Unit 10 (Hobbies)
English 3AC Unit 10 (Hobbies) helps you talk about pastimes and make a weekend plan. You use am, is or are going to followed by a base verb: I am going to draw on Saturday. Practise positive statements, negatives and questions so you can explain an intention clearly.
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By the end of this lesson, you can
- Name familiar hobbies.
- Express a preference with like/enjoy + ing.
- Describe a plan with be going to.
- Make a going to negative and question.
- Read a weekend planner.
- Write a realistic hobby plan.
Before you startChoose am/is/are and make be negative. · Distinguish a routine from a current action.
Un bon cours, ça se partage.
Communication: what do you enjoy doing?
A hobby is an activity you choose in your free time. Drawing, reading, gardening, collecting stamps and playing chess are examples. Different preferences can all be valid; an expensive hobby is not needed for a good English paragraph.
Two brothers plan their weekend
Sami: What do you enjoy doing? Adam: I enjoy drawing. On Saturday, I am going to draw a garden. Sami: Are you going to play chess on Sunday? Adam: Yes, I am. I am going to play with my brother.
Vocabulary: pastimes and preference patterns
| Activity | Preference | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| draw pictures | I enjoy drawing. | I am going to draw. |
| play chess | I like playing chess. | I am going to play chess. |
| read stories | I enjoy reading stories. | I am going to read. |
| collect stamps | I like collecting stamps. | I am going to sort my stamps. |
Enjoy is followed by a noun or an ing form: enjoy chess, enjoy playing chess. Like can also take an ing form for a general preference. Compare these with a future plan: I like drawing explains an interest; I am going to draw explains an intention.
Grammar: be going to for a future plan
Definition
Be going to : Use am/is/are + going to + base verb to express a future intention: I am going to draw. He is going to read. They are going to play chess.
| Subject | Plan | Negative plan |
|---|---|---|
| I | I am going to draw. | I am not going to draw. |
| He / She / It | He is going to draw. | He isn't going to draw. |
| You / We / They | They are going to draw. | They aren't going to draw. |
The word going in this pattern does not necessarily mean travelling somewhere. I am going to read at home is a reading plan. The action after to remains a base verb. A time phrase such as tomorrow, on Saturday or next week makes the plan easier to understand.
Remember
Do not write He going to draw, because be is missing. Do not write He is going to drawing or He is going to draws, because a base verb must follow to in this construction.
Grammar: questions about a plan
| Question | Short reply | Information reply |
|---|---|---|
| Are you going to draw? | Yes, I am. | I am going to draw a garden. |
| Is Adam going to read? | No, he isn't. | He is going to play chess. |
| What are they going to do? | Not a yes/no question | They are going to collect leaves. |
Move be before the subject for a question. What are you going to do? asks for an activity. When are you going to draw? asks for a time. Answer the requested kind of information; a time phrase alone does not answer a what question.
Step by step
Turn an interest into a weekend plan
- Choose a hobby you can describe in simple language.
- Select a realistic day and optional place.
- Choose am/is/are, then write going to + base verb.
- Add one detail about the activity and check the sentence.
From an interest to a plan
Interest: I enjoy reading. Plan: I am going to read a short story on Sunday.
- Reading follows enjoy. Read follows going to. The two endings serve different constructions.
Study skills: a planner that you can use
| Day | Activity | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Draw a garden | At home |
| Sunday | Play chess with a brother | At home |
Do not fill every hour simply to make the paragraph long. Two clear plans are enough to check your grammar. Use a small tick box beside each intention. A plan is not proof that an action has already happened or will definitely happen.
Skills work: reading Adam’s weekend note
I enjoy drawing and playing chess. On Saturday morning, I am going to draw a garden at home. I am going to use green and brown pencils. On Sunday afternoon, I am going to play chess with my brother Sami. We are not going to enter a competition this weekend. I am going to put the finished drawing in my class folder.
The note names two interests and several intentions. Saturday belongs to drawing; Sunday belongs to chess. A competition is explicitly excluded. The finished drawing is planned for a class folder, not an exhibition mentioned elsewhere.
Skills work: listening and writing an intention
A partner reads twice: “On Saturday I am going to draw. On Sunday I am going to play chess. I am not going to enter a competition.” Put the plans beside their days and record the excluded activity. Write your own 50-word plan with an interest, two intentions and one negative.
Review: base verb or ing?
- Use drawing after enjoy but draw after going to.
- Ask when a hobby plan is scheduled.
- Answer a going to question with be.
- Distinguish an intention from a completed event.
Frequently asked questions
What is the grammar focus of English 3AC Unit 10 Hobbies?
How do I form be going to?
How do I ask about a future hobby plan?
Why is going to drawing incorrect?
How do I write a short hobbies paragraph for 3AC?
Quiz: 18 questions
18 questions are randomly selected from this lesson’s 18-question bank. Choose one answer for each question and get an immediate explanation.
Q1What is a hobby in this lesson?
Incorrect answer
Hobbies are chosen interests; they need not be expensive.
Correct answer: An activity chosen in free time
Hobbies are chosen interests; they need not be expensive.
Q2Complete: I enjoy … pictures.
Incorrect answer
Enjoy takes an ing form when followed by this activity.
Correct answer: drawing
Enjoy takes an ing form when followed by this activity.
Q3Complete: Adam … going to read.
Incorrect answer
The singular name Adam requires is in the going to construction.
Correct answer: is
The singular name Adam requires is in the going to construction.
Q4Complete: We … going to play chess.
Incorrect answer
We takes are before going to.
Correct answer: are
We takes are before going to.
Q5Complete: He is going to … a garden.
Incorrect answer
The construction going to is followed by a base verb.
Correct answer: draw
The construction going to is followed by a base verb.
Q6Choose a complete future intention.
Incorrect answer
The plan needs be and a base verb after going to.
Correct answer: I am going to read tomorrow.
The plan needs be and a base verb after going to.
Q7Choose a negative future intention.
Incorrect answer
A going to negative places not after be.
Correct answer: He isn't going to compete.
A going to negative places not after be.
Q8Choose a question about a hobby plan.
Incorrect answer
Move are before you and retain the base verb draw.
Correct answer: Are you going to draw?
Move are before you and retain the base verb draw.
Q9Answer Is Adam going to read? negatively.
Incorrect answer
The reply repeats singular be from the question.
Correct answer: No, he isn't.
The reply repeats singular be from the question.
Q10Which question asks for the planned activity?
Incorrect answer
What are you going to do? requests the activity itself.
Correct answer: What are you going to do?
What are you going to do? requests the activity itself.
Q11Which question asks for the planned time?
Incorrect answer
When requests a time or day.
Correct answer: When are you going to draw?
When requests a time or day.
Q12Does going to always mean travelling?
Incorrect answer
I am going to read at home expresses an intention without travel.
Correct answer: No; it can introduce an intention.
I am going to read at home expresses an intention without travel.
Q13When is Adam planning to draw in the reading?
Incorrect answer
The note schedules drawing for Saturday morning.
Correct answer: Saturday morning
The note schedules drawing for Saturday morning.
Q14Who is Adam planning to play chess with?
Incorrect answer
Sami is named as his brother and chess partner.
Correct answer: His brother Sami
Sami is named as his brother and chess partner.
Q15Which activity is excluded from Adam’s weekend?
Incorrect answer
The negative sentence excludes entering a competition.
Correct answer: Entering a competition
The negative sentence excludes entering a competition.
Q16Where is the finished drawing intended to go?
Incorrect answer
Adam plans to put it in his class folder.
Correct answer: In a class folder
Adam plans to put it in his class folder.
Q17Does an intention prove completion?
Incorrect answer
Planning an event does not establish that it has happened.
Correct answer: No; it states a plan.
Planning an event does not establish that it has happened.
Q18Choose the two correctly paired forms.
Incorrect answer
Enjoy takes ing here, while going to takes a base verb.
Correct answer: enjoy drawing / going to draw
Enjoy takes ing here, while going to takes a base verb.
Your score
0/18
Start with the worked examples
Read the lesson in small sections. Write your own example for each rule and try the Easy exercises before returning to the quiz.
Review: 18 missed questions
What is a hobby in this lesson?
Correct answerAn activity chosen in free time
Hobbies are chosen interests; they need not be expensive.
Complete: I enjoy … pictures.
Correct answerdrawing
Enjoy takes an ing form when followed by this activity.
Complete: Adam … going to read.
Correct answeris
The singular name Adam requires is in the going to construction.
Complete: We … going to play chess.
Correct answerare
We takes are before going to.
Complete: He is going to … a garden.
Correct answerdraw
The construction going to is followed by a base verb.
Choose a complete future intention.
Correct answerI am going to read tomorrow.
The plan needs be and a base verb after going to.
Choose a negative future intention.
Correct answerHe isn't going to compete.
A going to negative places not after be.
Choose a question about a hobby plan.
Correct answerAre you going to draw?
Move are before you and retain the base verb draw.
Answer Is Adam going to read? negatively.
Correct answerNo, he isn't.
The reply repeats singular be from the question.
Which question asks for the planned activity?
Correct answerWhat are you going to do?
What are you going to do? requests the activity itself.
Which question asks for the planned time?
Correct answerWhen are you going to draw?
When requests a time or day.
Does going to always mean travelling?
Correct answerNo; it can introduce an intention.
I am going to read at home expresses an intention without travel.
When is Adam planning to draw in the reading?
Correct answerSaturday morning
The note schedules drawing for Saturday morning.
Who is Adam planning to play chess with?
Correct answerHis brother Sami
Sami is named as his brother and chess partner.
Which activity is excluded from Adam’s weekend?
Correct answerEntering a competition
The negative sentence excludes entering a competition.
Where is the finished drawing intended to go?
Correct answerIn a class folder
Adam plans to put it in his class folder.
Does an intention prove completion?
Correct answerNo; it states a plan.
Planning an event does not establish that it has happened.
Choose the two correctly paired forms.
Correct answerenjoy drawing / going to draw
Enjoy takes ing here, while going to takes a base verb.
Exercises with answers
12 exercises, from easy practice to challenges. Try each one yourself, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Exercise 1
EasyName a hobby for making pictures, reading stories and using a board with chess pieces.
Answer and explanation
Drawing, reading and playing chess. These activities can be described as interests or future plans.
Exercise 2
EasyComplete: I … going to draw. He … going to read. They … going to play chess.
Answer and explanation
I am going to draw. He is going to read. They are going to play chess. The subject determines be.
Exercise 3
EasyChoose draw/drawing and plays/play: I am going to … . He is going to … chess.
Answer and explanation
I am going to draw. He is going to play chess. A base verb follows going to regardless of the subject.
Exercise 4
EasyMake negative: Adam is going to enter a competition. We are going to draw.
Answer and explanation
Adam isn't going to enter a competition. We aren't going to draw. Negation belongs to be.
Exercise 5
IntermediateTurn into questions: Sami is going to read. You are going to draw.
Answer and explanation
Is Sami going to read? Are you going to draw? Move be before the subject and retain going to + base verb.
Exercise 6
IntermediateChoose What or When: … are you going to do? … are you going to draw? The required answers are an activity and a time.
Answer and explanation
What are you going to do? When are you going to draw? What asks for the activity; when asks for the time.
Exercise 7
IntermediateComplete with drawing or draw: I enjoy … . I am going to … on Saturday.
Answer and explanation
I enjoy drawing. I am going to draw on Saturday. Enjoy takes the ing form here; the plan takes a base verb.
Exercise 8
IntermediateWhen is Adam going to draw? Who is he going to play chess with? Is he going to enter a competition?
Answer and explanation
Saturday morning; his brother Sami; no. The note places chess on Sunday afternoon and explicitly excludes a competition.
Exercise 9
IntermediateYou intend to draw. Answer Are you going to draw? positively, then add the time Saturday.
Answer and explanation
Yes, I am. I am going to draw on Saturday. Repeat be in the short reply and give the time in a complete second sentence.
Exercise 10
ChallengeCorrect: He going to drawing. They is going to plays chess. I enjoy draw.
Answer and explanation
He is going to draw. They are going to play chess. I enjoy drawing. Restore be, correct agreement and choose the verb form required by each construction.
Exercise 11
ChallengeHave a partner read the listening script. Record Saturday, Sunday and the excluded activity.
Answer and explanation
Saturday: draw. Sunday: play chess. Excluded: enter a competition. The negative is part of the plan and must not become a positive activity.
Exercise 12
ChallengeWrite 50–70 words, including one interest, two future plans, a negative and a time phrase for each main activity.
Answer and explanation
Model: I enjoy reading and drawing. On Saturday morning, I am going to read a short story at home. In the afternoon, I am going to draw its main setting. On Sunday, I am going to sort my pencils and put the picture in my class folder. I am not going to enter a competition this weekend.
Check be agreement and base verbs after going to. Different modest hobbies and invented plans are valid.