English Course · Level 2 (A2) · Week 10 of 12
Hobbies and Interests
Grammar: Verb patterns · verb + -ing / verb + to + verb
This week's plan
| Day | Learn | Listen / Watch | Practise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Words: Hobbies · Sentences 1–2 | Learn English with Bob the Canadian: “Let's Learn English! Topic: Hobbies and Pastimes!” (podcast) | Exercise 1 |
| Day 2 | Words: Verb + -ing · Sentences 3–4 | BBC 6 Minute Grammar: “Verb patterns” (podcast) | Exercise 2 |
| Day 3 | Words: Verb + to · Sentences 5–6 | British Council: “Verbs followed by '-ing' or infinitive” (grammar) + engVid (Alex): “10 common verbs followed by infinitives” (video) | Exercise 3 |
| Day 4 | Words: Talking about interests · Sentences 7–8 | engVid (Alex): “10 common verbs followed by gerunds” (video) + BBC Learning English Grammar: “Hobbies we enjoy doing” (podcast) | Exercise 4 |
| Day 5 | Words: Clubs and groups · Sentences 9–10 | Learn English with Bob the Canadian: “Free English Class! Topic: Sports!” (podcast) | Write & Speak |
| Day 6 | Review all 30 words + 10 sentences | BBC Learning English Grammar: “Things we collect” (podcast) | Redo mistakes |
| Day 7 | Free day ☺ | BBC 6 Minute English: “How fans talk about their passions” (podcast) | Tick your tracker |
30 minutes a day: review, learn, listen, practise, speak. Day 7 is a free day. Tap a resource to find it.
30 words to learn
Set 1 · Hobbies
- gardeningالبستنة / زراعة النباتات
- photographyالتصوير الفوتوغرافي
- chessالشطرنج
- bakingالخَبز (عمل الكيك والمخبوزات)
- fishingصيد السمك
- collecting stampsجمع الطوابع
Set 2 · Verb + -ing
- mindيمانع
- keepيستمر في
- practiseيتدرب على
- avoidيتجنب
- can't standلا يطيق
- spend timeيقضي وقتًا (في)
Set 3 · Verb + to
- agreeيوافق
- offerيعرض (أن يفعل)
- manageينجح في / يقدر
- refuseيرفض
- affordيستطيع تحمّل تكلفة / معاه تمن
- would likeيودّ
Set 4 · Talking about interests
- take upيبدأ (هواية جديدة)
- passionشغف
- be crazy aboutمهووس بـ / بيموت في
- have a go atيجرّب
- talentموهبة
- beginnerمبتدئ
Set 5 · Clubs and groups
- clubنادٍ
- memberعضو
- joinينضم إلى
- teamفريق
- competitionمسابقة
- membershipعضوية / اشتراك
10 sentences to memorise
- 1I enjoy taking photos of old buildings.أستمتع بالتقاط صور للمباني القديمة.
- 2My mother spends a lot of time gardening.تقضي أمي وقتًا طويلًا في زراعة النباتات.
- 3Do you mind waiting for a few minutes?هل تمانع الانتظار بضع دقائق؟
- 4I can't stand watching football on TV.لا أطيق مشاهدة كرة القدم على التلفاز.
- 5Omar has decided to join a chess club.قرر عمر الانضمام إلى نادٍ للشطرنج.
- 6I'd like to take up baking.أودّ أن أبدأ هواية الخَبز.
- 7Nour managed to win the photography competition.نجحت نور في الفوز بمسابقة التصوير.
- 8We can't afford to buy a new camera.لا نستطيع تحمّل ثمن كاميرا جديدة.
- 9He refused to give up his hobby.رفض أن يتخلى عن هوايته.
- 10Keep practising and you'll get better.استمر في التدريب وستتحسن.
Grammar: Verb patterns · verb + -ing / verb + to + verb
verb + -ing: enjoy, like, love, hate, mind, finish, keep, practise, avoid, can't stand, spend time
verb + to + verb: want, would like, decide, hope, plan, agree, offer, manage, refuse, afford, learn
after a preposition, use -ing: interested in learning, good at drawing, before going
في العربية نقول «أحب أن أسبح» و«أستمتع بالسباحة»، ولا توجد قاعدة ثابتة تساعدنا، لذلك يقول المتعلم I enjoy to swim ✗ أو I want going ✗. الحل: احفظ كل فعل مع النمط الذي يليه كأنهما كلمة واحدة: enjoy + ing و want + to. وبعد حروف الجر (in, at, about, of, before, after) يأتي الفعل دائمًا بـ ing: I'm interested in joining …
| verb + -ing | verb + to + verb |
|---|---|
| I enjoy reading. | I want to read. |
| She finished cooking. | She decided to cook. |
| Do you mind waiting? | Would you like to wait? |
| He keeps forgetting. | He managed to remember. |
| They avoid driving at night. | They refused to drive at night. |
like / love / hate / prefer can take both: I like swimming. / I like to swim. But would like always takes to: I'd like to swim.
Negative: I decided not to go. · I enjoy not working on Fridays.
Exercises
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct form.
- 1) I enjoy (cooking / to cook).
- 2) We decided (to stay / staying) at home.
- 3) Do you mind (to open / opening) the window?
- 4) He refused (paying / to pay) the bill.
- 5) She keeps (to make / making) the same mistake.
- 6) I'd like (to join / joining) the club.
Show the answers
Exercise 2 · Complete with the -ing form or to + verb.
- 1) Mona is interested in ___ (learn) photography.
- 2) I can't afford ___ (buy) a new laptop.
- 3) My son practises ___ (play) the oud every day.
- 4) They agreed ___ (meet) on Friday.
- 5) Ahmed spends hours ___ (fish) on the Nile.
- 6) Did you manage ___ (find) a good gym?
Show the answers
Exercise 3 · Correct the mistake.
- 1) I want learning to swim.
- 2) She avoids to eat sugar.
- 3) He's good at draw.
- 4) We hope seeing you soon.
- 5) Thank you for help me.
Show the answers
Exercise 4 · Translate into English.
- 1) أستمتع بقراءة القصص قبل النوم.
- 2) قررت أن أنضم إلى نادٍ رياضي.
- 3) هل تمانع أن تساعدني؟
- 4) أريد أن أبدأ هواية جديدة.
Show the answers
Do each exercise in pencil first, then open the answers to check.
Write & Speak
Example: My favourite hobby is photography. I started taking photos five years ago with my old phone. Now I have a small camera, but I can't afford to buy a professional one yet. I enjoy walking around old Cairo and taking pictures of people and buildings. I usually avoid going out at midday, because the light is too strong. Last year I decided to join a photography club in Zamalek, and I managed to win a small competition! In the future, I'd like to take photos of the White Desert, and I hope to have my own exhibition one day.