Theme 1.3: Free-time activities and hobbies - Writing
Free-time writing tasks cover describing hobbies and how often they are done, recounting a specific recent event such as a match or concert, naming a new hobby to try, and giving an opinion on how young people spend their free time.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read the bullets and separate routine (present tense, with a frequency word) from a one-off event (preterite, with a time marker like el sábado pasado).
- Plan a small bank of hobby nouns and verbs before writing (jugar al fútbol, tocar la guitarra, ir de compras, quedar con amigos) so you are not translating word by word mid-sentence.
- Build the response starting with a routine hobby in the present, then a specific past event in the preterite, then a wish for a new hobby using me gustaría plus infinitive.
- Add range: a connective (también, sin embargo), an opinion justified with porque, and a subordinate clause with que describing the hobby or event (un concierto que fue increíble).
- Check the preterite endings for -ar verbs (jugué, jugaste, jugó, jugamos - note the spelling change g to gu before the e ending) against -er/-ir verbs (comí, comiste, comió).
- Check accents on words like música and fútbol, both of which need one, and on any preterite form ending in -ó or -í.
- Check the response covers both a habitual activity and a specific past event - mixing only present tense throughout is a common way to lose range marks on this topic.
Worked example
Write a short paragraph in Spanish for a school blog about free time. Mention: a hobby you do regularly; an event you went to recently; a new hobby you would like to try.
- PLAN bullet 1: hobby plus frequency - toco la guitarra dos veces a la semana.
- PLAN bullet 2: past event plus preterite verb plus opinion word - fui a un concierto, fue genial.
- BUILD bullet 1 with a connective for range: Los fines de semana, toco la guitarra en un grupo con mis amigos, y también juego al baloncesto.
- BUILD bullet 2 in the preterite with a subordinate clause: El mes pasado, fui a un concierto que fue increíble porque tocó mi banda favorita.
- BUILD bullet 3 with the conditional and a reason: Me gustaría probar el baile porque parece divertido y quiero conocer a gente nueva.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Give the preterite yo form of jugar, noting the spelling change.Show answer
Answer: jugué - the g changes to gu before the e ending to keep the hard g sound: jugué, jugaste, jugó, jugamos, jugasteis, jugaron.
Q2Fill the gap with the correct present tense: Todos los sábados, mi hermano y yo ___ (jugar) al tenis.Show answer
Answer: jugamos - present tense, nosotros form of the stem-changing verb jugar: juego, juegas, juega, jugamos, juegan.
Q3Correct the error: 'El concierto fue muy buena.'Show answer
Answer: El concierto fue muy bueno - bueno must agree with the masculine noun concierto, so buena becomes bueno.
Q4Translate into Spanish: 'Last weekend, I went to a football match with my friends.'Show answer
Answer: El fin de semana pasado, fui a un partido de fútbol con mis amigos.
Q5Translate into English: 'Me gustaría aprender a tocar el piano algún día.'Show answer
Answer: I would like to learn to play the piano someday.
Q6Give the Spanish for 'to go shopping' and 'to meet up with friends'.Show answer
Answer: ir de compras and quedar con amigos.
Q7Which frequency phrase means 'once a week': una vez a la semana or todos los días?Show answer
Answer: una vez a la semana (once a week); todos los días means every day.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Spanish exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Write about your free time in Spanish. Answer all four bullet points in Spanish. Write approximately 40 words in Spanish. - a hobby you do in your free time - how often you do it - an event you went to recently - your opinion on the importance of free time
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 10 available
Your Spanish exchange partner wants to know about your hobbies. Write a message in Spanish. You must mention: - your favourite hobby and why you enjoy it - a fun activity or event you went to recently with friends - a new hobby you would like to try in the future, and why - your opinion on whether teenagers spend enough time on hobbies compared to screens
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 16 available
See real GCSE Spanish past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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