Summer plans: contrasting uses of the present tense, 'nächst-'

[s] sounds like the English 'z' before a vowel. Elsewhere [s], [ss] and [ß] sound like the English 's'. 'Nächst-' means 'next' and takes the same ending as the definite article of the noun it precedes. Use time phrases (e.g., 'nächstes Jahr') with the present tense to refer to future plans. When translating future meaning from German into English, use the present continuous (e.g., 'next week I am going'). Use simple present tense in English translations of German statements about present routines (e.g., ‘normally I go’).