A2 — Lesson 22

Plans, Places & People

Prepositions of Time & Place · The Preposition TO · State vs. Action Verbs · Future Tenses
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Vocabulary: Plans, States & Actions

Context: This lesson focuses on three groups: verbs that describe a mental or emotional state (no -ing!), key words for plans and schedules, and everyday action verbs.

1. State Verbs — Never use -ING with these

To know/nəʊ/Знам
To believe/bɪˈliːv/Вярвам
To understand/ˌʌn.dəˈstænd/Разбирам
To remember/rɪˈmem.bər/Помня
To want/wɒnt/Искам
To need/niːd/Нуждая се / Трябва ми
To prefer/prɪˈfɜː/Предпочитам
To hate/heɪt/Мразя
To belong (to)/bɪˈlɒŋ/Принадлежа (на)
To own/əʊn/Притежавам
To agree/əˈɡriː/Съгласен съм

2. Plans & Schedules

Decision/dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/Решение (make a decision)
Arrangement/əˈreɪndʒ.mənt/Уговорка / Организация
Intention/ɪnˈten.ʃən/Намерение
Prediction/prɪˈdɪk.ʃən/Предсказание / Прогноза
Appointment/əˈpɔɪnt.mənt/Среща / Час при лекар
Schedule/ˈʃed.juːl/Програма / Разписание
Departure/dɪˈpɑː.tʃər/Заминаване / Отпътуване
To confirm/kənˈfɜːm/Потвърждавам
To promise/ˈprɒm.ɪs/Обещавам
To cancel/ˈkæn.səl/Отменям / Анулирам

3. Action Verbs — CAN use -ING

To arrange/əˈreɪndʒ/Организирам / Уреждам
To prepare/prɪˈpeər/Подготвям се
To pack/pæk/Пакувам
To depart/dɪˈpɑːt/Заминавам / Отпътувам
To stay/steɪ/Оставам / Отсядам
📝 Exercise A — State or Action? Choose STATE or ACTION for each verb.
1. To pack — is this a state or action verb?
2. To believe — state or action?
3. To prepare — state or action?
4. To own — state or action?
5. To arrange — state or action?
6. To prefer — state or action?
🎯 Exercise B — In context: Write the correct vocabulary word.
1. She has a doctor's ___ at 3:30 this afternoon.
2. He made a ___ to move to Edinburgh by the end of the year.
3. The meeting was ___ because the manager was ill.
4. She ___ the restaurant booking — they said the table was ready.
5. All the ___ for the trip are made — tickets booked, hotel sorted.

Grammar Lab

Five sections, from prepositions to future tenses. Read every explanation before doing the exercises.
1

Prepositions of Time: AT · ON · IN

In Bulgarian "в" covers almost everything — in English you must choose

In Bulgarian, you use "в" for almost every time expression — "в понеделник", "в 5 часа", "в март". In English, you must choose between three different prepositions. The key is to think about how specific the time is: exact clock time → AT, a named day or date → ON, a longer period → IN.

PrepositionUsed forExamplesBulgarian note
AT Exact clock times · holidays · special expressions: at night, at the weekend "at 8:00" · "at midnight" · "at Christmas" · "at the weekend" ⚠️ "в 8 часа" = AT 8 o'clock
ON Named days of the week · specific dates · parts of named days "on Monday" · "on 5th May" · "on Friday morning" · "on my birthday" ⚠️ "в понеделник" = ON Monday
IN Months · years · seasons · general parts of the day "in March" · "in 2024" · "in summer" · "in the morning" ✓ "в март" = IN March · "в сутринта" = IN the morning
⚠️ Special exception: AT night (never "in night"), but IN the morning / afternoon / evening.
📝 Exercise A — Easy: Choose the correct preposition — AT, ON, or IN.
1. My birthday is ___ July.
2. The meeting is ___ Monday.
3. The film starts ___ 7:30 PM.
4. She was born ___ 1991.
5. He called me ___ night — I was asleep!
6. We usually go to the mountains ___ summer.
🎯 Exercise B — Harder: Each sentence has TWO gaps. Type each preposition separated by a space (e.g. "on at").
1. She called me ___ the morning ___ Monday.
2. The concert is ___ 8:30 PM ___ Saturday.
3. He was born ___ April ___ 1985.
4. I have a dentist appointment ___ 3:00 PM ___ Wednesday.
5. They arrived ___ Christmas ___ the afternoon.
2

Prepositions of Place: AT · ON · IN

Picture three images: inside a space · resting on a surface · at a specific point

The same three prepositions are used for places, but the rules are different. Picture three images: IN = you are inside an enclosed space. ON = something is resting on a surface, or you are on a large vehicle. AT = you are at a specific point or location, like a stop or an address.

IN — Inside a space

  • Countries & cities: "in Bulgaria", "in Sofia"
  • Rooms & buildings: "in the office", "in a flat"
  • Containers: "in a bag", "in the fridge"
  • Small enclosed vehicles: "in a car", "in a taxi"

ON — Surface or large transport

  • Surfaces: "on the table", "on the wall", "on the floor"
  • Large public transport: "on a train", "on a bus", "on a plane"
  • Floors in a building: "on the second floor"

AT — A specific point or location

  • Transport stops: "at the station", "at the bus stop"
  • Events & venues: "at school", "at work", "at a party"
  • Exact addresses: "at 14 Green Street"
💡 Bulgarian comparison: "на масата" → ON the table ✓ · "на гарата" → AT the station · "в Лондон" → IN London ✓ · "в такси" → IN a taxi ✓
📝 Exercise A — Easy: Choose the correct preposition — AT, ON, or IN.
1. My notebook is ___ the table.
2. She works ___ London.
3. He is sitting ___ the bus right now.
4. I am waiting for you ___ the bus stop.
5. The milk is ___ the fridge.
6. The meeting room is ___ the third floor.
🎯 Exercise B — Harder: Each sentence has TWO gaps. Type both prepositions separated by a space.
1. He is sitting ___ a taxi ___ the city centre.
2. There is a clock ___ the wall ___ the living room.
3. The office is ___ the fifth floor ___ the building.
4. She is working ___ her desk ___ a small office.
5. We met ___ the station and got ___ the train together.
3

The Preposition TO — Movement vs. Infinitive

What comes directly after TO tells you which job it is doing

The word TO is everywhere in English, but it has two completely different jobs. Getting them confused does not always cause misunderstanding, but knowing the difference helps you understand grammar explanations and use the language more confidently.

🏙️ Job 1: Movement Preposition (TO = towards a place)

TO shows movement towards a destination. A PLACE (noun) always follows it.

"She is driving to the office."

"I am flying to Paris on Friday."

"Let's walk to the station."

⚠️ Exception: "I am going home." — no TO before home!

VS
📖 Job 2: Infinitive Marker (TO = not a preposition!)

When TO comes before a VERB, it makes the infinitive form. A VERB follows — not a place.

"I want to eat."

"She needs to study."

"I am going to travel next year."

💡 Quick test: What comes directly after TO? → A PLACE (noun) = movement preposition · A VERB = infinitive marker
📝 Exercise A — Easy: Is TO a movement Preposition (P) or an Infinitive marker (I)?
1. "She walked to the station."
2. "I want to drink some water."
3. "Can you come to the office?"
4. "I am going to call her later."
5. "We drove to the countryside."
6. "It is hard to believe."
🎯 Exercise B — Harder: Fill each blank with AT, IN, ON, or TO.
1. She is driving ___ the airport right now.
2. I arrived ___ the airport two hours early.
3. Let's go ___ the cinema tonight.
4. I am already waiting ___ the cinema. Where are you?
5. They are staying ___ a hotel ___ the city centre.
6. The meeting is ___ Friday ___ 10:00 AM.
4

State Verbs vs. Dynamic (Action) Verbs

State verbs almost never use -ING — even when something is happening right now

Dynamic (Action) verbs describe activities you can watch someone doing (eating, running, preparing). These CAN be used with -ing. State verbs describe a condition, feeling, thought, or possession that simply EXISTS. You cannot "do" them more intensely at a given moment, so they are almost never used with -ing.

❌ State verbs — NO -ING form!

Thoughts & beliefs: know, believe, understand, remember, think (= believe)

Feelings & preferences: want, need, prefer, hate, like, love, agree

Possession: have (= own), belong, own

 

❌ "I am knowing the answer." → ✅ "I know the answer."

❌ "She is wanting a coffee." → ✅ "She wants a coffee."

❌ "This is belonging to me." → ✅ "This belongs to me."

VS
✅ Dynamic verbs — -ING is fine!

Activities: eat, run, work, study, prepare, arrange, pack, depart

 

✅ "I am eating right now."

✅ "She is preparing the report."

✅ "He is packing his bag."

 

⚠️ Have is tricky: "I have a car." (= own → state) vs "I am having lunch." (= eating → action)

📝 Exercise A — Easy: Choose the correct form.
1. I ___ the answer to that question.
2. Shh! I ___ the news right now.
3. Who does this jacket ___ ?
4. She ___ a new laptop — her old one is broken.
5. We ___ dinner at the moment. Can I call you back?
🎯 Exercise B — Harder: Each sentence uses the WRONG verb form. Type only the correct replacement.
1. "I am wanting a cup of tea." →
2. "Are you believing what he told you?" →
3. "This car is belonging to my brother." →
4. "I am remembering her face but not her name." →
5. "She is not understanding the grammar rule." →
5

Future Tenses: Will · Going To · Present Continuous

In Bulgarian "ще" covers everything — in English the form tells the listener how fixed the plan is

In Bulgarian, "ще" covers nearly every future situation. In English, the form you choose tells the listener when you made the decision and how fixed the plan is.

WILL — Snap decisions & predictions

  • A decision made right now, at this moment.
  • "The phone's ringing — I'll get it!"
  • Promises: "I will help you tomorrow."
  • General predictions: "I think it will be cold."

GOING TO — Intentions & evidence

  • A decision made before speaking — already planned.
  • "I am going to buy a new car." (already decided)
  • Predictions from what you can see right now:
  • "Look at those clouds! It is going to rain!"

PRESENT CONTINUOUS — Fixed arrangements

  • A plan that is confirmed and booked — with another person, a ticket, or a diary entry.
  • "I am meeting Maria at 6:00." (already arranged)
  • "We are flying to Paris on Friday." (tickets booked)
📝 Exercise A — Easy: Choose the correct future form. Think about why it is used.
1. "Are you ready to order?" — "Yes, I ___ have the chicken, please."
2. I can't come tonight — I ___ dinner with my parents. We booked the restaurant last week.
3. Watch out! Those bags are right at the edge — you ___ drop them!
4. Next year, we ___ travel to Japan. We have already saved the money and decided.
🎯 Exercise B — Harder: Type the correct future form of the verb in brackets.
1. I already have my tickets. I ___ (fly) to Berlin on Tuesday. (arrangement)
2. Look at those dark clouds! It ___ (rain) very soon. (prediction from evidence)
3. I promise I ___ (call) you tomorrow morning. (promise)
4. She has already decided — she ___ (study) medicine at university. (intention)
5. Wait — I ___ (get) the door! You stay there. (snap decision)

Reading: Future Plans

Read the texts carefully, then choose the best answer. Press Check Answers when you finish each text.
✈️

Text 1: Sophie's Big Decision

Sophie is a twenty-eight-year-old English teacher from Bristol. She has been thinking about her future for months, and last week she finally made a decision. She is going to leave her job at the end of June and travel abroad for a year. She has already booked her flight — she is flying to Bangkok on 14th July at 06:45 from Heathrow airport. Before she leaves, Sophie needs to do several important things. She is meeting her bank manager on Thursday at 10:30 to discuss her savings. She also wants to sell her car and find someone to look after her flat while she is away. Her friends believe she is very brave. Sophie understands that life abroad will be difficult at first, but she does not want to spend her whole life in one city. She prefers to take risks and see new places. "I know I will love it," she says with a smile. In the evenings, she is already learning some basic Thai words at home.

Questions:

1. What decision did Sophie make last week?

2. When does her flight to Bangkok depart?

3. What is Sophie doing in the evenings at home right now?

4. Why doesn't Sophie want to stay in one city forever?

💼

Text 2: David's Very Long Thursday

David is an accountant who works in central London. This Thursday is going to be an extremely long day. His first appointment starts at 8:00 in the morning at a client's office near the river. David is taking the underground to get there because he believes the traffic will be terrible at that time of day. The meeting will probably last about two hours. In the afternoon, David is having lunch with his manager at a restaurant in the city centre. They are going to discuss a new project that starts in February. David needs to bring all his reports to the lunch, so his bag is very heavy today. At 7:30 in the evening, David and his wife are seeing a new play at the Royal Theatre. They booked the tickets three weeks ago. David wants to finish work on time, but he does not know if the afternoon meeting will end early. He remembers how upset his wife was the last time he arrived late to the theatre.

Questions:

1. Why is David taking the underground to his morning meeting?

2. What are David and his manager going to discuss at lunch?

3. Why is David's bag so heavy today?

4. What does David remember about the last time he was late?

Text 1 / 2

Cloze Text: Tom's Busy Week

Choose the correct word or phrase from each drop-down. This text tests prepositions of time (AT/ON/IN), prepositions of place (AT/ON/IN), the preposition TO, state verbs, and future tenses.

Tom's Busy Week

Tom has a very busy week ahead. (1) Monday morning, he is driving (2) work because the underground is not running. He is meeting a new client (3) nine o'clock (4) the large conference room. Tom (5) it will be a productive morning.

(6) Wednesday, he is flying (7) Paris for a two-day conference. The flight (8) at 14:30 from Heathrow. He is staying (9) a hotel near the conference centre. Tom (10) to visit some art galleries, but he (11) if he will have enough time.

(12) the weekend, his wife is planning to visit him (13) Paris. They are going to have dinner together at a beautiful restaurant near the river. Tom (14) family time over work, and he knows it will be a wonderful end to a very busy week.

Exercises (15 Sets)

All exercises practise grammar only: prepositions of time · prepositions of place · the preposition TO · state verbs · future tenses. Type your answer and press Check Exercise.

Tense Writing Practice

Five exercises, 10 sentences each — all mixed tenses.
Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense.

Gerund or Infinitive?

Five mixed exercises. The verb before the gap decides the form.
Key verbs with gerund: enjoy · finish · like · love · hate · avoid · mind · stop · practise · keep · suggest · consider
Key verbs with infinitive: want · need · decide · hope · plan · manage · promise · agree · refuse · expect · offer · learn · forget · remember

Key Word Transformation

How it works: You are given a sentence and a key word. Rewrite the sentence so it means the same, using the key word. The beginning of the new sentence is given — you write the rest. Punctuation counts.
⚠️ Do not change the key word. Check your spelling and punctuation before clicking Check.