Is it 'How about going' or 'How about to go'?

Say 'How about going to the movies?'. When How about and What about introduce a suggestion, use the -ing form, not the infinitive with to.

Is it 'on Friday' or 'at Friday'?

Use on with days and dates: 'Are you free on Friday?', 'on June 5'. Use at with clock times ('at 7') and in with months and years ('in July').

How do you politely say no to an invitation?

Soften it with a reason and a door left open: 'I'd love to, but I'm busy that night' or 'I can't make it this time — maybe another time?'

Vocabulary Level A2

Making Plans & Invitations in English

Making plans in English: invite someone, suggest a time, accept or decline politely, and confirm — including How about + -ing and Are you free on…?

invite · suggest · confirm

Making plans is a short, repeatable exchange: you check if someone's free, suggest something, they accept or decline, and you confirm the details. Each step has a few standard phrases — and two of them have grammar worth getting right, because How about and Are you free on… trip people up.

Checking availability

Days take on, clock times take at.

Are you free on Friday? · What are you doing this weekend? · Are you busy tonight? · Do you have any plans for Saturday?

Suggesting and inviting

Watch the form after each one: How about and What about take -ing; Let's and Do you want to take the base verb.

How about going to the movies? · What about meeting at 7?

Let's get dinner. · Do you want to grab a coffee? · Would you like to join us? · Why don't we try that new place?

Saying yes

Short and warm is enough.

I'd love to! · Sounds good. · That works for me. · Sure, why not? · Count me in. · See you then!

Saying no politely

A soft refusal usually has three parts: thanks, a short reason, and an open door.

I'd love to, but I'm busy that night. · Sorry, I can't make it. · I'm afraid I already have plans. · Maybe another time? · Can we do it next week instead?

Confirming and changing

Nail down the details — or move them when life happens.

What time works for you? · Where should we meet? · See you at 7 then. · Can we make it a bit later? · Something's come up — can we reschedule?

Common mistakes

"How about to go…" After How about / What about, use the -ing form.

✕How about to go to the movies?
✓How about going to the movies?

"at Friday". Days of the week take on.

✕Are you free at Friday?
✓Are you free on Friday?

"Let's to meet". Let's is followed by the base verb, with no to.

✕Let's to meet at the station.
✓Let's meet at the station.

Quick exercise

Complete each line with one word.

Are you free ___ Friday?
How about ___ to the movies? (go)
Let's ___ at 7. (meet)
I'd ___ to! (you're happy to accept)
Sorry, I can't ___ it on Saturday.

Answer key

on (days of the week take on)
going (-ing after How about)
meet (base verb after Let's)
love ("I'd love to!" — a warm yes)
make (can't make it = can't come)

Practice this in Recursio

Inviting someone, suggesting a time, and saying no politely are small scripts you reuse constantly. Save the ones that fit your life to your word list in Recursio, and spaced review can bring "Are you free on Friday?" and "I can't make it" back so they're easier to use naturally.

Build your word list in Recursio → · Free to start, on iOS and Android.