Hobbies & Free Time
Talk about what you do for fun.
Name common hobbies. Say what you do in your free time. Use play / go / do with activities.
Look & say · Step 1
5 minGet ready
What do you do at the weekend?
What is your favourite hobby? Why?
Name one hobby you want to try.
Words to learn · Step 2
8 minNew words today
football
Team ball sport
"I play football."
tennis
Racket sport
"She plays tennis."
swimming
Move in water
"I go swimming."
running
Fast moving on feet
"He goes running."
cycling
Riding a bike
"We go cycling."
yoga
Stretching exercise
"I do yoga."
video games
Games on a screen
"I play video games."
guitar
Music instrument
"He plays the guitar."
reading
Looking at books
"I like reading."
painting
Making pictures
"She likes painting."
cooking
Making food
"He likes cooking."
watching films
Looking at movies
"We watch films."
Activate · Personalise · Recycle
Use these words now
Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.
video games
"For me, video games is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
tennis
"For me, tennis is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
reading
"For me, reading is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Sounds & saying · Step 3
5 min-ing endings
The ending '-ing' is a soft /ɪŋ/ — not 'ink'. Keep it light and short.
- • swimming
- • running
- • cycling
- • reading
- • cooking
- • painting
Language focus · Step 4
10 minplay / go / do + activity
Quick rule
play / go / do + activity
Use 'play' for sports with a ball and games.
- Use 'go' for activities ending in -ing.
- Use 'do' for other activities.
Pattern
I play football / tennis / chess.
I go swimming / running / shopping.
I do yoga / karate / homework.
She plays the guitar.
We go cycling at the weekend.
Question 1.I ___ football on Sundays.
Question 2.She ___ swimming every morning.
Question 3.They ___ yoga twice a week.
Question 4.We ___ shopping on Saturdays.
Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.
Quick check 1.Activity ending in -ing: ___
Quick check 2.Ball sports / games: ___
Reading · Step 5
7 minMy free time
Hi! I'm Sara. 👋 In my free time I have many hobbies. On Mondays I go swimming 🏊 with my sister. On Wednesdays I play tennis 🎾 with my friend Tom. At the weekend I do yoga 🧘 in the park and I go cycling 🚴 with my dad. In the evening I like reading 📚 and watching films 🎬. I don't play video games — I prefer books!
Question 1.When does Sara go swimming?
Question 2.Who does she play tennis with?
Question 3.She does yoga…
Q1.Sara plays video games.
Q2.She likes reading books.
Listening · Step 6
10 minWhat do you do at the weekend?
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Lucy
What do you do at the weekend, Mark?
Mark
On Saturday I play football with my friends.
Lucy
Nice! And Sunday?
Mark
I go running in the morning, and in the afternoon I cook a big lunch.
Lucy
Do you play any music?
Mark
Yes, I play the guitar. What about you?
Lucy
I do yoga every morning and I love painting.
Mark
Cool! Maybe paint a picture of me!
Question 1.On Saturday Mark…
Question 2.On Sunday morning he…
Question 3.Lucy loves…
Practice · Step 7
8 minChoose the word
Question 1.She ___ the piano.
Question 2.We ___ cycling at the weekend.
Question 3.He ___ karate twice a week.
Question 4.I ___ video games in the evening.
Q1.Activity in water = ___
Q2.Riding a bike = ___
Survival English · Step 8
4 minSpeaking — talk about hobbies
Task
Talk for 1 minute: 3 things you do in your free time, when and where.
Strategy
Use 'I play / I go / I do' + time word (on Mondays, at the weekend, every evening).
Example
I play tennis on Saturdays. I go swimming every Tuesday. In the evening I do yoga at home.
Writing · Step 9
5 minWrite a little
Your task
Write a short paragraph (5 sentences) about your hobbies and free time.
Show model answer
In my free time I have three hobbies. I play tennis on Saturdays with my brother. I go running every morning in the park. In the evening I like reading books. At the weekend I do yoga at home.
Speaking · Step 10
12 minTalk together
Pairs: ask each other about hobbies and free time. Find 3 things you both do.
Useful phrases
- • What do you do in your free time?
- • Do you play / go / do ___?
- • How often do you ___?
- • I love / like / don't like ___.
- • Me too! / Really? I don't.
- AWhat do you do in your free time?
- B_______________
- ADo you play any music?
- B_______________
- AHow often do you go running?
- B_______________
Homework · Step 11
Take-homePractice at home
Write 5 sentences about your weekly hobbies with time expressions.
Record yourself talking about your weekend (1 minute).
Find 5 more hobby words in English.
Recap · Step 12
3 minWhat you learned
- 🎯 You can name common hobbies and free-time activities.
- 🎮 You can use play / go / do correctly.
- 🗣️ You can ask and answer 'What do you do in your free time?'
- ✍️ You can describe your weekly routine.