CEFR A2

    Sports and Activities

    Learn essential vocabulary for popular sports and leisure activities including football, basketball, swimming, and tennis.

    Learning Objectives

    Learn comprehensive vocabulary for sports, physical activities, and leisure pursuits.
    Master how to describe your favorite activities using correct verbs (play, go, do) and frequency expressions.
    Practice essential phrases for talking about hobbies, making plans for activities, and discussing sports.
    Build confidence discussing your interests, exercise routines, and leisure activities in English conversations!

    Sports and Activities

    Learning vocabulary for sports and leisure activities helps you talk about hobbies, exercise, and free time activities. This essential vocabulary allows you to discuss what you like to do for fun and stay healthy. Mastering sports and activities vocabulary will enable you to describe your interests, make plans with friends, and understand conversations about leisure time and physical fitness in English.

    📖 A Sporty Weekend

    On Saturday morning, Tom goes running in the park near his house.

    After lunch, he plays football with his friends at the local sports club.

    His sister Emma does yoga at home and then goes swimming at the pool.

    In the evening, the whole family watches a tennis match on TV together.

    By learning sports and activities vocabulary, you can talk about your hobbies, make plans with friends, and describe your active lifestyle in English!

    Common Sports Vocabulary

    Team Sports

    Sports played in teams with multiple players working together.

    • Football (soccer) is popular worldwide.
    • Basketball is played with a ball and hoop.
    • Volleyball can be played on the beach or indoors.
    • Rugby is a physical contact sport.
    • Hockey can be played on ice or field.
    • Baseball is popular in North America and Japan.

    Individual Sports

    Sports and activities typically done alone or one-on-one.

    • Swimming is great for overall fitness.
    • Running requires only good shoes.
    • Cycling can be done outdoors or indoors.
    • Tennis can be played individually or in pairs.
    • Golf is played on a large outdoor course.
    • Skiing is popular in mountainous regions.
    • Gymnastics requires strength and flexibility.

    Water Sports

    Activities that take place in or on water.

    • Surfing is popular in coastal areas.
    • Sailing uses wind to power boats.
    • Diving can be recreational or competitive.
    • Kayaking is great for rivers and lakes.
    • Rowing is both a sport and exercise.

    Want to try a Sports and Activities quiz?

    Practice with multiple choice questions

    Action Verbs for Sports

    Using 'Play' with Sports

    Use 'play' with team sports, games, and competitive activities.

    • I play football every Saturday with friends.
    • She plays basketball for her school team.
    • They play tennis at the local club.
    • We play volleyball on the beach in summer.

    Using 'Go' with Activities

    Use 'go' with activities ending in -ing and recreational pursuits.

    • She goes swimming three times a week.
    • I go running every morning before work.
    • They go cycling in the countryside.
    • We go skiing every winter.

    Using 'Do' with Individual Activities

    Use 'do' with individual activities, exercises, and martial arts.

    • They do yoga in the morning for relaxation.
    • I do aerobics at the gym.
    • He does martial arts for self-defense.
    • She does gymnastics twice a week.

    Practice and Training Verbs

    Verbs for improving skills and preparing for competitions.

    • He practices tennis after school.
    • The team trains every day for the championship.
    • I exercise at the gym to stay healthy.
    • She works out with a personal trainer.

    Sports Equipment

    Ball Sports Equipment

    Equipment needed for sports played with balls.

    • You need a ball for most ball sports.
    • Baseball uses a bat to hit the ball.
    • Tennis requires a racket and net.
    • Basketball shoots the ball through a hoop.
    • Football scores goals in a net.

    Swimming and Water Sports Gear

    Equipment for water-based activities and swimming.

    • Swimming pools are needed for most swimming.
    • Goggles protect your eyes underwater.
    • A swimming cap keeps hair dry.
    • Swimsuit is essential for swimming.
    • Always bring a towel to dry off.

    Cycling and Outdoor Gear

    Equipment for cycling and outdoor activities.

    • A bicycle is necessary for cycling.
    • Always wear a helmet for safety.
    • Bike shorts provide comfort for long rides.
    • Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.

    General Sports Clothing

    Clothing and footwear for various sports activities.

    • Sneakers or sports shoes are essential.
    • Tracksuit for warm-up and comfort.
    • Shorts allow freedom of movement.
    • T-shirt is standard for most sports.

    Ready to test your Sports and Activities knowledge?

    Challenge yourself with fill-in-the-blank exercises

    Useful Phrases for Sports and Activities

    Asking About Interests

    • Are you into sports?
    • What's your favourite sport?
    • Do you play any sports?
    • What do you do for exercise?

    Talking About Participation

    • I'm on the team.
    • I play for my local club.
    • She's a member of the gym.
    • We practice twice a week.

    Making Plans and Invitations

    • Let's work out together.
    • Would you like to play tennis?
    • Do you want to go swimming?
    • How about going for a run?

    Describing Ability and Results

    • I'm not very good at...
    • She's really fit.
    • We won/lost the game.
    • He's an excellent player.

    Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ Wrong: I play running every morning.

    ✓ Correct: I go running every morning. (use 'go' with -ing activities)

    ❌ Wrong: I do tennis with my friends.

    ✓ Correct: I play tennis with my friends. (use 'play' with sports and games)

    ❌ Wrong: She goes yoga at the studio.

    ✓ Correct: She does yoga at the studio. (use 'do' with individual activities)

    ❌ Wrong: I'm playing basketball every weekend.

    ✓ Correct: I play basketball every weekend. (use simple present for routines)

    ❌ Wrong: Let's make sport together.

    ✓ Correct: Let's play sports together. (use 'play' with sports)

    Master Sports and Activities sentence building!

    Drag and drop words to form correct sentences

    Learning Tips

    Watch sports in English on TV or online to hear vocabulary used in real contexts
    Learn which verb to use: "play" + sport/game, "go" + -ing activity, "do" + individual activity
    Practice describing your own sports and hobbies to make the vocabulary personal and memorable
    Group vocabulary by categories (team sports, equipment, verbs) to organize your learning
    Use frequency expressions (every day, twice a week, on weekends) to make sentences more natural
    Record yourself describing your favorite activities and listen for areas to improve
    Practice with a partner by asking and answering questions about sports and hobbies
    Create flashcards with pictures of sports equipment and their English names

    Speaking Practice

    To practice your pronunciation, listen to the native speaker audio first. Then 'Record' yourself repeating what you heard, then use the 'Playback' button to compare your pronunciation with the native speaker. If you want to record yourself again, simply click 'Delete'!

    ✓ My favourite sport is basketball. I play it with my friends on weekends.

    ✓ She goes running every morning before work to stay fit.

    ✓ Would you like to play tennis with me this afternoon?

    ✓ I can swim very well, but I can't play golf.

    ✓ Our soccer team practices twice a week and plays games on Saturdays.

    Your exercises are loading!

    Your exercises are loading!

    Your exercises are loading!


    Continue Your Learning Journey

    Keep building your English skills with these carefully selected next steps


    Help Other People Just Like You Improve Their English!

    Share Free Daily English With Them Today!