How to Talk About Putting Things Off in English

Friend: Did you start your English course?
You: Not yet. I’m waiting for the right moment.
Friend: (smiles) You said that last month, too.

Many learners know wait and later. But a sentence like “I’m waiting for the right moment” gives your friend nothing to say. This lesson turns sentences that stop the talk into sentences that start something: say what you have not started, why, and when. You get words and phrases, two repairs, short dialogues, and practice with answers.

What, why, and when

A clear answer about a delay has three short parts:

1. What you have not started. I haven’t started my English course yet.
2. The real reason. I’m afraid my English is not good enough.
3. Your next step, with a real day and time. I’ll look at the lesson list tonight at eight.

A sentence that stops the talk	A sentence that helps
I’ll start when I’m ready.	I’m not ready, but I’m starting anyway.
I’ll start when I have more time.	I don’t have much time, so I’ll start with five minutes.
Someday I’ll learn the guitar.	I’ll practice the guitar on Saturday at four.
I will start next month.	I’ll start tonight, with one small step.
I can’t.	I don’t know how to start. Can you help me?

The sentences on the left are not bad. But they do not give the other person anything to say. The sentences on the right show a reason or a real time, so your friend can answer.

Repair: from a waiting sentence to a start sentence

Waiting sentences use someday, maybe, or when. Start sentences use a real day or a real time. Someday is not on the calendar, but Saturday is.

Waiting sentence	Start sentence
Someday I’ll learn French.	I’m starting French on Monday at seven, with one short lesson.
Maybe I’ll join a gym.	I’m visiting the gym on Thursday after work.
I’ll read more when I have time.	I’m reading one page tonight before bed.
I’ll fix my bike when the weather is nice.	I’m fixing my bike on Sunday at ten.

Watch the grammar: I’ll is the short form of I will. Do not say I’ll will start. Say I’ll start or I will start.

Repair: make the first step very small

A first step is small when you can do it in less than five minutes, even when you are tired.

Big plan	First small step
Write a book.	Write three sentences.
Get fit.	Put on your shoes and walk for five minutes.
Paint a picture.	Draw one small cup on one piece of paper.
Study for a test.	Open the book and read one page.
Talk to an old friend.	Send one short message: Hi, I was thinking about you today. How are you?

The first try does not have to be good. It is for learning, not for showing to other people.

Words for putting things off

Word or phrase	Meaning	Example
wait	stay and not do something until later	I’m waiting for a better time.
the right moment	a good time to do something	I’m waiting for the right moment to call my boss.
hesitate	stop for a moment because you feel unsure	I hesitate before I send the message.
put off	do it later, not now	I keep putting off my homework.
procrastinate	a longer word for put off	I procrastinate when I’m afraid.
opportunity	a good chance	A free class is a good opportunity to start.

Editorial note (not from the podcast): in daily English, people use put off more often than procrastinate. For a meeting, a trip, or an event, we use postpone: “They postponed the meeting to Friday.”

Phrases for a delay

What you need	What you can say
Say you keep delaying	I keep putting it off. / I put it off again. / I haven’t started yet.
Say the real reason	I’m afraid it will be bad. / I want it to be perfect. / I don’t know how to start. / I’m tired after work.
Say you want to change	I don’t want to put this off anymore. / I want to start now.
Say you will start	I’ll start tonight at eight. / I’m starting today. / I’m ready now.
Say it will not be perfect	It’s not perfect, but it’s a start. / It’s good enough to start.
Ask a friend about the first step	What is the first small step? / Can you do five minutes today? / Why not start tonight?
Say it is okay to start late	Better late than never. / There’s no time like the present.
Ask how it went	Tell me tomorrow how it went. / Did you start? How was it?

Three conversations about a delay

A friend asks about your course

Mia: Did you start your English course?
You: Not yet. I keep putting it off.
Mia: Why?
You: I’m afraid my English is not good enough.
Mia: That’s okay. What is the first small step?
You: I can look at the lesson list tonight at eight.

A coworker and a report

Ben: Is your report ready?
You: Not yet. I put it off again. I want it to be perfect.
Ben: Can you send me a first version today?
You: Yes. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start. I’ll send it at four.

Help a friend who says “next month”

Sam: I really want to learn to paint, but I’ll start when I buy better paints.
You: Why wait for better paints?
Sam: My paints are old.
You: Your paints are good enough to start. Why not paint one small picture tonight?
Sam: Hmm. Of what?
You: Your cup of tea. Tell me tomorrow how it went.

What people ask when you have not started

Question	Short answer
Why haven’t you started?	I’m afraid it will be bad. / I don’t know how to start.
When will you start?	I’ll start on Saturday at nine. / I’m starting tonight.
What is the first step?	Five minutes. / One page. / One message.
What if it’s not good?	It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.
Do you want help?	Yes, please. Can you ask me tomorrow how it went?

Four ways to keep waiting

• Do not use only someday or maybe. Add a real day or a real time.
• Do not say I’ll will start. Use one will: I’ll start.
• Do not push a friend with a strong sentence like You must start now! A small question is kinder: What is the first small step?
• Do not feel bad. Everybody puts something off. A short, honest sentence is a good sentence.

Practice: change, build, answer

Turn waiting into starting

Change each waiting sentence into a start sentence. Add a real day or a real time.

1. Someday I’ll write a letter in English.
2. Maybe I’ll exercise next month.
3. I’ll start when I feel ready.
4. I’ll visit my teacher when I have time.

Build your own start sentence

Complete the sentences with a real thing from your life.

1. I keep putting off ______.
2. The real reason is ______.
3. The first small step is ______.
4. I’ll start on ______ at ______.

Answer your friend out loud

Read each question. Wait three seconds. Then say your answer out loud.

1. Did you start your English course?
2. Why haven’t you started?
3. What is the first small step?
4. When will you start?

Suggested answers

These are examples. Your answers can be different.

Exercise 1

1. I’ll write a short letter in English on Sunday at five.
2. I’m walking for ten minutes tomorrow after work.
3. I’m not ready, but I’m starting anyway. I’ll start tonight at eight.
4. I’m visiting my teacher on Friday at six.

Exercise 3

1. Not yet. I keep putting it off.
2. I’m afraid my English is not good enough.
3. I can look at one lesson for five minutes.
4. I’ll start tonight at eight.

Questions about putting things off

What is the difference between put off and give up?

Put off means you do it later, and you still want to do it. Give up means you stop. If you stopped something and want to start again, read How to Talk About Giving Up and Starting Again in English.

Is procrastinate better than put off?

No. They mean almost the same thing. Put off is shorter and easier, and many people use it every day.

What if I do not know the first step?

Make the step smaller. Ask: What can I do in five minutes? One chord, one message, one page, or one sentence is enough.

How do I say my plan clearly?

If you want to say a goal with a time and a size, read How to Describe a Small Goal in English.

The start card

• Say what you have not started, why, and when you will start.
• Use a real day or time, not someday.
• Say I’ll start, not I’ll will start.
• To help a friend, ask: What is the first small step?

Hear it in a real conversation

Want to hear these ideas in a natural conversation? Listen to the podcast episode and use the notes, useful phrases, and practice in Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time.