How to Make an Appointment in English – Prepositions & Expressions

Hi. I'm Rebecca from engVid. In this lesson,

I'll show you how to make an appointment in

English. Usually, that means setting up two

things; setting up a time to meet and a place

to meet. It also includes using the right

expressions and the right prepositions. Alright?

So, let's learn what they are and how to use them. So, here we go.

So, there are many ways in which you can set

up an appointment, and many different kinds

of appointments that you can set up. So, let's

start with a basic expression that you could

use. This is when you are suggesting a time to someone, either on the phone or usually

these days in an email. Okay? Or a message.

So, you could start by saying, "Could we meet?"

Okay? That is a semi-formal expression; it

works in formal situations, it works in informal

situations. So, it's a good expression to know.

It will work for you anywhere and everywhere.

So, "Could we meet?" But what comes after that? That's where you have a whole lot of

prepositions. So, let's see what they are. Let's talk about the prepositions of time

that you're going to need, and then the prepositions

of place. So, "Could we meet on Friday or

on June 10th?" So, we use "on" to talk about

one day or one date. Alright? If you're not

sure of these, I have another full lesson all

about the prepositions of time, like this,

okay? I'll give you a link to that. If you want

to study that a little bit more, you can go and

check that out. But here also, you will be able

to, after this lesson, make an appointment. Okay?

So, "on Friday" or "on June 30th", one day or

one date, we use the preposition "on". Then,

when we give the time, we use "at". So, "at" is

very specific. "At 3.30", "at 4 o'clock", "at

noon". Okay? Now, does it matter if we say,

"Could we meet at 3.30 on Friday?" Or if we say,

"Could we meet on Friday at 3.30?" It doesn't

really matter. I prefer this way. Why? Because

if I say, "Could we meet on Friday?", that

is already talking about the bigger picture,

the day. And maybe that person's just not working

on Friday, so then the time and all of that is

really irrelevant and it becomes secondary. So,

first start, I think, with the day and then the

time, but if you switch them around, don't worry

as long as you're using the right prepositions.

Okay? So, we would say something like, "Could

we meet on Friday at 3.30?" Or if you need to

say this plus this, the day plus the date, then

you would say it like this, "Could we meet on

Friday, June 10th at 3.30?" Okay? If you're

writing it, you would say... You would write,

"Could we meet on Friday, June 10th at noon?" Okay? Question mark. All right?

So, that's for the time. Now, what about the

place? All right. So, place, we have three

prepositions. All right? "At", "in", and "on".

"At" and "in" usually drive people a little bit

crazy-okay?-when they're learning English because

they're... They're a little bit flexible. And if

you make a mistake with that, really don't worry

about it too much. It's not the end of the world.

"At", we're talking kind of just at that location.

Okay? And "in" is a little bit, like, inside a

place. So, that's kind of where... What we mean,

but sometimes you'll hear people using them in

different ways. Okay? So, we could say, "Could

we meet at the airport?" Okay? So, we could talk

about a location. People also say things like,

"Could we meet at the conference?" Well, the

conference is actually an event, but the event

is taking place at a location. So, that's what

they mean. Okay? "Could we meet at the conference?

Could we meet at the seminar?" Okay? And things

like that. Or, "Could we meet at the concert?"

That's an event, but it's a location where that

event is taking place, and that's why it's under the category of place. All right?

So, then we come to "in". And again, "in", you're

referring a little bit more to, like, inside.

So, "Could we meet in the lobby of your hotel?"

Okay? The lobby, that open space in a hotel where

people sit and wait for other people, or maybe

have something to drink, things like that. Okay?

Or, "Could we meet in the cafeteria?" Okay? Again,

really referring more to, like, inside. Okay?

All right. Next, nowadays, people very often

don't meet in person at all. Okay? And also,

if you're speaking internationally, then you're

not going to meet in person. So, you're talking

about an online platform. Right? So, there, the

correct preposition to use is "on". "Could we

meet on Friday at 3.30 on Zoom?" Or on Teams.

Okay? Whichever platform you're going to...

You're planning to use or you're suggesting.

So, that's when it's online. And if somebody is

actually coming... Going to meet you somewhere,

you could say, "Could we meet on the third floor

of my building?" Okay? So, if you're talking

about a particular floor, then we say "on" also.

You got all that? Okay. I know it's not... It's

a little bit confusing, but you can get it. Okay?

Just do one at a time. Some of my clients even

put up a little card, or a little notice, or a

little drawing on their bulletin board, or next to

their... Keep it next to their phone, or next to

their computer, so when they're typing or when

they're speaking, they just look quickly. "Oh, okay,

add on. All right, I got that." Okay? So, do that as

long as you need it, but very soon you will get it.

Okay? Now, let's practice a little bit. So, let's

suppose this is the information that you want to

communicate. So, the information you have is "Monday, April 10, 2 o'clock, lobby".

So, give me the full question. What would it be? "Could we meet

on Monday, April 10th?" Okay? Because we have

Monday and April 10th, we don't have to say

"on Monday" and "on April 10th". If you just said

"Monday", then you say "on Monday". If you just

said "April 10th", then we'd say "Could we meet on

April 10th?" But if you say both, then you don't

need to say the "on" twice. So, "Could we meet

on Monday, April 10th"-look here-"at 2 o'clock

in the lobby of the hotel?" Okay? Good. You've

got it. A lot of these little prepositions,

right? Just in this one question, but that's fine. You're mastering it.

Next, "this day". First of all, before I tell

you, say the name of this day. Okay? Because so

many people make a mistake when they pronounce this

particular day. So, you should say "Wednesday".

I know there's a "d" there, and it sounds like it's really long,

but it's "Wens-day". Say it after me. "Wens-day".

Okay? Don't say "wed". It's "Wens-day". Two syllables.

Okay? So, "Could we meet on Wednesday at 4 o'clock on Skype?" Okay? All right. So,

based on this, let's do a little bit more practice

to see that you can master it, and you will.

Now, let's look at some other ways in which

we can ask the questions in order to make an

appointment. Okay? So, we've already looked at

"Could we meet", and as I mentioned, you can use

that in any situation. It's fine. It's kind

of semi-formal. Okay? A little bit more formal

is this one. "Would you be available?" Okay?

A little bit more formal. You can definitely

use it in those kind of formal business contexts.

"Would you be available on Monday, June 5th at 3

o'clock?" You still have to use those prepositions.

Okay? But this is how you would begin. Okay? So,

these are three options here. This one, "Are you

free?" This is the most-what?-informal. Right?

So, "Are you free on Monday at 3?" Okay? "Are

you free on Tuesday, April 25th at 5 o'clock?"

You might still give all that information, but just the way that you ask the question

indicates the formality of it. Okay? So, as I

said, this is semi-formal, this is the most-formal,

and this is probably the most-informal. Okay?

And there are many variations on this. You can...

Instead of saying, "Are you free?" you could

say, "Are you available on..." and so on. So,

you will find variations, but you don't need to

learn too many different ways to say something,

especially when you're learning a new language.

It's more important to learn a few good ways

than learning too many ways. All right? Next, let's look at these three.

Now, here, this is when you were making the

suggestions about the time you were suggesting,

you were initiating that conversation. But here is a more general way that you start,

and then you could say, "When could we meet?"

And the other person will answer. Okay? The other

person will make the suggestion. "Well, we could

meet on..." or "Well, could you meet on this time

at this time on this date?" and so on. So, this

is... These are the questions where you're asking

just the general question first. "When could

we meet?" or "When would you be available?"

A little more formal, again. And the last one, most informal, "When are you free?"

And the person would say, "Well, I'm free on Friday at 3 o'clock." Okay? Or, again,

learn one of them. If you're... If you're a

beginner or if you get confused, just learn one.

"Could we meet?", "When could we meet?"

Okay? If you want to go a little bit further,

learn the other options. All right? Good. Next.

So, let's suppose somebody suggests a time.

Okay? "Could we meet on Friday at 4 o'clock?" So,

how do you answer? Well, you're either going to

say yes or no. Right? It either works for you

or it doesn't. So, you could answer, again,

in many different ways. But here's something

that you could write. "Yes, that would be great."

Or, "Yes, that would be perfect." Or just, "Yes,

that's great." "Yes, that's perfect." Okay? So,

it depends, again, on the formality, how well you

know that person, and so on, and how informal you

can be. But let's suppose that time is not

possible for you or that day. Then you could

say something like this, "Sorry, I'm not available

then." Just use the word "then". Don't... The word

"then" covers whatever they said. So, if they

said, "Are you available on Friday at 4 o'clock?"

And you say, "Sorry, I'm not available then."

"Then" means Friday at 4 o'clock. Okay? So,

you don't have to repeat everything again. And then you... It's your turn to suggest

another time. So, you would say, "Sorry, I'm not available then. How about Tuesday

at 9 o'clock in the morning?" Or, "What about

Tuesday at 9?" Okay? So, these are the ways...

This is usually how the communication goes back

and forth, whether it's a conversation or whether

it's through writing. All right? Now, that's when

you're kind of setting up appointments with people

in terms of business or even social things. All

right? But here, sometimes you have to call to

make an appointment with a doctor or some... For

some kind of official appointment or visit. Then

you would probably be calling. It's possible

you're writing by email, but if you're calling,

you could say something like this, "Hello."

I'm... Sometimes you can introduce yourself,

but you don't need to. They'll usually ask you.

Just say, "Hello. I'd like to make an appointment

with Dr. Adams, please." And then the receptionist

will probably ask you, "All right. What's your

name?" Okay? "Well, Dr. Adams is available on

Friday, April 25th at 3 o'clock. Does that work

for you? Is that convenient for you?" Okay? But

you would say, "I'd like to make an appointment

with Dr. Adams, please." And then follow the

conversation. Or, for example, "I'd like to make

an appointment for a blood test." Let's suppose

you're calling a clinic or a hospital or something

like that. The same thing, same process. Okay?

"I'd like to make an appointment for a blood test,

or for an x-ray, or whatever it may be." All right?

So here, we have looked at several different ways

in which you could make an appointment and set

up your plans wherever you go, and whether it's

by telephone or by email or by messenger. Okay?

So, that's it for now. If you'd like to practice,

which I recommend, those prepositions of time and

place, because that's the critical... Those are

the critical little words-right?-that you need to

get right in order to ask these questions correctly,

please go to our website at www.engvid.com, and

there you can do a quiz where you can really

master those little words and ask these questions correctly.

Take care. Bye for now, and all the best with your English.