Portuguese · Beginner (A1) · Chapter 11 of 12
Hobbies and free time
Lazer e tempo livre
Talk about sports and free time in Portuguese, say how often you do things, say what you can do, and invite, accept and decline.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Talk about sports and hobbies with jogar and fazer
- Say how often you do something
- Say what you can and can't do with poder and saber
- Invite someone, accept and decline
Listen
Rodrigo and Patrícia are colleagues in Natal. On Thursday, Rodrigo asks Patrícia about beach volleyball. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Rodrigo
Patrícia, você joga vôlei?
Patrícia, do you play volleyball?
Patrícia
Às vezes, no fim de semana. Mas eu não jogo muito bem.
Sometimes, at the weekend. But I don't play very well.
Rodrigo
Não tem problema. Eu jogo na praia todo sábado de manhã. Você topa jogar comigo?
That's no problem. I play on the beach every Saturday morning. Do you fancy playing with me?
Patrícia
Topo. A que horas?
I'm in. What time?
Rodrigo
Às oito, na praia de Ponta Negra.
At eight, on Ponta Negra beach.
Patrícia
Combinado. E no domingo, vamos andar de bicicleta?
It's a deal. And on Sunday, shall we go cycling?
Rodrigo
Que pena, no domingo não posso. Vou almoçar com a minha avó.
What a shame, I can't on Sunday. I'm going to have lunch with my grandmother.
Patrícia
Tá bom. Então até sábado.
OK. See you on Saturday, then.
Understand
Poder and saber: can
English “can” has two translations. + a verb means you are able or free to do something: (I can't on Sunday). (to know) + a verb means you know how to do it, a skill: (I can swim).
(to play) is used for sports and games, with no or : , . For other activities there is often a verb of its own: (to run), (to swim), (to ride a bike).
| Person | (can, be able to) | (to know, know how to) |
|---|---|---|
| / / | ||
| / / |
- Você sabe nadar?Can you swim?
- Hoje eu não posso jogar.I can't play today.
How often
(always) and (never) usually go just before the verb: (I always run in the morning). (sometimes) can go at the start or the end: or .
Longer expressions usually go at the start or the end of the sentence: (every Saturday), (every day), (twice a week), (at the weekend).
- Eu nunca jogo futebol.I never play football.
- Ela corre duas vezes por semana.She runs twice a week.
- Todo sábado eu jogo vôlei na praia.Every Saturday I play volleyball on the beach.
Inviting, accepting and declining
To invite someone, say …? (Do you want to…?), …? (Shall we…?) or, informally, …? (Are you up for…?). means “to be up for something”; answer (I'm in).
To say no politely, say (I can't) and give a reason. means “what a shame”.
| Invite | Accept | Decline |
|---|---|---|
| / |
Fazer: to do, to make
means “to do” or “to make”. It's irregular in the form, , and in the / / form, . Use it to ask about free time: (What do you do at the weekend?) The answer usually has another verb:
Some activities use + a noun: (to work out), , (to have a party, chapter 9).
| Person | (to do, to make) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| / / | ||
| / / |
More in the grammar: Present tense of irregular verbs
New words
- jogar vôlei / futebolto play volleyball / football
- às vezessometimes
- o fim de semanaweekend · masculine; = at the weekend
- masbut
- a praiabeach · feminine
- toparto be up for (something) · informal; = Are you up for it?
- comigowith me
- andar de bicicletato ride a bike, to go cycling
- que penawhat a shame
- podercan, to be able to · ,
- saberto know; can (a skill) · = I can swim
- nadar / correrto swim / to run
- semprealways
- nuncanever
Practise
1.“Can you swim?” (Do you know how to swim?) Which verb do you use?
2.Decline an invitation: “I can't on Sunday.”
I can't on Sunday.
3.Complete: “I play football”. Use .
I play football.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I never go running at the weekend.
5.A friend asks You can't go. What do you answer?
6.Match the Portuguese with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Você topa jogar vôlei no sábado?
Are you up for playing volleyball 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.