German Phrase
Welche Pläne nimmst du?
Meaning
Literally, ‘Which plans are you taking?’ In everyday German it is understood as ‘What plans do you have?’ or ‘What are you planning to do?’ The verb ‘nehmen’ is used figuratively to mean ‘to adopt’ or ‘to go with’ a plan.
When to use
Use this question when you want to know someone’s upcoming activities, especially in informal conversation or when coordinating group events. It works well among friends, classmates, or colleagues who are discussing weekend or project plans.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WelchePlänenimmstdu?
Interrogative Determiner – Welche
‘Welche’ is the feminine/plural form of ‘welcher’, used to ask about a specific item or set of items; it agrees with the noun’s gender, number, and case.
Accusative Plural – Pläne
‘Pläne’ is the plural of ‘der Plan’ and appears in the accusative case as the direct object of the verb ‘nehmen’.
Verb‑Second (V2) Rule
In German yes‑no and wh‑questions the finite verb moves to the second position, pushing the subject to the end: ‘Welche Pläne nimmst du?’
Verb ‘nehmen’ with abstract objects
‘Nehmen’ can mean ‘to take/choose’ in a figurative sense, e.g., ‘Welche Pläne nimmst du?’ = ‘Which plans are you going to follow?’
Pronoun ‘du’ after the verb
In questions the subject pronoun follows the verb, unlike statements where it precedes the verb.
🗨In Conversation
Welche Pläne nimmst du für das Wochenende?
What plans are you making for the weekend?
Ich will wandern gehen und danach ins Kino.
I want to go hiking and then go to the cinema.
✕Common Mistakes
Welche Pläne du nimmst?
Learners often place the subject before the verb in questions, e.g., ‘Welche Pläne du nimmst?’, which violates the V2 rule.
Welche Pläne nimmst du?
In many regions ‘Welche Pläne nimmst du?’ sounds a bit stiff; native speakers prefer ‘Was hast du vor?’ or ‘Welche Pläne hast du?’
Welche Plan nimmst du?
Using the singular ‘Plan’ with ‘Welche’ is incorrect because ‘Welche’ requires a plural noun here.
↔Alternatives
Welche Pläne hast du?
What plans do you have?
Was hast du vor?
What are you up to?
Was hast du für Pläne?
What kind of plans do you have?
Cultural Tip
In German small talk, ‘Was hast du vor?’ is more common than the literal ‘Welche Pläne nimmst du?’ because it sounds less formal and more idiomatic. When you ask about future activities, keep the tone friendly and avoid sounding too interrogative; a smile and a brief personal update first makes the question feel natural.