In my free time

In my free time
This material contains samples of short stories about free time, with Russian translation of words and phrases. Related words and phrases can be found in the material Typical Day in the section Vocabulary.

This material is intended as help for parents and their children studying English. The material can also be useful for other learners of English. Stories are given in two variants. Variant (1) is for beginning learners; variant (2) is for intermediate learners. Write stories about your free time using the stories below as examples.

How I spend my free time (1)

I don't have much free time on school days. When I have some free time on weekdays, I read a book or go for a walk.

I have free time on Saturday and Sunday. There are many things that I like to do in my free time.

I play computer games, watch films, read books, and listen to music. I often go bicycling with my friends.

I like excursions, picnics, and parties. And I often visit my grandmother on weekends.

How I spend my free time (2)

I don't have much free time on school days. I have additional English classes twice a week, and I go to the swimming pool three times a week after school.

On weekdays, I have some free time before sleep after I finish my homework. I usually read a book before sleep or go for a walk with my father.

I have free time on Saturday and Sunday. There are many things that I like to do in my free time.

I play computer games, watch films, read books, and listen to music. I roller-skate in the park and go for a bicycle ride with my friends.

I like excursions, picnics, and parties. And I often visit my grandmother on weekends.

Unfortunately, I don't have enough time for everything that I would like to do. I wish I had more free time.

How I spend my free time: Words and phrases

how I spend my free time – как я провожу своё свободное время;

to have free time – иметь свободное время; not to have much free time – не иметь много свободного времени / иметь мало свободного времени;

some free time – немного свободного времени; in my free time – в моё свободное время;

on school days – в школьные дни (т.е. в дни, когда нужно ходить в школу); on weekdays – в будние дни;

on Saturday and Sunday – в субботу и воскресенье; at weekends (BrE), on weekends (AmE) – по выходным (т.е. в выходные в конце недели);

twice a week – дважды в неделю; three times a week – три раза в неделю; after school – после школы; before sleep – перед сном; after I finish my homework – после того, как я закончу домашнюю работу;

there are many things that I like to do – есть много вещей, которые мне нравится делать; I don't have enough time for everything that I would like to do – мне не хватает времени для всего того, что я хотел(а) бы делать;

to go for a walk – ходить на прогулку; to play computer games – играть в компьютерные игры; to watch films – смотреть фильмы; to read books – читать книги; to listen to music – слушать музыку;

to go bicycling – кататься на велосипеде; to go for a bicycle ride – пойти покататься на велосипеде; to roller-skate – кататься на роликах; to go to the swimming pool – ходить в плавательный бассейн;

excursions, picnics, parties – экскурсии, пикники, вечеринки; additional English classes – дополнительные занятия по английскому языку;

Unfortunately – к сожалению, к несчастью; I wish I had more free time – хотелось бы, чтобы у меня было больше свободного времени.

A weekend in the country (1)

My grandmother and grandfather live in a village not far from my hometown.
Their village is between the woods and a large lake. It is a very beautiful place.

My brother and I visit our grandparents very often. We spent last weekend at their place too.

We went to the woods, swam in the lake, played in the yard, and went bicycling with our friends.

And we helped to feed the chickens, to water the plants, and to gather strawberries.

A weekend in the country (2)

My grandmother and grandfather live in a small village about eighty kilometres from my hometown.

Their village is in a beautiful place between the woods and a large lake, and there is a large open field to the south of the village.

I visit my grandparents on weekends and holidays. And I spend part of my summer and winter holidays at their place.

There is so much to do there! We gather berries and mushrooms in the woods, swim in the lake in summer and ski in the field in winter.

In the morning, I help my grandmother to feed the chickens, to gather fresh eggs, and to water the plants in the garden.

In the afternoon, if the weather is good, I go bicycling with my friends. If the weather is not so good, I draw pictures or read a book.

In the evening after supper I go for a walk with my grandfather. He tells me a story while we walk, or we just talk.

A weekend in the country: Words and phrases

grandmother and grandfather – бабушка и дедушка; grandparents – бабушка и дедушка;

in the country – за городом (в деревне, в сельской местности); to live in a village – жить в деревне;

not far from my hometown – недалеко от моего (родного) города; about eighty kilometres (AmE kilometers) – около 80 километров;

between the woods and a large lake – между лесом и большим озером; an open field to the south of the village – открытое поле к югу от деревни;

to spend time (holidays, weekends, summer) at some place – проводить время (праздники, выходные, лето) в каком-то месте; we spent last weekend at their place – мы провели прошлые выходные у них (в их доме);

on weekends and holidays – в выходные и праздники; part of my summer and winter holidays – часть моих летних и зимних каникул;

in summer, in winter, in spring, in autumn – летом, зимой, весной, осенью; in the morning, in the evening – утром, вечером; in the afternoon – днём / во второй половине дня / после полудня; after supper – после ужина;

there is so much to do there – там есть так много, чем можно заниматься / там так много можно делать;

to go to the woods – ходить в лес; to swim in the lake – плавать в озере; to play in the yard – играть во дворе; to ski in the field – кататься на лыжах в поле; to draw pictures – рисовать картинки;

to feed the chickens – кормить кур; to gather fresh eggs – собирать свежие яйца; to water the plants – поливать растения; to gather strawberries – собирать клубнику; to gather mushrooms and berries – собрать грибы и ягоды;

if the weather is good – если погода хорошая; if the weather is not so good – если погода не очень хорошая;

he tells me a story while we walk – он рассказывает мне историю, когда мы гуляем; or we just talk – или мы просто разговариваем.

At the zoo (1)

I like animals. I have many books with pictures of animals and birds. Last Sunday my mother and I went to the zoo.

First we went to the pond to feed the ducks. We threw pieces of bread into the water and watched how the ducks ate them.

My favourite animals are elephants, giraffes, kangaroos, and zebras. Giraffes and zebras live in Africa, and kangaroos live in Australia.

I like to watch the monkeys. They are so funny! They jump and run and play all the time. Monkeys eat bananas, apples and other fruit.

At the zoo (2)

My brother Max is four years old. He loves animals. He likes to look at the pictures of animals in books, to watch films about animals, and to go to the zoo.

There is a large zoo not far from Aunt Maria's house, and she usually goes to the zoo with us when we stay at her place on weekends.

First we go to the small pond where the ducks live. Max always wants to feed the ducks. He throws pieces of bread into the water, and the ducks come very quickly.

Some of the ducks come out of the water to eat breadcrumbs that Max has dropped on the grass. Max is especially delighted when he sees a duck followed by her ducklings.

Then we go to see Max's favourite animals – antelopes, camels, zebras, elephants, giraffes, and kangaroos. And the monkeys, of course.

Everywhere Max asks two kinds of questions: What do monkeys eat? Where do monkeys live? What do camels eat? Where do camels live?

I think he already knows the answers by heart, but he asks anyway and expects me to tell him again that monkeys eat bananas, apples and other fruit, and that giraffes live in Africa.

Sometimes we go to see lions and tigers, but not very often, because Max is afraid of them, especially when he hears the roar of the lions.

At night before sleep Max looks at the pictures of animals and tells us what they eat and where they live.

At the zoo: Words and phrases

last Sunday – в прошлое воскресенье; my mother and I went to the zoo – моя мама и я ходили в зоопарк;

my brother is four years old – моему брату четыре года; he loves animals – он очень любит животных;

to look at the pictures of animals in books – смотреть на картинки животных в книжках; to watch films about animals – смотреть фильмы о животных; to go to the zoo – ходить в зоопарк;

not far from Aunt Maria's house – недалеко от дома тёти Марии; when we stay at her place on weekends – когда мы гостим у неё по выходным;

first – сначала; pond – пруд; where the ducks live – где живут утки; to feed the ducks – кормить уток; to throw pieces of bread into the water – бросать кусочки хлеба в воду; we watched how the ducks ate them – мы наблюдали, как утки ели их;

the ducks come very quickly – утки приходят очень быстро; some of the ducks – некоторые из уток; to come out of the water – выходить из воды; to eat breadcrumbs that Max has dropped on the grass – есть крошки хлеба, которые Макс уронил на траву;

Max is especially delighted when he sees a duck followed by her ducklings – Макс особенно радуется, когда он видит утку, за которой следуют её утята;

his favourite (AmE favorite) animals – его любимые животные; antelope, camel, zebra, elephant, giraffe, kangaroo – антилопа, верблюд, зебра, слон, жираф, кенгуру;

of course – конечно; to watch the monkeys – наблюдать за обезьянами; they are so funny – они такие смешные; to jump, run and play – прыгать, бегать и играть; all the time – всё время;

monkeys eat bananas, apples and other fruit – обезьяны едят бананы, яблоки и другие фрукты;

everywhere – везде; to ask two kinds of questions – задавать два вида вопросов; What do monkeys eat? Where do giraffes live? – Что едят обезьяны? Где живут жирафы?

I think he already knows the answers by heart – я думаю, он уже знает ответы наизусть; but he asks anyway – но он всё равно спрашивает; he expects me to tell him again – он ожидает, что я скажу ему снова;

to go to see lions and tigers – пойти посмотреть львов и тигров; sometimes – иногда; but not very often – но не очень часто; because he is afraid of them – потому что он боится их; especially when he hears the roar of the lions – особенно когда он слышит рычание львов;

at night before sleep – вечером перед сном; Max tells us what they eat and where they live – Макс рассказывает нам, что они едят и где они живут.

At the botanical garden (1)

Last Saturday I went to the botanical garden with my father.

We walked in the oak forest, and we looked at pines, fir trees, lime trees, and chestnuts.

Then we went to the flower garden. We saw a lot of beautiful flowers of different colours. I liked the roses most of all.

Then we sat on a bench and ate some cookies and drank lemonade, and we talked about our favourite plants.

We saw many interesting birds in the trees, and there were some squirrels too.

After that we went home. I liked the botanical garden very much.

At the botanical garden (2)

On Saturdays I often go on an excursion. Sometimes I go with my parents and sometimes with my teachers and my classmates.
Last Saturday we went on an excursion to the botanical garden with our biology teacher.

Two specialists of the botanical garden met us at the entrance. They showed us the most interesting plants and told us a lot of interesting things while we were looking at the plants.

We took a walk through the oak forest. Some oak trees there are more than a hundred years old.

We looked at pines, fir trees, lime trees and chestnuts, and we compared the cones of different coniferous trees.

Then we went to the flower garden. We saw a lot of beautiful flowers of different colours.

I liked the rose garden most of all. Some rosebushes were really huge, covered with roses on all sides, from top to bottom.

I saw some trees, flowers and plants that I had never heard about before. There exist some plants that can catch and eat insects!

When we felt a little tired, we sat on the benches in one of the alleys, ate cookies and drank lemonade, and talked about our favourite plants.

We saw several squirrels on the branches of the trees. They were watching us. Perhaps, they expected us to give them some nuts, but we didn't have any.

After that we went back to the entrance where our bus was waiting. The excursion was very interesting. I liked it very much.

At the botanical garden: Words and phrases

last Saturday – в прошлую субботу; on Saturdays – по субботам; biology teacher – учитель биологии; classmates – одноклассники;

to go on an excursion – пойти / поехать на экскурсию; an excursion to the botanical garden – экскурсия в ботанический сад;

specialists – специалисты; to meet at the entrance – встретить у входа; to show – показать; to look at – смотреть на; while we were looking at the plants – в то время когда / пока мы смотрели на растения;

to take a walk through the oak forest – погулять / пройтись через дубовый лес; more than a hundred years old – возрастом более ста лет;

oak tree, pine, fir tree, lime tree, chestnut – дуб, сосна, ель, липа, каштан; to compare the cones of different coniferous trees – сравнивать шишки разных хвойных деревьев;

Примечание: fir tree (fir-tree) – 1. пихта; 2. ель; spruce – ель. (См. также Примечание: Christmas tree; New Year tree в материале Names of Trees в разделе Miscellany.)

flower garden – цветочный сад, цветник; a lot of – множество, много; different colours (AmE colors) – разные цвета; most of all – больше всего;

rosebush (rose bush) – куст роз, розовый куст; really huge – действительно огромные; covered with roses on all sides – покрытые розами со всех сторон; from top to bottom – сверху донизу;

Примечание: Сложные существительные пишутся слитно (birthday, classmate), раздельно (post office; flower garden), или с дефисом (looking-glass), и могут иметь варианты написания (fir tree, fir-tree). (Примеры написания сложных слов можно найти в материале Stress in Compound Words в разделе Phonetics.)

that I had never heard about before – о которых я никогда раньше не слышал(а); there exist some plants that can catch and eat insects – существуют некоторые растения, которые могут ловить и есть насекомых;

to feel a little tired – чувствовать себя немного усталым; to sit on a bench – сесть на скамейку / сидеть на скамейке; on the benches in one of the alleys – на скамейках в одной из аллей;

to eat cookies and drink lemonade – есть печенье и пить лимонад; to talk about – говорить / разговаривать о; favourite (AmE favorite) plants – любимые растения;

birds in the trees – птицы на деревьях; there were some squirrels too – там были и белки тоже; several squirrels on the branches of the trees – несколько белок на ветках деревьев;

they were watching us – они наблюдали за нами; perhaps – возможно; they expected us to give them some nuts – они ожидали, что мы дадим им орехи; but we didn't have any – но у нас не было никаких (орехов);

after that – после этого; to go back to the entrance – идти обратно к входу; where our bus was waiting – где ждал наш автобус;

the excursion was very interesting – экскурсия была очень интересная; I liked it very much – мне она очень понравилась.

A birthday party (1)
Tanya is a friend of mine. We are classmates. Tanya is eleven years old now.

Yesterday I went to Tanya's birthday party. I gave her a book and a box of sweets as a present. And I sang the song "Happy Birthday to You".

There were five children at the party. We ate pizza, salad, chocolate cake and sweets, listened to music, and played games.

Then we went for a walk in the park. I liked Tanya's birthday party.

A birthday party (2)

My birthday is on the 21st of January. I remember my birthday and birthday party very well.

When I woke up in the morning, my mother and father came into my room and said, "Happy birthday, dear son!"

They kissed me and gave me presents. Then I had breakfast and went to school. My school friends congratulated me on my birthday and gave me presents.

I gave them sweets and cookies that I brought from home, and I invited my friends to my birthday party.

After school I went home, had dinner, rested a little, and helped my parents to prepare for my birthday party.

My father bought a large chocolate cake. My mother made pizza and potato salad, and I helped her to lay the table.

My guests came at six o'clock. They gave me presents and sang the song "Happy Birthday to You".

We ate pizza and salad, played games and watched animated cartoons. Then we drank tea and ate chocolate cake.

I like my birthday and my birthday parties. My birthday is a special day for me.

A birthday party: Words and phrases

birthday – день рождения; birthday party – празднование дня рождения, вечеринка по случаю дня рождения;

on the 21st of January – 21-го января; on the twenty-first of January – двадцать первого января;

Предлог "on" употребляется с днями: on Friday, on April 5th, on the third of May (в пятницу, пятого апреля, третьего мая);

Правильные глаголы образуют прошедшее время, прибавляя окончание "ed": to kiss – kissed; to invite – invited; to play – played; to watch – watched.

Неправильные глаголы образуют прошедшее время, изменяя корень слова (в основном): to wake up – woke up; to sing – sang; to give – gave; to go – went; to buy – bought; to eat – ate; to bring – brought; to make – made. (См. список Irregular Verbs в разделе Writing.)

to wake up – проснуться, просыпаться; in the morning – утром; to kiss – целовать, целоваться; to sing a song – петь песню;

Happy birthday! – С днем рождения! Happy birthday to you! – С днем рождения тебя!

to give presents – давать, вручать, дарить подарки; to congratulate (on something) – поздравлять (с чем-то, по случаю чего-то);

to have breakfast – завтракать; to have dinner – обедать; to have tea – пить чай; to eat pizza – есть пиццу;

to go to school – идти, ходить в школу; to go home – идти домой; to go for a walk – идти, ходить на прогулку;

school friends – школьные друзья; classmates – одноклассники; a friend of mine – один из моих друзей, мой друг, моя подруга;

sweets – конфеты; cookies – печенье; chocolate cake – шоколадный торт;

to bring – приносить; to invite – приглашать; to buy – покупать, купить;

to rest a little – отдохнуть немного; to prepare (for something) – готовиться (к чему-то);

to make pizza – сделать пиццу; to make potato salad – сделать / приготовить картофельный салат; to lay the table – накрывать стол;

to watch animated cartoons – смотреть мультипликационные фильмы; to watch cartoons – смотреть мультфильмы;

guests – гости; a special day – особый, особенный