Get listening
Having a hobby helps you to relieve stress by keeping you engaged in something you enjoy. Hobbies give you a way to take your mind off the stresses of everyday life. They let you relax and seek pleasure in activities that aren't associated with school, work, chores or other responsibilities.
You can use different verbs to talk about what you like or not like doing. The most common one is:
| Gustar |
| (A mí) me gusta/gustan |
| (A ti) te gusta/gustan |
| (A él/ella) le gusta/gustan |
| (A nosotros/as) nos gusta/gustan |
| (A vosotros/as) os gusta/gustan |
| (A ellos/as) les gusta/gustan |
| Gustar | (A mí) me gusta/gustan |
|---|
| Gustar | (A ti) te gusta/gustan |
|---|
| Gustar | (A él/ella) le gusta/gustan |
|---|
| Gustar | (A nosotros/as) nos gusta/gustan |
|---|
| Gustar | (A vosotros/as) os gusta/gustan |
|---|
| Gustar | (A ellos/as) les gusta/gustan |
|---|
Use gusta with singular nouns and verbs on the infinitive. i.e. Me gusta la música (I like music.) Nos gusta bailar (We like to dance.)
Use gustan with plural nouns. i.e. A Luis le gustan las películas (Luis likes films.)
Listen to Ramón talking about what he and his family like doing in their spare time and answer the questions below in English.
Question
What does Ramón like to do in his spare time?
He likes going out with his friends and playing a musical instrument. He says: 'Entre mis pasatiempos favoritos están salir con mis amigos y tocar instrumentos musicales.' (Going out with my friends and playing musical instruments are among my favourite pastimes.)
Question
Apart from singing, what else does Ramón's sister do?
She also plays the guitar. He says: 'Mi hermana canta y toca la guitarra. Es muy buena.' (My sister sings and plays the guitar. She is very good.)
Transcript: Hola. Me llamo llamo Ramón. Entre mis pasatiempos favoritos están salir con mis amigos y tocar instrumentos musicales. Toco el piano en una orquesta y mi hermana canta y toca la guitarra. Es muy buena.
Translation: Hello, my name is Ramón. Among my favourite pastimes are going out with my friends and playing musical instruments. I play the piano in an orchestra and my sister sings and plays the guitar. She is very good.
Question
Name one activity Ramón's parents like to do when the weather is bad.
Read novels or watch a film. Ramón says: 'Cuando el tiempo es malo, a mis padres les encanta leer novelas o ver películas.' (When the weather is bad, my parents love reading novels or watching films.)
Question
What did Ramón's father do at the mountains last year?
He went fishing. Ramón says: 'El año pasado fueron a las montañas y mientras mi padre fue de pesca, mi madre sacó fotos de los paisajes.' (Last year they went to the mountains and, while my father went fishing, my mother took photos of the landscapes.)
Transcript: En mi familia tenemos numerosos hobbies. Cuando el tiempo es malo, a mis padres les encanta leer novelas o ver películas. Pero durante el verano, cuando hace buen tiempo, prefieren viajar y visitar otras ciudades. El año pasado fueron a las montañas y mientras mi padre fue de pesca, mi madre sacó fotos de los paisajes.
Translation: In my family we have numerous hobbies. When the weather is bad, my parents love reading novels or watching films. But during the summer, when the weather is good, they prefer to travel and visit other cities. Last year they went to the mountains and, while my father went fishing, my mother took photos of the landscapes.
Question
Apart from the music, what else does Ramón's sister like to do in her spare time? Choose the correct three answers.
- A. She likes going shopping.
- B. She likes chatting.
- C. She likes going window shopping.
- D. She likes sport.
- E. She likes playing with the video console.
- F. She likes drawing.
B, C and F. Ramón says: 'Aparte de la música, a mi hermana le gusta salir de escaparates e ir a la casa de sus amigas para charlar y dibujar.' (Apart from music, my sister likes to go window shopping or to her friends' house to chat and draw.)
Question
When and why does Ramón go to the stadium?
Every Saturday, to watch a rugby match. Ramón says: 'Cada sábado, voy a ver un partido de rugby en el estadio.' (Every Saturday, I go to watch a rugby match at the stadium.)
Transcript: A mi hermana y a mí también nos gusta hacer otras cosas. Aparte de la música, a mi hermana le gusta salir de escaparates e ir a la casa de sus amigas para charlar y dibujar. Yo prefiero la informática o el deporte, así que me encanta pasarme horas jugando con el ordenador y, cada sábado, voy a ver un partido de rugby en el estadio.
Translation: My sister and I also like to do other things. Apart from music, my sister likes to go window shopping or going to her friends’ house to chat and draw. I prefer IT or sport so that I love to spend hours playing with the computer and, every Saturday, I go to watch a rugby match at the stadium.
