Free-time Vocabulary
1.1 Free time:
after work – at the weekends – during the week / on weekdays – (not)
much free time / a lot of free time / don’t have any free time
1.2 Lack of free time...
because I have to commute to/from work – look after my kids –
prepare for work
because I (always/often/usually) have lots of housework – have
trainings twice/three times a week – rest after work
I don’t do sth any more – I no longer do sth
1.3 How I spend my free time
expressing preferences:
As you can guess... – I enjoy – I like – I love – I am into – I am keen
on – I am fond of – I am interested in – I prefer – I don’t like – I dislike
– I’m not that keen on – I hate
modifying adverbs:
also – pretty – quite – rather – really – slightly – very
free time activities:
go fishing – go out with friends – go shopping – go to the
cinema/disco – listen to music – play computer games – play sports /
do sports – read – surf the net – watch TV
other:
be physically active – chat with friends – cook meals – dance – draw
– garden – go for walks – go in the forest – paint – play a musical
instrument – play sports – sew – spend (some) time doing sth –
spend time on the computer – stay at home with (my) family – walk
(my) dog – watch films
1.4 If I had more free time...
... I would (I’d) (definitely)...
commit to volunteer work – finish all the things I’ve started and
haven’t finished – get back to riding a horse – get better at drawing –
sign up for a language course – spend more time with my friends –
start learning a foreign language – travel around the world – try to get
into better shape – use that time to improve my skills
1.5 Alone or in the company of other people?
alone – depend (v) – prefer (v) – spend (sb’s) free time with... (v)
It depends on (the activity / my mood).
1.6 On a free day...
... I would... do nothing – go out with (my friends) – go to (my)
favourite club – sleep late – spend the day doing sth
1.7 Holidays I enjoy
active holidays: be outside – camp – go abroad – go camping in the
countryside – go on holiday with my family – go to cities – go
sightseeing – meet new people – see new places – travel
relaxing holidays: go to our cottage – relax – sleep – spend time with
my friends – stay home – visit smaller towns
1.8 Reading
biographies – fantasy – fiction / nonfiction – history – magazines –
mystery – newspapers – novels – poetry – romance – sci-fi
I like / don’t like reading. – I have too much reading to do for work.
1.9 Listening to music
country and western – folk singers – good lyrics – hate/enjoy –
hip-hop – indie – jazz – loud music – rap – singers like...
1.10 A disco, a party, or hiking?
I prefer – I would rather – For me, I like... – You can – Most parties
are... – I love to...
activity (that) I can do with my friends / family / by myself – be in the
fresh air – be outside – get some exercise – a great place to... – hang
out with friends – love music and dancing – meet new people – meet
other people who like to do the same – relax – relaxing - watch a film
/ movie / TV - take part in (an activity)- do something for fun - be keen
on - be a fan of.
1.11 Going to the cinema or watching DVDs at home?
the atmosphere – be more in the movie – feel like – when the cinema
is dark
1.12 My free time and my family
at the weekend – clean the house – (at our) cottage – go biking – go
camping – go skiing – on holiday – have different interests – see (our)
relatives – spend free time together (with...) – travel – work a lot
1.13 Getting older
be with (your) friends – go to clubs and concerts – play sports – stay
out late – be married – do different activities (with your kids / spouse /
husband / wife) – do other activities – go to the theatre – go to work –
have a family – (not) have much time for leisure activities – have
more money – travel
Phrasal Verbs (We use phrasal verbs a lot in spoken English. When
you use them, you'll sound more like a native speaker)
✔ hang out (with): spend time with someone
"At the weekend I like to hang out with my friends."
✔ chill out: relax "This weekend I'm just going to chill out."
✔ get together: meet "A group of us are going to get together
for a couple of drinks."
✔ come round: come to someone's house "Why don't you come
round later?"
✔ get up to: do "What did you get up to at the weekend?"
✔ catch up with: get the latest news "It was so nice to catch up
with her."
✔ kick (a football) around / kick around a football: play an
informal game of football
"The kids often go to the park to kick a football around."
✔ take in a play / exhibition: go to a play or exhibition
"When they go to London they often take in a couple of plays."
✔ be into: be interested in something (inseparable phrasal verb)
"She's really into stamp-collecting."
✔ take up a hobby / take a hobby up: start a new hobby
"He's only recently taken up gardening."
✔ to get on with/ to click with someone: instantly friends and have
a very positive/friendly relationship with someone
✔ to shoot the breeze: to have an informal talk or chat
✔ to hang out with: to spend time with someone
Using play, do and go When we talk about our hobbies, we can
use the verbs play, do, or go.
My sister plays tennis every weekend.
My brother likes doing DIY (do it yourself)
I go swimming three times a week.
Play + sport / game
play football / play video games / play chess
Do + hobby / individual sport
do DIY, do judo
Go + activity
go swimming, go fishing
Saying what you like
like + noun / ing form
I like tennis / I like playing tennis
love + noun / ing form
He loves football / He loves watching football
be keen on + noun / ing form
She’s keen on the cinema / going to the cinema
enjoy + noun / ing form
We enjoy sports / playing sports
Questions you can ask
What do you like doing?
What sort of hobbies do you have?
What do you get up to in your free time?
How to reply
In my free time I…
When I have some spare time I…
When I get the time, I…
I relax by watching TV / listening to music, etc.
My hobbies are bird-watching / playing sport, etc.
I’m interested in (+ noun / gerund)
I’m keen on (+ noun / gerund)
I’m into (+ noun / gerund)
I enjoy (+ noun / gerund)
You can add “really” or “quite” after “I’m…” for emphasis.
“I’m really keen on football.”
“I’m really into geneaology.”
Talking about hobbies in more detail
“I like arts and crafts. I’m a creative / practical person, and like
doing things with my hands.”
“I’m an outgoing person, and like socializing / hanging out with
friends.”
“I enjoy being physically active, and spend a lot of time playing
sports and team games.”
Saying why you like your hobby
“I really enjoy going to the gym because…”
…it keeps me fit.
…it gets me out of the house, you know!
…it’s sociable. I’ve met lots of new people.
…it gives me something interesting to do with my time.
…it’s not very expensive, and anyone can do it!
“My hobbies are all creative…”
… I’ve always enjoyed painting and drawing.
… Because my job is technical, it’s good to spend time doing
something completely different.
… I enjoy spending time making things like clothes.
More words that you can use to describe your hobbies:
creative
fascinating
practical
cheap
enjoyable
relaxing
different
unusual
Other hobbies:
Watching television
Visiting friends
Entertaining friends (when friends come to your house for dinner, etc)
Listening to music
Reading books
Going to the pub
Going to a restaurant
Gardening
Going for a drive
Going for a walk
Photography / Taking photographs
Surfing the net
