Listening for Dates, Times, and Places in Spanish Plans
Listening for Dates, Times, and Places in Spanish Plans
In this listening lesson, you will hear short plans with ir a + infinitive and identify three practical details: when the plan happens, at what time it happens, and where it happens.
For each task, listen to the Spanish line first and answer before reading the transcript and English meaning.
Listening clues
Listen especially for:
- days such as lunes — Monday and sábado — Saturday
- dates such as 12 de junio — June 12
- times such as a las ocho — at eight
- places such as — at home and — in the office
Listening Task 1: day
Listen first:
Which day is the plan?
Check
— On Monday I am going to study Spanish.
The day is lunes — Monday.
Listening Task 2: time
Listen first:
What time is the plan?
Check
— I am going to work at eight.
The time is a las ocho — at eight.
Listening Task 3: place
Listen first:
Where will the studying happen?
Check
— I am going to study at home.
The place is — at home.
Listening Task 4: day and place
Listen first:
Identify the day and place.
Check
— On Tuesday I am going to work in the office.
The day is Tuesday and the place is the office.
Listening Task 5: day, time, and place
Listen first:
Identify all three details.
Check
— On Friday I am going to study at nine at the university.
The day is Friday, the time is nine, and the place is the university.
Listening Task 6: tomorrow
Listen first:
When, what time, and where?
Check
— Tomorrow I am going to eat at two in the restaurant.
The plan is tomorrow at two in the restaurant.
Listening Task 7: a calendar date
Listen first:
What date and place do you hear?
Check
— On June 12 I am going to work in the hotel.
The date is June 12 and the place is the hotel.
Listening Task 8: a different date and time
Listen first:
Identify the date and time.
Check
— On September 20 I am going to study at four.
Listening Task 9: two plans on one day
Listen first:
What happens in the morning, and what happens in the afternoon?
Check
— On Saturday I am going to study in the morning and eat in a restaurant in the afternoon.
The morning plan is studying. The afternoon plan is eating in a restaurant.
Listening Task 10: negative plan
Listen first:
What is not going to happen?
Check
— I am not going to work on Sunday.
The negative no changes the plan: working on Sunday will not happen.
Listening Task 11: two people
Listen first:
Where will Ana be, and where will Carlos be?
Check
— Ana is going to study at home and Carlos is going to work in the office.
Listening Task 12: we-plan
Listen first:
What time and place do you hear?
Check
— We are going to eat at three in the restaurant.
Listening Task 13: weather plus plan
Listen first:
What is the weather, and where is the plan?
Check
— It is sunny. We are going to go to the park this afternoon.
The weather is sunny, and the destination is the park.
Listening Task 14: cold-weather plan
Listen first:
Where and when is the plan?
Check
— It is cold. I am going to study at home tonight.
The place is home and the time is tonight.
Listening Task 15: date, time, place, and activity
Listen first:
Write down the date, activity, time, and place.
Check
— On May 5 I am going to study Spanish at ten at home.
Listening Task 16: multiple details
Listen first:
What happens first and what happens later?
Check
— On Thursday we are going to work at eight in the office and afterward we are going to eat at two.
The first plan is work at eight in the office. The later plan is eating at two.
Listening Task 17: the day changes
Listen first:
Person A:
Person B:
Person A:
What is the final day, time, place, and activity?
Check
Person A: — On Tuesday we are going to study at six in the library.
Person B: — I cannot on Tuesday. I can on Wednesday.
Person A: — Good. On Wednesday we are going to study at six in the library.
The first day is Tuesday, but the final accepted day is Wednesday. Keep the unchanged details: six o'clock, the library, and studying.
Listening Task 18: the time changes
Listen first:
Person A:
Person B:
Person A:
What is the final time?
Check
Person A: — On Saturday we are going to eat at one in the restaurant.
Person B: — I cannot at one. I can at two.
Person A: — Yes. On Saturday we are going to eat at two in the restaurant.
The first time, one o'clock, is rejected. The final accepted time is two.
Listening Task 19: the place changes
Listen first:
Person A:
Person B:
Person A:
What are the final details?
Check
Person A: — On Thursday we are going to study at five in the library.
Person B: — Not in the library. We are going to study at home.
Person A: — Yes. Thursday at five at home.
The day and time stay the same. The place changes from the library to home.
Listening Task 20: more than one detail changes
Listen first:
Person A:
Person B:
Person A:
Write only the final plan.
Check
Person A: — On Monday we are going to work at eight in the office.
Person B: — I cannot on Monday. I can on Tuesday at nine.
Person A: — Good. On Tuesday we are going to work at nine in the office.
The final plan is Tuesday at nine in the office. Both the day and the time changed.
Repeat the final details to confirm them
When a plan changes, repeating the final details helps prevent confusion.
— So, Wednesday at six in the library?
Person A: — Yes, Wednesday at six in the library.
You do not need a new grammar structure. Repeat the day, time, or place that matters and listen for confirmation.
Do not keep the first detail automatically
In short planning conversations, the first time or day you hear may be only a proposal. Listen for a rejection or correction such as — I cannot, then keep listening for the new detail and the final acceptance.
Listening for the action first
If the sentence is long, first identify the planned action.
- — I am going to work
- — I am going to study
- — we are going to eat
- — they are going to leave / go out
Then listen again for the date, time, and place.
Listening for calendar information
Days and dates can occur near the beginning of the sentence.
- — On Monday I am going to work.
- — On July 10 I am going to study.
Listening for the place
Place phrases often contain en or a familiar destination.
- — at home
- — in the office
- — at the university
- — to the park
A practical listening method
- Identify the form of ir and the planned action.
- Listen for a weekday or calendar date.
- Listen for a clock time or part of the day.
- Listen for the place.
- Write the details separately.
- If a detail changes, cross out the first proposal and record the last accepted version.
- Repeat the final day, time, or place as a confirmation when needed.
- Check the transcript only after your first listening attempt.
From Listening to Plans to Inviting Someone
You can now listen for the action, date, time, and place in short Spanish plans and identify the final accepted details when a plan changes. The next lesson teaches you how to invite someone and how to accept or decline a simple invitation.