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Study in the app →English · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 27
Free time and hobbies Freizeit und Hobbys
Sagen, was man gern macht. Nach „like", „love" und „enjoy" nimmt Englisch die -ing-Form des Verbs: I like swimming. I love reading. Man kann auch „like to" + Grundverb sagen: I like to swim. Was man nicht sagen kann, ist „I like swim". Koreanisch hängt sein Mögen-Verb direkt an das Grundverb, daher lassen Koreanischsprachige das -ing weg; im Englischen muss das Verb nach „like" „swimming" oder „to swim" sein.
Dialogue
I like swim?
- Emma What do you do in your free time, Minsu? Was machst du in deiner Freizeit, Minsu?
- Minsu I like read books. And I like swim. Ich mag read Bücher. Und ich mag swim. (Patzer: nach „like" die -ing-Form oder „to": „I like reading / I like to read", „I like swimming", nicht „I like read / swim")
- Emma Add -ing after "like": "I like reading", "I like swimming". Or say "I like to read". Hänge nach „like" -ing an: „I like reading", „I like swimming". Oder sag „I like to read".
- Minsu OK. I like reading books, and I like swimming. Okay. Ich lese gern Bücher und ich schwimme gern.
Dialogue
Do you like sport? — Magst du Sport?
- Emma Do you like football, Minsu? Magst du Fußball, Minsu?
- Minsu Yes, I love football. I play every weekend. Do you like sport? Ja, ich liebe Fußball. Ich spiele jedes Wochenende. Magst du Sport?
- Emma I like swimming and dancing, but I don't like football. Ich schwimme und tanze gern, aber Fußball mag ich nicht.
- Minsu Then let's watch a film together this weekend! Dann lass uns dieses Wochenende zusammen einen Film schauen!
Vocabulary
| 汉字 | Pinyin | POS | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| free time | n. | Freizeit | |
| hobby | n. | Hobby | |
| music | n. | Musik | |
| film | n. | Film | |
| sport | n. | Sport | |
| football | n. | Fußball | |
| read | v. | lesen | |
| swim | v. | schwimmen | |
| dance | v. | tanzen | |
| like | v. | mögen |
Grammar
I like swimming I like swimming
To say what you enjoy, use "like", "love", "enjoy" or "don't like". Before a noun, just add the noun: I like music. I love football. Before a verb, use the -ing form: I like swimming. I enjoy reading. I don't like cooking. A second pattern is "like to" + plain verb, with the same meaning: I like to swim. Both are correct, but you cannot leave the verb plain on its own — "I like swim" is wrong. To ask, say "Do you like …?": Do you like football? — Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
Um zu sagen, was man gern macht, nimm „like", „love", „enjoy" oder „don't like". Vor einem Substantiv füge das Substantiv an: I like music. I love football. Vor einem Verb nimm die -ing-Form: I like swimming. I enjoy reading. I don't like cooking. Ein zweites Muster ist „like to" + Grundverb, gleiche Bedeutung: I like to swim. Beide sind richtig, aber das Verb darf nicht allein stehen — „I like swim" ist falsch. Zum Fragen sag „Do you like …?": Do you like football? — Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
- I like music and I love films. Ich mag Musik und ich liebe Filme.
- I like swimming, but I don't like running. Ich schwimme gern, aber ich laufe nicht gern.
- She enjoys reading in her free time. Sie liest gern in ihrer Freizeit.
- Do you like football? — Yes, I do. Magst du Fußball? — Ja.
Culture
Free time and the weekend Freizeit und Wochenende
In den USA, in Großbritannien, Australien und Kanada dreht sich die Freizeit oft ums Wochenende, und die Leute reden gern darüber. „What are you up to this weekend?" (Was machst du dieses Wochenende?) am Freitag und „How was your weekend?" (Wie war dein Wochenende?) am Montag sind alltäglicher Smalltalk. Zu wissen, wie man antwortet — und wie die Leute diese Zeit verbringen — hilft dir mitzumachen.
Wochenend-Smalltalk
Talking about free time is a safe, friendly topic — much safer than money or age. A colleague may ask "Any plans for the weekend?", and a short answer is all that is expected: "Not much, just relaxing" or "I'm going to see friends". On Monday the question flips to "How was your weekend?", and "Good, thanks — I went hiking. How about you?" keeps the exchange going. The point is not the detail but the friendly back-and-forth.
Sport, zusehen und spielen
Sport is a huge part of free time, and each country has its favourites: American football and baseball in the US, football (soccer) and rugby in the UK, cricket and "footy" in Australia, ice hockey in Canada. Many people follow a team all their lives and wear its colours on match day. You do not have to play to join in — watching a game at home, in a pub or a bar with friends is just as common, and "Did you see the game?" is a easy way to start a conversation.
Vereine und Hobbys
Beyond sport, people join clubs and classes for almost anything — book clubs, choirs, running groups, gardening, board games, hiking. Community noticeboards, libraries and apps list them, and most welcome beginners. Volunteering is also a common way to spend free time and meet people. If someone invites you to "come along" to their club, it is a friendly, low-pressure offer: you can just try it once and see if you enjoy it.
Freizeit ist also leichter Gesprächsboden: frag nach dem Wochenende, teile, was du gern machst, und sag Ja, wenn dich jemand mitnimmt. Du brauchst kein perfektes Englisch — ein paar Worte über deine Hobbys reichen, um einen Freund zu finden.
pronunciation
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