German grammar
Plans: present tense + time word
Talk about your plans.
From the scene Heute Abend esse ich mit Javi (I'm having dinner with Javi tonight)
In short
For plans, use the present tense with a time word. Time word first, then the verb, then the person.
Your turn
Which one goes with I'm having dinner tonight?
Options: was machst du heute? · heute Abend isst sie · heute Abend esse ich
Show answer
I'm having dinner tonight → heute Abend esse ich
How it works
For plans German usually just uses the present tense with a time word: heute Abend esse ich mit Javi.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Frau Elena geht heute Abend auch (blank).
Options: essen · isst
Show answer
Frau Elena geht heute Abend auch essen.
Frau Elena is going out to eat this evening too.
Good to know
When the time word comes first, the verb stays second and the person moves behind it: heute Abend isst sie...
Good to know
Gehen + an infinitive (the basic dictionary form of a verb, like essen) means going out to do something: sie geht essen.
what are you doing today? was machst du heute?
Tomás
Nuria, was machst du heute?
Nuria, what are you doing today?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Nuria, (blank)?
Options: heute Abend esse ich · heute Abend isst sie · was machst du heute
Show answer
Tomás
Nuria, was machst du heute?
Nuria, what are you doing today?
I'm having dinner tonight heute Abend esse ich
Nuria
Heute Abend esse ich mit Javi.
This evening I'm having dinner with Javi.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) mit Javi.
Options: Heute Abend isst sie · Heute Abend esse ich · Was machst du heute
Show answer
Nuria
Heute Abend esse ich mit Javi.
This evening I'm having dinner with Javi.
she's having dinner tonight heute Abend isst sie
Tomás
Ja, heute Abend isst sie mit Ramón.
Yes, this evening she's having dinner with Ramón.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Ja, (blank) mit Ramón.
Options: heute Abend esse ich · heute Abend isst sie · was machst du heute
Show answer
Tomás
Ja, heute Abend isst sie mit Ramón.
Yes, this evening she's having dinner with Ramón.
she's going out to eat sie geht essen
Your turn
What goes with sie geht essen?
Options: what are you doing today? · I'm having dinner tonight · she's going out to eat
Show answer
sie geht essen → she's going out to eat
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| what are you doing today? | was machst du heute? |
|---|---|
| I'm having dinner tonight | heute Abend esse ich |
| she's having dinner tonight | heute Abend isst sie |
| she's going out to eat | sie geht essen |
More lines from the story
- TomásFrau Elena geht heute Abend auch essen.Frau Elena is going out to eat this evening too.
- NuriaIch esse Paella.I'm having paella.
- TomásDu isst mit Javi?You're having dinner with Javi?