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Study in the app →English · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 27
Free time and hobbies Temps libre et loisirs
Dire ce qu'on aime. Après « like », « love » et « enjoy », l'anglais emploie la forme -ing du verbe : I like swimming. I love reading. On peut aussi dire « like to » + verbe simple : I like to swim. Ce qu'on ne peut pas dire, c'est « I like swim ». Le coréen colle son verbe « aimer » directement au verbe simple, donc les Coréens laissent tomber le -ing ; en anglais le verbe après « like » doit être « swimming » ou « to swim ».
Dialogue
I like swim? — I like swim ?
- Emma What do you do in your free time, Minsu? Que fais-tu pendant ton temps libre, Minsu ?
- Minsu I like read books. And I like swim. J'aime read des livres. Et j'aime swim. (lapsus : après « like » utilise la forme -ing ou « to » : « I like reading / I like to read », « I like swimming », pas « I like read / swim »)
- Emma Add -ing after "like": "I like reading", "I like swimming". Or say "I like to read". Ajoute -ing après « like » : « I like reading », « I like swimming ». Ou dis « I like to read ».
- Minsu OK. I like reading books, and I like swimming. D'accord. J'aime lire des livres, et j'aime nager.
Dialogue
Do you like sport? — Tu aimes le sport ?
- Emma Do you like football, Minsu? Tu aimes le football, Minsu ?
- Minsu Yes, I love football. I play every weekend. Do you like sport? Oui, j'adore le football. Je joue chaque week-end. Tu aimes le sport ?
- Emma I like swimming and dancing, but I don't like football. J'aime nager et danser, mais je n'aime pas le football.
- Minsu Then let's watch a film together this weekend! Alors regardons un film ensemble ce week-end !
Vocabulary
| 汉字 | Pinyin | POS | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| free time | n. | temps libre | |
| hobby | n. | loisir | |
| music | n. | musique | |
| film | n. | film | |
| sport | n. | sport | |
| football | n. | football | |
| read | v. | lire | |
| swim | v. | nager | |
| dance | v. | danser | |
| like | v. | aimer |
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.
Pour dire ce qu'on aime, utilise « like », « love », « enjoy » ou « don't like ». Devant un nom, ajoute le nom : I like music. I love football. Devant un verbe, utilise la forme -ing : I like swimming. I enjoy reading. I don't like cooking. Un second modèle est « like to » + verbe simple, même sens : I like to swim. Les deux sont corrects, mais on ne peut pas laisser le verbe seul — « I like swim » est faux. Pour demander, dis « Do you like …? » : Do you like football? — Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
- I like music and I love films. J'aime la musique et j'adore les films.
- I like swimming, but I don't like running. J'aime nager, mais je n'aime pas courir.
- She enjoys reading in her free time. Elle aime lire pendant son temps libre.
- Do you like football? — Yes, I do. Tu aimes le football ? — Oui.
Culture
Free time and the weekend Le temps libre et le week-end
Aux États-Unis, au Royaume-Uni, en Australie et au Canada, le temps libre tourne souvent autour du week-end, et les gens adorent en parler. « What are you up to this weekend? » (Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce week-end ?) le vendredi et « How was your weekend? » (Comment était ton week-end ?) le lundi sont des banalités quotidiennes. Savoir répondre — et comment les gens passent ce temps — t'aide à participer.
Bavardage du week-end
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.
Le sport, regarder et jouer
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.
Clubs et loisirs
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.
Le temps libre est donc un terrain de conversation facile : demande comment s'est passé le week-end, partage ce que tu aimes faire, et dis oui quand on t'invite. Pas besoin d'un anglais parfait — quelques mots sur tes loisirs suffisent à se faire un ami.
pronunciation
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