Free Time& Hobbies
Verb + -ing / verb + infinitive · talking about what you love
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
What did you do for fun last weekend? Was it typical for you?
Tell your partner one hobby you'd never try. Why not?
Is there a hobby you used to love but stopped? Why did you stop?
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minVerb + -ing vs verb + infinitive
Some verbs are always followed by -ing (enjoy, love, hate, can't stand, fancy, mind, finish, avoid).
→ I love cooking but I hate doing the washing-up. (always -ing after love/hate)
→ I want to learn the guitar this year. (always 'to' after want)
→ I can't stand waiting in queues.
→ Do you fancy going for a coffee?
→ She decided to take up yoga.
More detail
Others take the infinitive with 'to' (want, decide, hope, plan, learn, would like, need). A few (like, love, hate, prefer, start, begin, continue) accept BOTH with little change in meaning.
Question 1.I can't stand ____ early on Sundays.
Question 2.He wants ____ a new hobby this year.
Question 3.Do you fancy ____ a film tonight?
Question 4.She's learning ____ the piano.
Question 5.I really enjoy ____ in the mountains.
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
4.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.Choose the WRONG sentence.
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
take up (a hobby)
to start doing a new hobby
"I took up running during lockdown and never stopped."
What hobby have you taken up in the last 5 years?
give up
to stop doing something (often permanently)
"I gave up sugar in January — it lasted 9 days."
Name one thing you gave up — and whether you regret it.
be into (something)
to be very interested in something
"She's really into podcasts at the moment."
What are you into these days?
be hooked on
to be addicted to / really enjoying
"I'm completely hooked on this new crime series."
What show or game are you hooked on right now?
kill time
to do something to make time pass
"I scroll my phone to kill time at the airport."
How do you kill time when you're waiting?
unwind
to relax mentally after stress
"I unwind by cooking with music on."
Finish: 'The best way for me to unwind is…'
binge-watch
to watch many episodes of a series in one sitting
"We binge-watched the whole series in one weekend."
What's the last series you binge-watched?
have a go (at)
to try something
"I had a go at pottery last summer — much harder than it looks."
Name something you'd love to have a go at.
Discuss with a partner
- →Tell your partner one hobby you took up and one you gave up.
- →What's something you're really into that surprises people?
Finish the sentence about you
- I'm currently hooked on …
- I'd love to have a go at …
- I unwind by …
Rank & justify
Rank these from most → least relaxing for you.
- binge-watching a series
- going for a run
- cooking
- scrolling your phone
60-second write
Write 3 sentences about your free time. Use take up, be into, and unwind.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minWeak 'to' before infinitives
- • I want_to /tə/ learn the guitar.
- • I'd like_to /tə/ try yoga.
- • She decided_to /tə/ take up running.
- • We're hoping_to /tə/ travel more this year.
How to say it
Before an infinitive verb, 'to' is almost never pronounced /tuː/. It reduces to /tə/ — quick, unstressed. The verb after it carries the stress.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minWhy we're all picking up new hobbies
Over the last few years, more and more adults have started taking up hobbies they never tried as children — pottery, climbing, baking sourdough, even tap dancing. Why? Therapists say it's partly about screens. After hours of scrolling, we crave something we can touch, finish and be proud of. Some people use hobbies to unwind after stressful jobs; others want to meet new people without spending another evening in a bar. The good news: studies show that even 30 minutes of a hands-on hobby per day improves mood. The bad news: you'll need new shelves for all the unfinished projects.
Question 1.According to the text, why are adults taking up new hobbies?
Question 2.Some people use hobbies to:
Question 3.What's the joke at the end?
Q1.Most new adult hobbies happen on screens.
Q2.Studies suggest hands-on hobbies improve mood.
Q3.The article is completely serious throughout.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minA radio caller talks about her hobby
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Host:We've got Maria on line 2. Maria, you've recently taken up a new hobby — tell us!
Maria:Hi! Yes — I've started bouldering. You know, indoor rock climbing without ropes.
Host:Brilliant! How did you get into it?
Maria:A friend dragged me to a session. Honestly, I expected to hate it, but I was hooked after about ten minutes.
Host:And what does it give you that other hobbies didn't?
Maria:It's the only thing where I completely stop thinking about work. I can't scroll my phone when I'm three metres off the ground!
Host:Would you recommend it to people listening?
Maria:Definitely have a go. You don't need to be strong, you just need to not give up after the first attempt.
Question 1.What hobby has Maria taken up?
Question 2.How did she start?
Question 3.What is the main benefit she mentions?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Reading & Use of English: sentence transformation
Task
Rewrite a sentence using a given word so that the meaning stays the same.
Strategy
Identify the verb pattern. If the original is 'I love + noun', the rewrite usually needs '-ing'. If it's 'I want + noun', the rewrite usually needs 'to + infinitive'. Always count the words — most exams limit you to 2–5 words.
Example
Original: 'My idea is to start yoga.' (TAKE) → Rewrite: 'I'm going to TAKE UP yoga.' Original: 'I really enjoy long walks.' (LOVE) → Rewrite: 'I LOVE going on long walks.'
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.I want ____ a language this year.
Question 2.She enjoys ____ on Sunday mornings.
Question 3.Do you fancy ____ for a run later?
Question 4.I'm completely ____ on this new podcast.
Question 5.He ____ up smoking last year — he hasn't touched one since.
Q1.Transform with 'TAKE': 'I started yoga last month.' → 'I ____ yoga last month.'
Q2.Complete: 'I can't stand ____ (queue) for things.'
Q3.Correct: 'I want learning to swim.'
Q4.Complete: 'She decided ____ (give) up sugar for a month.'
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a short paragraph (70–90 words) describing a hobby you're really into right now. Include: how you started, why you love it, and one downside. Use at least 3 verb + -ing AND 1 verb + to-infinitive structure.
Show model answer
I've recently taken up baking sourdough bread, and I'm completely hooked. I started during a quiet weekend out of curiosity, and now I can't imagine my week without it. I love mixing the dough, watching it rise overnight and finally smelling the fresh bread in the morning. It also helps me unwind — for two hours, I don't even check my phone. The only problem? I want to give bread to all my friends, and my flatmate is gaining weight.
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
TIMED FLUENCY ROUND: students get 3 minutes to convince their partner to take up THEIR favourite hobby. Partner asks 3 sceptical questions. Then swap roles.
Useful phrases
- • You should really have a go at…
- • I was hooked after…
- • It's the perfect way to unwind because…
- • Honestly, I expected to hate it, but…
- • Don't give up after the first try.
- AHave you taken up any new hobbies recently?
- B_______________
- ANice! Do you fancy going for a run together this weekend?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Maximise student talking time and naturally recycle -ing vs to. ~30 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Record a 90-second voice note: 'A hobby I'd love to take up' (3 reasons + 1 worry).
Write 8 sentences mixing verb + -ing and verb + to about your real life.
Find a 3-minute English video about a hobby and note 5 verb patterns (-ing or to + verb).
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Verbs of feeling (enjoy, love, hate, can't stand, fancy) → + -ing.
- Verbs of plan (want, decide, hope, plan, learn, need) → + to-infinitive.
- Some flex verbs (like, love, start) accept BOTH.
- Hobby chunks ('take up', 'give up', 'hooked on') unlock natural talk.
- Reduce 'to' to /tə/ before an infinitive for natural rhythm.