ENGLISH
REFERENCE

make plans for sth

fixed phr..
A1 Beginner Oxford

fixed phr.. To decide and organize what you are going to do for a future event or activity.

fixed phr.. To formulate a scheme or method for a future action or event; a common verb-noun collocation.


SIMPLE

We need to make plans for the weekend.

CONTEXTUAL

They are making plans for their wedding, which is happening next summer.

COMPLEX

The committee was tasked with making plans for the city's long-term sustainable development, a complex challenge requiring extensive consultation.

Usage

This phrase is often followed by a noun (the event) or a 'to'-infinitive (the action).

Teaching tip

Contrast with the verb 'to plan'; 'make plans' often implies a more social or less formal context, or the initial stages of organizing something.

Pitfall

Let's do plans for the party.Let's make plans for the party.The standard collocation is 'make plans'; 'do plans' is an unnatural-sounding error.

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