Describing Personal Activities and Interests in Spanish
This section explains Describing Personal Activities and Interests in Spanish. These revision notes provide foundation and higher-tier examples of how to describe personal activities and interests in Spanish. They cover basic phrases and vocabulary, as well as more complex ways to express likes, dislikes, hobbies, and opinions, helping you communicate effectively in your Spanish exams.
Describing Personal Activities and Interests – Foundation Tier
- Basic Phrases for Describing Your Interests
- Me gusta... = I like...
- No me gusta... = I don’t like...
- Me encanta... = I love...
- Odio... = I hate...
- Disfruto... = I enjoy...
- Example: Me gusta leer = I like reading.
- Example: No me gusta bailar = I don’t like dancing.
- Example: Me encanta ver películas = I love watching films.
- Example: Odio hacer la tarea = I hate doing homework.
- Talking About Hobbies and Free Time Activities
- En mi tiempo libre, me gusta... = In my free time, I like...
- A menudo, hago... = Often, I do...
- Normalmente, paso el tiempo... = Normally, I spend my time...
- Los fines de semana, suelo... = At the weekends, I usually...
- Example: En mi tiempo libre, me gusta escuchar música = In my free time, I like listening to music.
- Example: Normalmente, paso el tiempo con mis amigos = Normally, I spend my time with my friends.
- Describing Types of Activities
- Hacer deporte = To do sport
- Jugar a los videojuegos = To play video games
- Leer libros = To read books
- Ver la televisión = To watch TV
- Escuchar música = To listen to music
- Ir al cine = To go to the cinema
- Bailar = To dance
- Example: Me gusta jugar a los videojuegos con mis amigos = I like playing video games with my friends.
- Example: Me encanta leer libros de aventura = I love reading adventure books.
Describing Personal Activities and Interests – Higher Tier
- More Complex Phrases for Describing Your Interests
- Una de mis actividades favoritas es... = One of my favourite activities is...
- Disfruto mucho de... = I really enjoy...
- A veces me gusta... = Sometimes, I like...
- En general, suelo... = In general, I usually...
- Lo que más me gusta es... = What I like the most is...
- Example: Una de mis actividades favoritas es practicar deportes al aire libre = One of my favourite activities is practising outdoor sports.
- Example: Lo que más me gusta es ir al cine con mis amigos = What I like the most is going to the cinema with my friends.
- Describing Specific Hobbies in Detail
- Me gusta mucho la música clásica = I really like classical music
- Soy un/a gran aficionado/a al cine = I am a big fan of cinema
- Disfruto jugando al fútbol los fines de semana = I enjoy playing football at the weekends
- A menudo, voy al gimnasio para hacer ejercicio = Often, I go to the gym to exercise
- Me gusta mucho leer novelas históricas = I really enjoy reading historical novels
- Example: Me gusta mucho la música clásica porque me relaja = I really like classical music because it relaxes me.
- Example: A menudo, voy al gimnasio para hacer ejercicio y mantenerme en forma = Often, I go to the gym to exercise and stay fit.
- Talking About Group Activities
- Me gusta salir con mis amigos = I like going out with my friends
- Pasamos tiempo juntos jugando a juegos de mesa = We spend time together playing board games
- Nos gusta ver películas de terror los fines de semana = We like watching horror films at the weekends
- Cada mes organizamos una noche de juegos = Every month, we organise a games night
- Example: Nos gusta ver películas de terror en casa porque es divertido = We like watching horror films at home because it’s fun.
- Example: Cada mes organizamos una noche de juegos para pasar tiempo juntos = Every month, we organise a games night to spend time together.
- Describing Interests in Relation to Your Personality
- Soy una persona muy activa = I am a very active person
- Me encanta aprender cosas nuevas = I love learning new things
- Me considero una persona creativa = I consider myself a creative person
- Soy una persona sociable = I am a sociable person
- Example: Soy una persona muy activa, por eso me gusta practicar deportes = I am a very active person, that’s why I like practising sports.
- Example: Me considero una persona creativa, así que me gusta pintar = I consider myself a creative person, so I like painting.
Talking About Interests and Preferences – Foundation Tier (with Examples)
- Expressing Likes and Dislikes
- Me gusta = I like
- No me gusta = I don’t like
- Me encanta = I love
- Odio = I hate
- Prefiero = I prefer
- Example: Me gusta mucho escuchar música = I really like listening to music.
- Example: No me gusta nada estudiar = I don’t like studying at all.
- Describing Personal Preferences
- Me gusta más... = I like... more
- Prefiero... = I prefer...
- Example: Me gusta más leer libros que ver la televisión = I like reading books more than watching TV.
- Example: Prefiero el cine de acción a las comedias = I prefer action films to comedies.
Talking About Interests and Preferences – Higher Tier (with Examples)
- Talking About Interests in Detail
- Me apasiona... = I am passionate about...
- Me interesa mucho... = I am really interested in...
- Soy un gran fan de... = I am a big fan of...
- Example: Me apasiona el cine independiente = I am passionate about independent cinema.
- Example: Me interesa mucho la fotografía porque me permite ser creativo = I am really interested in photography because it allows me to be creative.
- Talking About a Range of Interests
- Me gusta tanto... como... = I like both... and...
- Aunque me gusta..., prefiero... = Although I like..., I prefer...
- Example: Me gusta tanto leer libros como ver películas = I like both reading books and watching films.
- Example: Aunque me gusta hacer deporte, prefiero descansar los fines de semana = Although I like doing sport, I prefer to rest at the weekends.
- Expressing Opinions About Activities
- Creo que... = I think that...
- Pienso que... = I think that...
- Me parece que... = It seems to me that...
- Example: Creo que leer es una forma muy interesante de aprender = I think that reading is a very interesting way to learn.
- Example: Me parece que bailar es una actividad divertida = It seems to me that dancing is a fun activity.
Key Vocabulary for Describing Personal Activities and Interests
- Hobbies and Free Time Activities
- Leer = To read
- Nadar = To swim
- Jugar = To play
- Escuchar música = To listen to music
- Ver la televisión = To watch TV
- Ir al cine = To go to the cinema
- Bailar = To dance
- Hacer deporte = To do sport
- Tocar la guitarra = To play the guitar
- Hacer senderismo = To go hiking
- Practicar yoga = To practise yoga
- Describing Preferences and Interests
- Me encanta = I love
- Me gusta mucho = I really like
- Me interesa = I am interested in
- Me apasiona = I am passionate about
- No me gusta = I don’t like
- Prefiero = I prefer
- Odio = I hate
- Me aburre = It bores me