Aims
In this lesson you’ll master the formula for what do you like to do (in your spare time)?
Type question.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
What do you like to do when you are on holiday?
What do you like to do when you are not working?
The formula
When the examiner asks you what do you like to do (in your spare time)? Type questions, you must:
Answer order
- Identify a couple of things you like doing.
- Describe why you like them.
Language steps
- Use either enjoy/ like + verb-ing or like + to verb.
I like studying English.
I like to study English.
- Use one or two native speaker ways to say I like.
I’m quite into playing guitar.
I’m really keen on studying English.
- Use some adjectives of positive feeling to show the degrees of your interest.
I like playing football. It’s exciting.
I’m quite into learning new languages. I find it fascinating.
Model Answer
Read the model answer from two IELTS candidates, Alice and David.
Interviewer: what do you like to do in your spare time?
Alice: Well, I have lots of hobbies I like to do in my spare time. I’m very interested in studying English and I’m also quite into movies – sometimes I combine these two interests by watching British or America films. What I particularly enjoy doing, though, is playing football – it’s so exciting!
Interviewer: What do you like to do in the evening?
David: I work really hard during the day so in the evening, I like to relax and unwind. I’m a big fan of hip-hop and rock music, and I like hanging out with friends and watching gigs. I’m also keen on reading novels and short stories. I’m involved in a reading group at my university and every so often we get together and discuss the latest books we’ve read over dinner – it’s so stimulating to talk and hear different views about the books we’ve all read.
Language step 1 Like and Enjoy.
Like and enjoy are two very common verbs that you need to master to do well in your IELTS test.
Like
Notice that David uses like in two different ways to say the same thing.
Like + to verb
I like to relax.
Like + verb-ing
I like hanging out with friends.
Enjoy
Enjoy + verb-ing.
I really enjoy playing tennis.
Hint: After enjoy the verb should take an -ing form.
For example, we can say I enjoy practicing the guitar for a couple of hours every day, not I enjoy practice.
If you or the interviewer has already mentioned an activity, and you continue to discuss that activity, you can refer to that activity as it.
For example:
I really enjoy studying English. It is fun.
In the second sentence, it refers back to studying English. Use it when you are sure that both you and the person you are speaking to are talking about the same thing. Remember, if what you were talking about before was plural, you must say they instead of it.
For example:
I like watching football matches – they are so exciting.
Language step 2 Native speaker ways to say I like.
Let’s look at the structures for these native speaker ways to say you like something:
I’m quite into + activity/ hobby.
I’m quite into playing tennis – I get very excited about it.
I’m a big fan of + activity/ hobby.
I’m a big fan of guitar music – I often go to concerts.
I’m keen on + activity/ hobby.
I’m really keen on going to eat in Thai Restaurants. I love Thai food.
I’m interested in + activity/ hobby.
I’m very interested in law; I’m always readying about the latest laws and legal cases.
Hint: Be careful to use correct prepositions in idiomatic expressions. For example: quite into, a fan of, keen on, interested in.
Language step 3 Adjectives of Positive feeling.
To explain why you like doing something, you should use adjectives of positive feeling. It is often difficult for non-native speaker to use them correctly, and candidates frequently lose marks in the IELTS test because of this type of mistake.
Adjective of positive feeling come from stative verbs such as satisfy, bore and excite.
There are two ways to turn this type of verb into adjectives of positive feeling.
Use be + verb -ed when talking about the person who is experiencing the emotion:
He is bored when he has nothing to do.
She is fascinated by music.
They are interested in playing football.
I am satisfied with my lessons.
The boy is excited when I give him food.
Use be + verb-ing when talking about the thing that is causing the emotion:
Football is boring.
Music is fascinating.
Studying English is interesting.
Seeing a concert is exciting.
Eating a big dinner is satisfying.
Source: 31 High-scoring Formulas to Answer the IELTS Speaking Questions
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