Talking about your hobbies in English
When you want to get to know someone, ask about their hobbies and interests.
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)
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."
Giving a longer reply
You can add more details about your hobbies and interests:
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 socialising / 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
You can also explain why you spend time on your hobby to make the conversation longer and more interesting.
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!
More words that you can use to describe your hobbies:
creative
fascinating
practical
cheap
enjoyable
relaxing
different
unusual
Like doing vs like to do
We use like + gerund (ing form) to talk about general likes:
I like fishing.
We use like + infinitive to talk about more specific likes:
I like to go fishing at the weekend.
English vocabulary: learn to talk about your free time
Here are some ways to talk about what your hobbies, interests and favourite sports in English.
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
For more phrases to talk about your hobbies, see our page Talking about your hobbies in English
Remember: I like (+ ing / noun) is for general likes.
I like going to the cinema.
I'd like + verb is for a specific occasion:
I'd like to go to the cinema next weekend.
Adding emphasis
You can add "very much" at the end of the sentence.
I like tennis.
I like tennis very much.
You can add "at all" to a negative sentence if you don't like something.
I don't like cricket.
I don't like cricket at all.
Talking about your hobby
Use adverbs of frequency (always, sometimes, rarely etc) or another phrase to talk about how often or when you do your hobby.
I only watch football at the weekends.
I go to the gym four times a week.
I don't often have time to socialise with friends.
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You can say why you like your hobby by describing it with an -ing adjective.
I like swimming because it's relaxing.
Watching football is exciting.
It's interesting to surf the net.
Example conversations
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I spend a lot of time going to discos with my friends.
Are you keen on sports?
Yes, I love playing tennis in summer.
Are you a sports fan?
Not really. I prefer relaxing with friends in a restaurant.
Do you like going to restaurants?
Not much. I prefer cooking at home.
Typical hobbies
These hobbies are popular with British people.
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
DIY (doing DIY = doing home-improvement activities)
Photography / Taking photographs
Surfing the net
Typical sports
Here is some vocabulary for different sports.
Ball games
Football
Rugby
Cricket
Tennis
Squash
Hockey
Baseball
Basketball
Volleyball
Martial arts
Judo
Karate
Kickboxing
Boxing
Extreme sports
Paragliding
Rock climbing
Caving
Mountaineering
Water sports
Swimming
Diving
Sailing
Canoeing
Windsurfing
Other activities
Jogging
Keeping fit
Horse-riding
Hiking
Skateboarding
Gymnastics
Athletics
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.
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
Please, be ready to discuss the following points:
1. What are your interests and passions outside of work (use the list below for ideas)? Who or what influenced you to develop these interests or take up these hobbies? How long have you been into them? Think of at least three examples.
- musicians & music bands - foreign languages - arts & crafts
- film directors & actors - photography - Instagram
- theatre & cinema - reading - collecting things
- cooking - video games - charity\volunteer work
- animals/pets - political discussions - fishing\hunting
- hiking - nutrition & health - genealogy
- beauty & fashion - writing - magic
- science - programming - wine
- sports, fitness & dancing - gardening - interior design
- cars & motorcycles - poker - blogging
2. Are there any activities that you used to do but dont do anymore? Why did you stop? Is there anything that you tried but didn't like?
3. What are hobbies for you? Why are hobbies important?
- a way to meet new people
- hobbies build self-esteem and give you something to feel good about
- a way to bring out hidden talents
- a way to disconnect from the everyday worries and recharge your batteries
- a way to relieve stress
- hobbies make you interesting
- a way to avoid boredom
- a way to enrich your perspective
4. Are your hobbies expensive? Is there a hobby that you want to start, but dont have enough time or money for?
5. Does your boy/girlfriend, or husband/wife have the same interests and hobbies as you? Do you think it is important?
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6. Is there a hobby or activity that you like but people in your family dont? If so, have you tried to change that? How did that go?
7. What unusual hobbies have you heard of? Does anyone among your friends or acquaintances have an unusual hobby?
8. Is it possible to turn your hobby into your career? Do you know any examples?
Dialogue 1
Leisure Activities
Stuart: Amy. So, how are you doing?
Amy: Oh, hi Stuart. School is so crazy these days, and when I'm not at school, I'm at work.
Stuart: Hey, listen. I'm getting together with Sara and Paul tonight, and a few of our other friends are going to join us. [ Oh. ] And, we're... well, we're going out to eat and then catch a movie. Why don't you come with us?
Amy: Hey, I'd love to, but I have to cram for a test tomorrow.
Stuart: Ah, come on. We're planning on having dinner around 6:30 and then seeing a movie at 7:30. We should be home by 10:30... 11:30 at the latest. I mean you're always saying that you don't have any friends... and that your love life... well, that you don't have one. Come on!
Amy: I... I don't think I'd better. I haven't been feeling well lately.
Stuart: Yeah, because you study too much. Well, we'll have a blast. Come on! Relax. [ Well... ] And it's Sara's birthday, too. And we're throwing her a small birthday party after the movie. Come on. Best friends always stick together.
Amy: Oh. Okay.
Stuart: Great. I'll pick you up at 6:00.
Amy: Okay. See you then, but I have to be back by 10:30.
Stuart: Ah, 10:30... Midnight. It's all the same. See you at 6:00.
| Key Vocabulary |
- catch a movie (verb): watch
- Let's catch a movie this afternoon after school is over. - cram (verb): study hard
- I had to cram all night for the final text in my biology class. - blast (noun): fun time
- Thanks for inviting me to the party yesterday. It was a real blast. - throw a party (verb): have
- My parents are throwing a big party for my brother who just got married. - midnight (adverb): 12 o'clock at night, the middle of the night
- I have to be back home by midnight. It's a family rule.
1. What is Stuart planning to do with his friends?
A. go for a drive and have a picnic
B. watch a football game
C. see a movie and have dinner
2. Why does Amy say she can't go with them?
A. She has to study for an exam.
B. She doesn't have any spending money.
C. She already has plans to attend a party.
3. What are they planning to do at the end of the evening?
A. watch a video
B. have a party
C. play some games
4. How is Amy getting to the activity?
A. She's driving her car.
B. Stuart is giving her a ride.
C. She's taking the bus.
5. What time does Amy want to be home?
A. at 10:30 p.m.
B. at 11:30 p.m.
C. at midnight
Dialogue 2
Exercise Program
Josh: Hey, I hear you and Stephanie are really getting serious.
Michael: Yeah, I think she'll be impressed with my new exercise program.
Josh: What? What are you talking about? What exercise program? What did you tell her?
Michael: Well, you know, I enjoy staying in shape. [ Right ] First, I generally get up every morning at 5:30 a.m.
Josh: Oh, yeah. Since when? You don't roll out of bed until at least 7:30 p.m.
Michael: No, no, and on Mondays and Wednesdays,...
Josh: Ah, not another tall tale...
Michael: I almost always go jogging for about a half hour, you know, to improve my endurance.
Josh: Hey, jogging to the refrigerator for a glass of milk doesn't count.
Michael: Of course, before I leave, I usually make sure I do some stretches so I don't pull a muscle on my run.
Josh: Right. One jumping jack.
Michael: Then, I told her that I usually lift weights Tuesdays and Thursdays for about an hour after work.
Josh: Humph.
Michael: This helps me build muscle strength.
Josh: A one-pound barbell.
Michael: Finally, I often go hiking on Saturdays with my dog [ What dog!? ], well, and I like hiking because it helps me burn off stress and reduce anxiety that builds up during the week.
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Josh: Oh yeah, those lies.
Michael: Well, uh, as for Fridays, I sometimes just relax at home by watching a movie or inviting you over to visit.
Josh: If I buy the pizza.
Michael: But... bu... And on Sundays, I take the day off from exercising, but I usually take my dog for a walk.
Josh: Forget it. She'll never buy this story.
| Key Vocabulary |
- generally (adverb): usually
- She generally does aerobics right after she gets up. - tall tale (noun): unusual or unbelievable story
- His running in a 100 kilometer race is just a tall tale. He gets tired just walking to the kitchen table. - endurance (noun): the ability to keep doing something difficult for a period of time
- I don't know if he has the endurance to play the entire basketball game. - burn off (verb): get rid of
- The teacher had the boy run around the gym to burn off his extra energy. - anxiety (noun): feelings of being worried
- Working out at the health club helps me get rid of anxiety and frustration from work. - buy a story (idiom): believe something that is probably not true
- Don't buy his story that he exercises everyday. It's just not true.
1. What does the man usually do on Mondays and Wednesdays?
A. He runs.
B. He plays tennis.
C. He does aerobics.
2. What does the man do before the activity in Question 1?
A. He swims.
B. He does push-ups.
C. He stretches.
3. Why does the man lift weights?
A. to strengthen his muscles
B. to improve his endurance
C. to increase his flexibility
4. Why does the man go hiking on Saturdays?
A. It helps him get rid of his worries from the week.
B. Hiking allows him to burn off weight from overeating.
C. Walking with his dog provides opportunities to enjoy nature.
5. What does the man do on Sundays?
A. He relaxes and watches TV.
B. He goes for a walk.
C. He goes swimming.
Dialogue 3
Summer Vacation
Woman: Hey, Hey. Why don't we do something fun next week? We have time off. We never do anything fun.
Man: Well... I don't know. What do you have in mind?
Woman: Well, I was thinking like.... Okay.
Like the library? The library is... What?
The library is boring. We could do that anytime. Listen. How about on Monday we go down to the lake and go swimming at the lake?
Man: Ah, I don't know. I think it's going to hot that day, and I might get a sunburn. [ Come on! ] You know how tender... tender my skin is.
Woman: wimp! We can do... Okay. So Monday, we'll go down to the lake. Tuesday, we're going to go mountain biking. Um, it's supposed to be cloudy so your tender skin shouldn't get burned.
Man: Oh, that's sounds great... but I'd probably crash like I did last time and break my arm or something.
Woman: You didn't break your arm last time. You won't break it this time. Come on. We'll go... So Monday, we'll go to the lake; Tuesday, we're going to go mountain biking. [ Okay. ]
Um, Wendesay I was thinking we could go fishing. Remember the last time we went? I caught like 10 huge fish...
Man: Yeah. I remember. And the only thing I caught was an old boot. And you won't ever, EVER let me forget that one. So, if we do anything, I'd like to enjoy it.
Woman: Well, okay then. Um, do you suggest?
Man: Well, alright. Well, we could stay home and uh, you know... pop some popcorn and play like Scrabble or another board game. Yeah, something like that.... What?
Woman: You know, I like board games, but we can do that anytime. Why don't we go... listen... Friday or Saturday. We'll do all those things we talked about and then Friday or Saturday, we'll go on a picnic to the mountains. You won't break your arm, you won't get a sunburn. It'll be really pleasant. Let's do that, okay?
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Man: Well.....
Woman: Come on. Let's do it. It'll be fun.
Man: Okay. We'll give it a try.
Woman: Good.
| Key Vocabulary |
- time off (noun): vacation time away from work
- I don't have much time off to travel during the summer break. - to have something in mind (verb): to think about or plan to so something
- Do you have a plan in mind for the weekend
I don't have particular food in mind for the party. I think anything is probably fine for most people. - tender (adjective): delicate; also, very loving
- It is a very tender time for the family because of their father's passing. - wimp (adjetive): a person who does not have courage or is afraid (negative meaning)
- Don't be such a wimp. You need to try new foods. You can't avoid them when you travel overseas. - pleasant (adjective): nice or comfortable
- The walk along the beach was very pleasant. We enjoyed the cool breeze and the sound of the waves.
1. The woman wants to _____________ on Monday.
A. go to the lake
B. visit the city park
C. walk along the river
2. The man doesn't want to go because he ___________.
A. is busy with work
B. wants to see a movie instead
C. is worried about the sun
3. On Tuesday, the woman suggests ___________.
A. visiting an art museum
B. going for a bike ride
C. driving in the mountains
4. On Wednesday, the woman wants to __________
A. go fishing
B. catch a movie
C. have a barbecue
5. On Friday or Saturday, the woman would like to __________.
A. go shopping for clothing
B. have a nice picnic
C. play games at home
Dialogue 4
Vocation plans
Pete: Hey Markus. I have a question I'd like to ask you.
Markus: Yes. Go ahead.
Pete: Well, I'm thinking about going to Germany this summer [ Great! ], and I need some advice. You're the best person I know to answer my questions since you're German.
Markus: Thank you. What do you want to know?
Pete: Well, don't laugh, but I met this really nice woman through an online music mailing list, you know, a discussion group on the Internet [ laughter ]. I need some advice. You see, Claudia,...
Markus: Okay. So it's Claudia, oh?
Pete: Yeah, yeah. See, she invited me to spend two weeks in Germany [ Hum ]. And well, I told here I had studied a little bit about the country and language [ Hum ], and she's kind of expecting that I know more than I really do.
Markus: Hum. You're really in hot water now!
Pete: Yeah. I think so.
Markus: Well, what do you want to know?
Pete: Well, she's planning on introducing me to her parents.
Markus: Hey. Sounds kind of serious.
Pete: It isn't, at least I think it isn't. Anyway, what should you do when you greet someone for the first time in Germany?
Markus: Well, it depends upon your relationship with the person. Now, speaking of your girlfriend, Claudia,....
Pete: Hey, I didn't say she was my girlfriend.
Markus: Ah, okay, okay. Now if you're meeting someone formally for the first time, like Claudia's parents, you should make sure you arrive on time.
Pete: Okay, so arrive on time. Uh, what about common greetings?
Markus: Well, Germans often shake hands, and they use the person's family name, unless they're really close friends.
Pete: Okay, what about with Claudia? I'm not sure what I should do in her case.
Markus: Ah. You can call her Claudia [ Okay ], shake hands, and why don't you take her some flowers?
Pete: Oh, how do you say "Nice to meet you" anyway?
Markus: Oh, "Ich freue mich, Sie kennenzulernen."
Pete: "Ich freu me senselen..? "
Markus: Uhhh. Not exactly. "Ich freue mich, Sie kennenzulernen" [ Uhhh ].
Markus: Humm. Honestly, I think you need to take a crash course in German before you leave. Claudia might think you're speaking Chinese or something if you don't.
| Key Vocabulary |
- mailing list (noun): a list of people who subscribe or join a mailing distribution on a particular topic
- I'd like to join a mailing list on studying intercultural communication so I can exchange ideas with others. - to be in hot water: to be in a difficult situation or in trouble that might lead to punishment
- The politician is in hot water because of his insensitive comments at the conference. - common (adjective): the same for many situations and people
One common gesture of friendship is to greet someone with a firm handshake while looking them in the eye. - crash (adjective): quick, complete, short or intensive, often difficult
She took crash course in Spanish before she left for Mexico, but I'm not sure if it helped.
1. Where is the man going on vacation?
A. Italy
B. France
C. Germany
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2. Where did he meet Claudia?
A. at a music store
B. at the post office
C. on the Internet
3. What advice does Markus give Pete about meeting Claudia's parents?
A. be on time
B. take a small gift
C. smile and be friendly
4. What is one thing Markus does NOT say about greeting Claudia?
A. shake her hand
B. give her a friendly hug
C. take her some flowers
5. Markus' final suggestion for Pete is that he should:
A. brush up on his German.
B. buy souvenirs for Claudia's family.
C. visit Berlin during his visit.
Dialogue 5
Daughter: Dad, can I go to a movie this week with Shannon?
Father: Here. Try this. It's called a book. [ Ah, Dad! ] Moby Dick. An American classic. [ Dad! ] Okay. Let me look at the schedule here. Hmm. When are you thinking about going to the movie?
Daughter: Uh, we're thinking about seeing a movie on Wednesday after school.
Father: Well, that's not going to work. You have piano lessons after school and then you have to babysit for the neighbors until 9:00.
Daughter: What about Monday?
Father: Monday's out. You haven't practiced your clarinet at all... for an entire month, so you have to catch up on that. And, don't you have an essay due in your English class on Tuesday?
Daughter: Oh, I forgot about that [ Yeah ], and anyway, I was going to finish that during first period at school. [ Great. I've never heard of a three-sentence essay. ] So, what about Tuesday?
Father: Uh, you have soccer practice from 4:00 until 5:30, and after that, you have to do your homework.
Daughter: Ah, you can help me with that. Oh, I forgot you don't know how to do geometry. So, can I see the movie on Thursday?
Father: Well, remember the science fair at school is on Friday, right? Is, is your project finished yet?
Daughter: Umm, what about Friday night? I checked the paper, and there's a midnight showing.
Father: Uh-uh. Forget that idea.
Daughter: And Saturday?
Father: Well, you have to do your chores in the morning before noon. [ You can help me with that. ] Oh no. And then, we have to clean out the garage. You said you'd help. [ No, you volunteered me. ] Well, that should only take a couple of hours. [ Dad, you're ruining my social life. ] And then, after that, we can go to the movie.
Daughter: We?
Father: Yeah, We. Mom and I and you and Shannon.
Daughter: Uh, Dad, actually. We weren't planning on company.
Father: Now, let me check the paper for showtimes. [ The movie plays at three oh five, five, seven fifteen, and nine. ] You already checked, I see.
Daughter: Yeah. So is it okay? Can I go see the nine O'clock showing?
Father: The five o'clock showing!
Daughter: How about the seven o'clock showing?
Father: And why are you so concerned about the show time?
Daughter: Well, I don't know if I'll get all of my chores and homework done before then.
Father: Sorry, but I want you to get to bed early that night, and so, I can drop you off at the movie theater about 4:30 so you'll have time to get tickets.
Daughter: Uh, Dad. Can I have money for the movie?
Father: Sure, just go into the family bank vault behind secret mirror in the hall and take a few hundred. [ Dad! ]. Look. I can only spare a few dollars, so you'll have to come up with the rest, okay?
Daughter: Okay. Thanks, Dad.
| Key Vocabulary |
- catch up (verb): reach a point where one should be
- I need to catch up on my sleep. I've been very tired recently. - geometry (noun): math of lines, points, and shapes
- My daughter is taking geometry in junior high school now. - uh-uh (verb): informal for no
- Uh-uh. I don't like to do housework at all. - chores (noun): housework
- If you do your chores quickly, I'll take you shopping. - ruin (verb): destroy or damage
- My dad asked me to babysit tonight, so that ruined my plans to go out with friends to a movie. - vault (noun): a room or space, often made of steel, for safekeeping valuables like money or important documents
- The millionaire kept all his valuable coins, paintings, and jewelry in a secret vault in his house. - spare (verb): give up carefully
- My son needed money to fix his care, but I could only spare $200 since I didn't have much money either.
1. What one thing does the girl NOT have to do on Wednesday after school?
A. practice the piano
B. take care of children
C. finish homework assignments
2. Why can't the girl go to a movie on Monday?
A. She has to catch up on her French homework.
B. She needs to write a paper.
C. She must practice for a math test.
3. How long is her soccer practice on Tuesday?
A. one hour
B. an hour and a half
C. two hours
4. What chore does the girl have to do on Saturday?
A. clean the garage
B. pick up her room
C. finish her science project
5. Which movie showing is the girl going to see?
A. 5:00 p.m.
B. 7:15 p.m.
C. 9:00 p.m.
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