Have you got any plans for this evening? [No, ...]

[Tedwonny]

The correct answer is: No, I am not doing anything at all.

How about:
No, I will not do anything at all (thinking about this at the time of replying; an instantaneous decision - hence 'will')
OR
No, I am not going to do anything at all (intention - hence, 'going to')

Thanks a lot

 

[MikeNewYork]

The first doesn't work for me. The second is possible, but the original is better.

 

[Tdol]

Or something like I'm free tonight.

 

[Rover_KE]

The correct answer is: No, I am not doing anything at all.

Who says that's the correct answer?

'Yes' or 'No' work just as well.

 

[emsr2d2]

Have you got any plans for this evening?

- No.
- None.
- No, I haven't.
- No, I haven't got any plans.
- No, I'm not doing anything.
- No, I'm not doing anything at all.
- No, I'm doing nothing at all.

All of the above are possible. I wouldn't bother with "No, I'm not going to do anything" - it's just not necessary.

 

[Power English]

I have to agree with emsr2d2. Keeping it simple is always a good policy. Over-complicating things just means that there is more chance of making a mistake!

"No, I have no plans."

 

[Rover_KE]

Power English, please read this extract from the Forum Guidelines:

You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post.

 

[Tedwonny]

Thank you all for your replies

If we are asked to explain why 'I'm not going to do anything at all' isn't as good as 'I am not doing anything at all', how can we go about explaining it?

Going to do something = future reference; intention, something you decide to do
am not doing = future reference; planned

While 'I am not doing anything' certainly fits the context, if we want to stress our intention and decision of not (wanting to ) do(ing) anything, would 'going to...' be suitable then?

Thanks a lot again
Much appreciated for all the insights

 

[emsr2d2]

I wouldn't say it's "not as good" as "I'm not doing anything at all". My general advice with answers to questions is to either keep it as simple as possible or to reflect the wording of the question. On that basis, my two preferred answers to "Have you got any plans for this evening?" are "No" and "No, I haven't [got any plans for the evening]". I just find "I'm not going to do anything at all" more wordy than necessary.

 

[Raymott]

If a person asks you what you are doing this evening, and they plan to ask whether you want to do something together, then:
"I'm not doing anything this evening" is the only correct version (of the three) if you want to be invited.
Saying, "I will not do anything this evening" or "I'm not going to do anything this evening" could easily dissuade the other person from asking you.
The first answer is the only one that conveys, "I have no plans, but if you're going to suggest something, I'll consider it."
Pragmatically, the second two mean "I've made plans to do nothing". Only the first means, "I have not made plans."

 

[emsr2d2]

Tedwonny, please remember to end every sentence with a single, appropriate punctuation mark. In post #8, you failed to follow that rule with three of your sentences.