Now it's time to put it all together! In this lesson, you'll learn to describe your plans for the day using time expressions and sequencing words. You'll combine 'ir + a + infinitive' with words like 'primero' (first), 'luego' (then), and 'después' (after) to create connected descriptions of your daily plans. You'll also learn frequency expressions to talk about what you always, sometimes, or never do.
Learning tips
- Sequencing words help you sound more fluent: 'Primero voy a estudiar, luego voy a salir, después voy a cenar.'
- 'Encontrarse con' means 'to meet up with' — it's reflexive: 'me encuentro con mis amigos.'
- Frequency words like 'siempre' (always) and 'nunca' (never) usually go right before the verb.
- 'Esta tarde' and 'esta noche' are very useful time expressions — 'esta' means 'this' (feminine, matching tarde/noche).
Warm-up & Active Recall
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| el clima | weather/climate |
| hace calor | it's hot |
| hace frío | it's cold |
| llueve | it rains/it's raining |
| llover | to rain |
| hace sol | it's sunny |
| nublado | cloudy |
| el paraguas | umbrella |
| la lluvia | rain |
| el viento | wind |
Dialog
Valentina and Andrés coordinate a busy day. Notice how they use sequencing words to organize their plans: 'primero' (first), 'luego' (then), 'después' (after). They combine these with 'ir + a + infinitive' to describe future actions. 'Encontrarse con' (to meet up with) is a reflexive verb — notice the 'me' in 'voy a encontrarme.' 'Llamar' (to call) and 'esperar' (to hope/wait) are regular verbs that connect plans together.
Vocabulary
Active words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| el plan | /el ˈplan/ | plan | Same word in English and Spanish! Masculine noun. |
| hoy | /ˈoi̯/ | today | Very common time word. 'Hoy es lunes' = Today is Monday. |
| esta tarde | /ˈes.ta ˈtaɾ.ðe/ | this afternoon | 'Esta' agrees with 'tarde' (feminine). |
| esta noche | /ˈes.ta ˈno.tʃe/ | tonight | 'Esta' agrees with 'noche' (feminine). |
| después | /desˈpwes/ | after, afterwards, later | Used to sequence events: 'Primero estudio, después salgo.' |
| primero | /pɾiˈme.ɾo/ | first | Sequencing word. Always at the start: 'Primero voy a llamar.' |
| luego | /ˈlwe.ɣo/ | then, next, later | Similar to 'después' but often used for the next step in a sequence. |
| encontrarse | /en.konˈtɾaɾ.se/ | to meet up (with someone) | Reflexive: me encuentro, te encuentras, se encuentra. Used with 'con.' |
| esperar | /es.peˈɾaɾ/ | to hope, to wait, to expect | 'Espero ir' = I hope to go. 'Espero aquí' = I wait here. |
| llamar | /ʝaˈmaɾ/ | to call (on the phone) | Regular -ar verb. 'Te voy a llamar' = I'm going to call you. |
Passive words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| el punto de encuentro | /el ˈpun.to de enˈkwen.tɾo/ | meeting point | |
| confirmar | /kon.fiɾˈmaɾ/ | to confirm | |
| cancelar | /kan.seˈlaɾ/ | to cancel | |
| cambiar | /kamˈbjaɾ/ | to change | |
| el mensaje | /el menˈsa.xe/ | message | |
| avisar | /a.βiˈsaɾ/ | to let someone know, to notify |
Useful chunks
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| voy a encontrarme con | I'm going to meet up with... |
| esta tarde / esta noche | this afternoon / tonight |
Grammar: Expressing frequency and reviewing 'ir + a + infinitive'
| Frequency | Spanish | Position |
|---|---|---|
| always | siempre | before or after verb |
| every day | todos los días | usually at start or end |
| every week | cada semana | usually at start or end |
| sometimes | a veces | usually at start |
| never | nunca | before verb (no double negative needed) |
Sequencing: primero → luego → después → finalmente
ir + a + inf. review: Primero voy a llamar, luego voy a salir.
Frequency expressions tell how often something happens:
- siempre = always → Siempre salgo los fines de semana.
- todos los días = every day → Todos los días llamo a mi mamá.
- cada semana = every week → Cada semana visito a mi familia.
- a veces = sometimes → A veces voy al cine.
- nunca = never → Nunca cancelo planes.
Position: 'Siempre' and 'nunca' usually go directly before the verb. 'Todos los días,' 'cada semana,' and 'a veces' usually go at the beginning or end of the sentence.
Note: Unlike English, Spanish doesn't need a double negative. 'Nunca cancelo' (I never cancel) is correct — you don't need 'no.'
Sequencing review:
Combine frequency words with 'ir + a + infinitive' and time expressions:
'Siempre salgo los fines de semana. Primero voy a llamar, luego voy a salir, y después voy a cenar.'
Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each sentence with the correct word.
- voy a estudiar, luego voy a salir.(first — sequencing word)
- ¿Cuál es tu para esta tarde?(a set of activities for the day)
- Voy a con mis amigos en el parque.(to meet up — reflexive, with 'con')
- Te voy a esta noche para confirmar.(to contact someone by phone)
- vamos al cine y después a cenar.(then/next — sequencing word)
Grammar Application
Reorder the words or fill in the frequency word.
- Put in order: salir / primero / voy a / luego / llamar / voy a → (primero + luego pattern with ir + a + inf.)
- I always go out on weekends → salgo los fines de semana.(always — goes before the verb)
- I never cancel plans → cancelo planes.(never — goes before the verb)
- Sometimes I meet with friends → me encuentro con amigos.(sometimes — usually at start)
- Every day I call my mom → llamo a mi mamá.(every day — at start or end)
Translation (English → Spanish)
Translate each sentence into Spanish.
- What's your plan for today?
- First I'm going to call, then I'm going to go out.
- Tonight I'm going to meet up with friends.
- I hope to go to the park this afternoon.
- Afterwards we're going to have dinner together.
Creative Construction
Describe your plans for today or a typical day using sequencing words (primero, luego, después) and at least 3 vocabulary words from this lesson.
Takeaway
Use sequencing words to organize your plans: 'primero' (first), 'luego' (then), 'después' (after). Combine with 'ir + a + infinitive' for future plans and frequency words (siempre, a veces, nunca) to say how often you do things.