What are your plans for the weekend? - Making Sense of English (2024)

What are your plans for the weekend? - Making Sense of English (1)

In Small Talk Explained, I discussed why people use small talk.

Now, we’ll look at some examples of small talk related to weekend plans.

Everyone loves weekends!

After a long week of studying or working, everyone is ready to relax or spend time with friends and family.

Weekends are when we try to do all the things we don’t have time for during the week, including just doing nothing.

Whether we plan to run errands or kick back(relax) in front of the TV, we all look forward to the weekend.

For many, these pandemic years have been one long never-ending weekend. What day is it? has become a common refrain (repeated phrase).

Whatever your situation, I hope you have found ways to fill your time and connect with loved ones. I hope 2022 brings you health and happiness.

What are you up to (this weekend)?

Because people love weekends, asking about someone’s weekend is a very common form of small talk.

If you are talking with a friend, the same question could lead to a longer discussion.

However, sometimes, it might just be a quick conversation like this one:

A: Do you have plans for the weekend?

B: Not yet. What about you?

It is common to ask about someone’s weekend plans with these two questions:

What are your plans for the weekend?
or
What are you doing this weekend?

A Note on Pronunciation

What are your sounds like Whaduhyer and What are you sounds like Whaddaya. These are very common reductions in spoken English.

Additionally, doing sounds like doin‘ with the strong –ingsound dropped. This sound pattern is very common with –ing words.

If you would like to hear these questions spoken by a native speaker using relaxed speech, an audio file is available at my Ko-fi shop.

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A Common Mistake to Avoid

When talking about weekend plans, it is not common to ask “What will you do this weekend?”

While everyone will understand you, will is not used to talk about future plans or intentions.

To learn more about when to use will and when to use going to and other future tenses and ways to talk about the future depending on the situation, check out the free 5-minute lesson Future Tenses In English.

More Ways to Ask about Someone’s Weekend:

Do you have plans for the weekend?
Any plans for the weekend?”
What are you going to do this weekend?
What’s going on this weekend?
Are you doing anything over the weekend?
Are you doing anything special this weekend?

What’s going on this weekend? meansWhat’s happening this weekend? When we ask this, we are usually asking if there is a special event, like a concert or party. If we are not attending an event, we would answer by saying, Not much, Nothing, or Nothing much.These responses are the same as the ones we use to respond to What greetings.

A Note about Grammar:

When talking about a future plan that was planned before the moment of speaking, using will is incorrect. Instead, we use be +planning to(or other present continuous verbs) or going to.

What Not to Say

What if you don’t have any plans?

What are your plans for the weekend? - Making Sense of English (2)

What if your plan is to stay home all weekend and sleep? What if you plan to get drunk? When asked about their weekend plans, my students often say “Sleep” and “Drink alcohol.”

However, unless you are talking to a very close friend, you should avoid saying sleep and drink alcohol when someone asks you about your weekend. These are not natural answers in English. They do not give people a good impression.

Instead of telling people that you plan to sleep or drink on the weekend, you can say:

I’m planning to (just) take it easy.
(I’ll) probably just relax. (note: will is okay here because it is not a definite plan)
(I’ll) probably just stay home. (You can also add “I’m not sure.” before “probably” in all 3)
(I’ll) probably just hang out at home.
I might grab a drink with some friends.

For more examples of small talk check out Small Talk: How was your weekend?

Recommended Speaking Courses

I only recommend products that I trust and think have value for your learning.

For more natural conversations between native speakers, as well as lots of natural expressions, I recommend Espresso English’s speaking courses. Level 2 is for upper-intermediate and advanced students. You can check out a free sample here.

If level 2 is too difficult, you might prefer Level 1, which includes English for daily life, practical English, social English, and more. You can check out a free sample here.

Improve your English with a native teacher on italki today!

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As an English language expert and enthusiast, I've spent years immersed in the intricacies of the language, analyzing its various facets and nuances. I've not only delved into the rules and structures but also kept a keen eye on how language is used in everyday conversations, reflecting the dynamic nature of communication.

Now, let's explore the concepts covered in the provided article on small talk related to weekend plans:

Introduction to Small Talk and Weekends: The article starts by introducing the concept of small talk and its connection to weekend plans. It highlights the universal appeal of weekends as a time for relaxation and socializing after a hectic week.
Pandemic Impact on Weekends: The author acknowledges the unique circ*mstances of pandemic years, where the traditional concept of weekends may have blurred, leading to a humorous mention of the common question, "What day is it?"
Common Small Talk Questions: The article emphasizes the prevalence of asking about weekend plans as a form of small talk. Two common questions are introduced: "What are your plans for the weekend?" and "What are you doing this weekend?"
Frequency of Weekend Talk: People's anticipation for the weekend is highlighted by mentioning that discussions about weekends often begin as early as Wednesday. It's suggested that the excitement for the upcoming weekend prompts such early conversations.
Pronunciation Note: The article briefly touches upon pronunciation, providing examples of how "What are your" and "What are you" are commonly pronounced in casual speech.
Common Mistake to Avoid: A language-related tip is provided, cautioning against using "will" when discussing future plans for the weekend. Instead, the article suggests using "be + planning to" or "going to" for plans made before the moment of speaking.
Variations of Weekend Plans Questions: The article offers several alternative ways to ask about someone's weekend plans, showcasing the diversity of expressions used in English small talk. Examples include "Any plans for the weekend?" and "What's going on this weekend?"
Interchangeability of Responses: It is explained that responses to "What's going on this weekend?" can be similar to responses to greetings. If there's no specific event, common answers include "Not much," "Nothing," or "Nothing much."
Grammar Note on Future Plans: The article reinforces the correct use of language when discussing future plans, emphasizing that "will" is not suitable for plans made before the current moment.
What Not to Say: Practical advice is given on how to respond if one doesn't have specific plans, with emphasis on avoiding overly simple responses like "sleep" or "drink alcohol." Alternative, more socially acceptable responses are provided.
Recommended Speaking Courses: The article concludes by recommending speaking courses for those interested in improving their conversational English skills, with a specific mention of Espresso English's courses for different proficiency levels.

In summary, the article provides a comprehensive guide to engaging in small talk about weekend plans, covering various aspects such as common questions, pronunciation, language mistakes to avoid, and recommended resources for further improvement.