Making Appointments and Plans

Are you free tonight / next Saturday / on July 15?
Are you around this weekend?
Do you have any plans this weekend / next Wednesday / after class?
Do you have any time this afternoon?
Do you have free time next week?
These questions are casual ways to ask a friend or acquaintance if they are available on a specific day or during a period of time. When you find out that your friend is free, you can make your request. For example, you can say, “Let’s go out to eat!”, “Do you want to go the museum on Sunday?”, or “Can you help me with my homework?”

More Formal

Are you available on Saturday, June 7 / Monday afternoon?
Do you have any availability next week?
Does the doctor have any availability in the next few days?
When we are talking to coworkers, managers, professors, or doctors, we use more formal language. Asking about availability shows that you understand that they are busy and that you want to find a good time that is convenient for both of you.

Agreeing to Meet

When we agree to meet at a specific time, we often show enthusiasm using one of the following phrases and usually confirm the date and/or time.
That works for me.
I can do Thursday at 5PM.
Sounds good!
Sounds great! I’ll see you Friday night.
That’s perfect for me.

Finding a Better Time to Meet

If we can’t meet at the suggested time, we need to negotiate to find a better time to meet. First, we indicate that we are busy at the suggested time. Sometimes we give a simple reason, such as another appointment. Then we suggest a different time to meet or ask another question about the other person’s availability.
I’m not free on Sunday, but how about Monday?
I’m not around this weekend. I already have plans. Can we try next week?
I’m sorry, I’m not available at 4PM. I have another appointment.
Thursday night doesn’t work for me. I have a previous commitment. I can’t make it at 3PM. Let’s try to meet at 4 instead.
If this time works for the other person, we agree to meet and confirm the time again.
You may repeat this negotiation a few times to find the best time for the appointment.