
| ans Meer | to the seaside |
| nach Italien | to Italy |
| nächste Woche | next week |
German makes a distinction between "Ferien" (school holidays) and "Urlaub" (vacation from work). Using the correct term shows your understanding of German cultural context.
Holiday Planning Examples:
Going to the seaside:
- In den Ferien fahre ich ans Meer. (In the holidays I'm going to the seaside.)
International travel:
- Wir machen Urlaub in Italien. (We're going on holiday in Italy.)
Staying home:
- Ich bleibe zu Hause in den Ferien. (I'm staying at home in the holidays.)
Expressing the near future
German uses the auxiliary verb "werden" plus an infinitive to express future actions. This construction is essential for discussing your short-term plans and is one of the most important grammatical structures for talking about the future.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| werden | will (future auxiliary) |
| morgen | tomorrow |
| bald | soon |
| nächste Woche | next week |
| übermorgen | day after tomorrow |
Key Grammar Point: When using "werden" + infinitive, the infinitive always goes to the end of the sentence. This word order is crucial for correct German grammar.
Structure: Subject + werden + other elements + infinitive (at the end)
Future Tense Examples:
Tomorrow's plans:
- Ich werde morgen schwimmen gehen. (I will go swimming tomorrow.)
Next week's activities:
- Wir werden nächste Woche nach Berlin fahren. (We will go to Berlin next week.)
Soon-to-happen events:
- Bald werden wir Ferien haben. (Soon we will have holidays.)
Example dialogue
This practical conversation demonstrates how to use short-term planning vocabulary in context, showing the natural flow of discussing weekend and holiday plans.
Planning Conversation:
Anna: Hast du Pläne für das Wochenende? Do you have plans for the weekend?
Ben: Ja, ich treffe mich mit Lisa am Samstag. Wir werden ins Kino gehen. Yes, I'm meeting Lisa on Saturday. We will go to the cinema.
Anna: Das klingt gut! Ich werde zu Hause bleiben und mich auf die Ferien vorbereiten. That sounds good! I will stay at home and prepare for the holidays.
Ben: Wohin fährst du in den Ferien? Where are you going on holidays?
Anna: Wir haben vor, nach Spanien zu verreisen. We intend to travel to Spain.
Common mistakes and tips
Understanding these common pitfalls will help you avoid typical errors when discussing your plans in German and sound more confident in your conversations.
Critical Grammar Points to Remember:
Word order with "werden": Remember that when using "werden" + infinitive, the infinitive goes to the end of the sentence.
- Incorrect: "Ich werden gehen morgen schwimmen."
- Correct: "Ich werde morgen schwimmen gehen."
Time expressions: Pay attention to prepositions with time expressions. Use "am" with days (am Samstag) and "in" with longer periods (in den Ferien).
Planning verbs: "Planen" requires "zu" + infinitive, whilst "vorhaben" doesn't always need it.
- Compare: "Ich plane zu gehen" vs "Ich habe vor zu gehen" or "Wir haben einen Ausflug vor."
Pronunciation tip: The "ch" sound in "nächste" is soft (like in "ich"), whilst "Woche" has a harder "ch" sound (like in "ach").
Key Points to Remember:
- Use "werden" + infinitive to express future plans and intentions
- Time expressions like "am Wochenende" and "nächste Woche" are essential for discussing short-term plans
- Different planning verbs (planen, vorhaben, vorbereiten) have slightly different meanings and usage patterns
- Always include specific details (when, where, with whom) to make your plans sound realistic
- The infinitive goes to the end when using "werden" for future tense