¡Hola de nuevo! We've talked about daily routines and our homes; now let's explore what we do in our free time! This chapter is all about 'Los Pasatiempos' – hobbies and leisure activities. We'll learn the names of many fun things to do, and most importantly, we'll master a very common and essential verb: 'gustar' (to like), and its friends. Get ready to share your passions in Spanish!
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
(Optional Review): Think about what we learned in Chapter 12: ¿Qué quieres? We used 'quiero' (I want). How is saying 'I like' different from 'I want'? (Answer: 'Quiero' expresses a desire for something. 'Gustar' expresses a preference or enjoyment of something, and its structure is very different from regular verbs.)
"Gustar" is a special verb because its structure is "reversed" compared to English. Instead of "I like something," it literally means "Something is pleasing to me."
The thing liked is the subject of "gustar," and the person who likes it is the indirect object.
Therefore, "gustar" usually only takes two forms in the present tense:
You must use an indirect object pronoun before "gustar."
| Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|
| me | (to me) |
| te | (to you - informal singular) |
| le | (to him/her/you - formal singular) |
| nos | (to us) |
| os | (to you - informal plural, Spain) |
| les | (to them/you - formal/informal plural) |
Structure: (A + [person]) + IOP + gusta(n) + [thing/activity liked]
Examples:
Clarifying or Emphasizing: Sometimes, especially with "le" and "les," you can add "a + [person/noun]" at the beginning.
To express dislike, add "no" before the IOP:
Many other verbs follow the same structure as "gustar."
Master hobby vocabulary and "gustar-like" verbs.
Import Chapter 20 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
Instructions: Draw a line to match the Spanish hobby on the left with its English equivalent on the right.
escuchar música ( ) to paint
jugar al fútbol ( ) to go out with friends
viajar ( ) to listen to music
pintar ( ) to travel
salir con amigos ( ) to read
leer ( ) to play soccerAnswer Key:
escuchar música → to listen to music
jugar al fútbol → to play soccer
viajar → to travel
pintar → to paint
salir con amigos → to go out with friends
leer → to readInstructions: Choose the correct form of "gustar" (gusta/gustan) to complete the sentence.
Answer Key:
Instructions: Read the sentence and indicate if the person likes, loves, or finds something interesting/boring.
Answer Key:
Instructions: Write three Spanish sentences about activities or things you like using "me gusta" or "me gustan." (Answers will vary)
(No specific answer key.)
Instructions: Write two Spanish sentences about activities or things you don't like, using "no me gusta" or "no me gustan." (Answers will vary)
(No specific answer key.)
Instructions: Translate the following into Spanish using "encantar," "interesar," "aburrir," or "doler."
Answer Key:
Instructions: In pairs, take turns asking and answering about each other's hobbies and preferences using "¿Qué te gusta hacer?" and "¿Te gusta(n)...?" .
Example:
Student A: ¿Te gusta escuchar música?
Student B: Sí, me encanta escuchar música. ¿Y a ti? Instructions: After asking your partner about their hobbies, present to another pair or the class (if applicable) what your partner likes and dislikes, using the "A (person) le/les gusta(n)..." structure.
Example: Student A: A Ana le gusta leer y no le gustan los deportes.
Instructions: List different categories (e.g., deportes, música, arte, actividades al aire libre). In small groups, brainstorm as many hobbies as possible for each category and then discuss which ones each person likes or dislikes.
Leisure activities in Spanish-speaking cultures often emphasize social interaction and community. Many hobbies are enjoyed in groups, such as playing soccer, dancing, or going for walks in the park.
Music and dance are integral parts of daily life and celebrations across Latin America and Spain. It's common to hear music playing in homes, shops, and public spaces, and dancing is a popular social activity.
Outdoor activities like hiking, going to the beach, or simply strolling in a park (pasear ) are very popular, especially given the diverse climates and beautiful natural landscapes found in many Spanish-speaking countries.
Shared meals are also considered a form of 'pasatiempo' and a fundamental social ritual. Families and friends often spend hours together over lunch or dinner.
Understanding the subtle differences between similar words or phrases related to hobbies and preferences can make your Spanish sound more natural.
Jugar : This verb means "to play" in the context of games, sports, or general recreational play. It implies participation in an activity, often with rules or a score.
Example: Me gusta jugar al fútbol. (I like to play soccer.)
Example: Los niños juegan en el parque. (The children play in the park.)
Example: ¿Quieres jugar a las cartas? (Do you want to play cards?)
Tocar : This verb has several meanings, but specifically for "play," it means "to play an instrument" or "to touch." It is never used for sports or general games.
Example (instrument): Él toca la guitarra muy bien. (He plays the guitar very well.)
Example (touch): Por favor, no toques las flores. (Please, don't touch the flowers.)
Key takeaway: Use "jugar" for sports and games. Use "tocar" exclusively for playing musical instruments.
Ir de compras : This is a fixed phrase that literally means "to go of shopping" or "to go shopping." It refers to the activity of going out to stores with the intention of buying things, or simply to browse. It describes the process or outing of shopping.
Example: Los fines de semana, me gusta ir de compras. (On weekends, I like to go shopping.)
Example: ¿Vamos a ir de compras este sábado? (Shall we go shopping this Saturday?)
Comprar : This is the direct verb "to buy." It refers to the specific action of acquiring an item by paying money for it. It focuses on the transaction of purchasing a single item or a set of items, not necessarily the overall activity of going to stores.
Example: Voy a comprar un libro. (I am going to buy a book.)
Example: ¿Qué vas a comprar en el supermercado? (What are you going to buy at the supermarket?)
Example: Él compró un regalo para su madre. (He bought a gift for his mother.)
Key takeaway: Use "ir de compras" when you mean the activity of going shopping (the outing). Use "comprar" when you mean the specific action of buying something.
El amor : This is a noun and means "love." It refers to the deep, strong emotional feeling of affection and care. It's usually reserved for profound relationships (romantic partners, family members, very close friends) or deep passions for abstract concepts (e.g., amor por la música - love for music). It implies a bond, devotion, or profound appreciation.
Example: Siento mucho amor por mi familia. (I feel a lot of love for my family.)
Example: Él es el amor de mi vida. (He is the love of my life.)
Example: El amor lo puede todo. (Love can do anything.)
Encantar : This is a verb that functions like "gustar" and translates to "to love," "to be enchanted by," or "to delight." It is used to express a very strong liking or enthusiasm for things, activities, places, or even people (but not in the romantic "love" sense). It's the strongest form of "liking" before outright "love." The structure is "Indirect Object Pronoun + encanta(n) + subject."
Example: Me encanta el chocolate. (I love chocolate / Chocolate delights me.) - Here, it means "I love" a thing.
Example: Nos encanta viajar. (We love to travel / Traveling delights us.) - Here, it means "we love" an activity.
Example: A mis hijos les encantan los animales. (My children love animals / Animals delight my children.) - Here, "love" for a general group of things.
Key takeaway:
Let's find out about Carlos's hobbies!
Carlos es un joven muy activo. Le gusta mucho el deporte.
Cada mañana, antes de ir al trabajo, Carlos hace ejercicio en el gimnasio. Los fines de semana, le encanta jugar al baloncesto con sus amigos en el parque. A veces, también juega al fútbol.
A Carlos le gusta la música, pero no le gusta cantar. Él prefiere escuchar música cuando corre.
Por la tarde, después del trabajo, Carlos no ve mucha televisión. A él le aburre la televisión. Él prefiere leer libros o aprender idiomas. Le interesa mucho el francés.
Los domingos, a Carlos le gusta viajar. A veces va a la playa o a la montaña. Le encanta hacer senderismo cuando está en las montañas.
A sus amigos les gusta salir con Carlos. Él es muy divertido. A Carlos le gusta su vida.
Carlos is a very active young man. He likes sports a lot.
Every morning, before going to work, Carlos exercises at the gym. On weekends, he loves to play basketball with his friends in the park. Sometimes, he also plays soccer.
Carlos likes music, but he doesn't like to sing. He prefers to listen to music when he runs.
In the afternoon, after work, Carlos doesn't watch much television. Television bores him. He prefers to read books or learn languages. French interests him a lot.
On Sundays, Carlos likes to travel. Sometimes he goes to the beach or the mountains. He loves to hike when he is in the mountains.
His friends like to go out with Carlos. He is very fun. Carlos likes his life.
Hobbies: el pasatiempo, los pasatiempos, tiempo libre, leer, escuchar música, ver películas, ver la televisión, jugar (al fútbol, al baloncesto, videojuegos), bailar, cantar, dibujar, pintar, cocinar, viajar, hacer ejercicio, ir de compras, salir con amigos, tocar un instrumento (la guitarra, el piano), dormir, escribir, aprender idiomas, ir al cine, ir a conciertos, hacer senderismo, navegar por internet.
Gustar-like verbs: gustar, encantar, interesar, aburrir, doler.
Indirect Object Pronouns: me, te, le, nos, os, les.
Other: mucho, cuando, prefiere, dónde, qué, cómo, los fines de semana, antes de, después de.
Structure and usage of "gustar" and other "gustar-like" verbs; indirect object pronouns.
¡Excelente trabajo learning about hobbies and mastering 'gustar' and its friends! This is a powerful set of verbs for expressing yourself. In our next chapter, 'La Comida y las Bebidas (Part 2)' (Food and Drinks - Part 2), we will expand our vocabulary for food and beverages and learn how to use quantifiers to talk about amounts. Get ready to order and describe your meals in more detail!