Italian · Beginner (A1) · Chapter 11 of 12
Hobbies and free time
Il tempo libero
Talk about sports and hobbies in Italian, say how often you do things, use potere, volere and dovere, and invite a friend out.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Talk about sports and free time
- Say how often you do something
- Say what you can, want and have to do
- Invite someone and answer an invitation
Listen
In Bari, Alessandro calls his friend Chiara. He wants to invite her to play tennis. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Alessandro
Chiara, giochi a tennis?
Chiara, do you play tennis?
Chiara
Sì, ogni tanto. Perché?
Yes, now and then. Why?
Alessandro
Sabato gioco con Marco. Puoi venire anche tu?
I'm playing with Marco on Saturday. Can you come too?
Chiara
Sabato mattina non posso, lavoro. Ma il pomeriggio sono libera.
I can't on Saturday morning, I'm working. But I'm free in the afternoon.
Alessandro
Allora possiamo giocare alle quattro. Ti va?
Then we can play at four. Do you fancy it?
Chiara
Volentieri. Dove giocate?
I'd love to. Where do you play?
Alessandro
Di solito giochiamo al parco, vicino alla stazione.
We usually play in the park, near the station.
Chiara
Perfetto. E dopo un gelato?
Perfect. And an ice cream afterwards?
Alessandro
Certo. A sabato!
Of course. See you on Saturday.
Understand
Can, want, must: potere, volere, dovere
(can), (to want) and (must, to have to) are all irregular. Put a verb in the infinitive after them: (Can you come?), (I want to play tennis), (I have to work).
(I can't) is a simple, polite way to say no. can sound too direct when you ask for something: in shops, say (chapter 8). For skills you have learned, like swimming, Italian uses a different verb, : (I can swim).
| Person | (can) | (to want) | (must) |
|---|---|---|---|
| / / | |||
How often?
These words say how often you do something. They usually go after the verb, but and can also start the sentence.
(never) needs before the verb: (I never play football).
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| always | |
| usually | |
| often | |
| now and then | |
| … | never |
- Di solito ceno alle otto.I usually have dinner at eight.
- Gioco spesso a tennis.I often play tennis.
- Non dormo mai il pomeriggio.I never sleep in the afternoon.
Inviting and answering
To invite a friend, + a verb is friendly and very common. On its own, means “Do you fancy it?” Say yes with (I'd love to) or (Sure). To say no nicely, say and give a reason. To say who you do something with, use (with): (I'm playing with Marco).
(to come) is irregular too: (Are you coming too?)
| Person | (to come) |
|---|---|
| / / | |
- Ti va di giocare a tennis?Do you fancy playing tennis?
- Puoi venire sabato?Can you come on Saturday?
- Volentieri.I'd love to.
- Mi dispiace, non posso.I'm sorry, I can't.
More in the grammar: Questions and negation
New words
- il tempo liberofree time · masculine
- giocare a…to play (a sport or game) · , (football); : the h keeps the g hard
- ogni tantonow and then
- perchéwhy; because
- venireto come
- la mattinamorning · feminine; = on Saturday morning
- posso / puoiI can / you can
- liberofree · feminine:
- Ti va?Do you fancy it? / Are you up for it?
- volentierigladly, I'd love to
- di solitousually
- il parcopark · masculine
- dopoafterwards, after
- il gelatoice cream · masculine
Practise
1.A friend invites you out, but you're working. What do you say?
2.Complete with the right form of .
Can you come too?
3.Say “I never play football”.
I never play football.
4.Put the words in order to invite a friend.
Tap the words below in the right order.Do you fancy playing tennis?
5.Chiara works on Saturday morning. Complete: Sabato mattina non può giocare, ___ lavorare.
6.Match the Italian with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Ti va di giocare a tennis sabato?
Do you fancy playing tennis on Saturday?
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.