Verbs for sports and leisure activities

skiing   We go skiing every winter.


When we talk about sport in a general way, we usually use the verb 'do': 

Do you do any sport?

 

Or, occasionally:

 

Do you practise any sport?

 


However, 'practise' has a different meaning.  'To practise' is to do something, perhaps regularly, in order to maintain or improve our performance or specific skills, maybe before a particular event or competition. For example:

 

Footballers practise taking free kicks.

He's giving his first presentation so he needs to practise using PowerPoint.

She's doing well in her English course but doesn't have much opportunity to practise.

 

           I practise cricket every week. red x, red cross

I play cricket every week. Sometimes we practise our batting or bowling. green check mark, tick mark

 

I'm practising tennis today. red x, red cross

I'm playing tennis today. I'm going to practise backhands because that's my weakness. green check mark, tick mark

 

 

To speak about named sports and activities, we use a specific verb. For example:

 

            to swim

            to cycle

            to run

            to climb

            to ski

 

            Do you do any sport?

            Yes, I swim and cycle.

 

Or the following verbs: 'to go', 'to play', 'to do'. 


We use the verb 'to go' for lots of sports as well as other activities. Here are some examples:

 

'to go' + gerund

'to go for a' + noun

 

running

cycling

climbing

swimming

hiking

skiing

horse-riding

skateboarding

fishing

dancing

shopping

 

 

a run

a bike ride

a swim

a walk

a stroll

a drink

a meal

 

 

We tend to use 'to go' when we give extra information:

 

"Do you do any sport?"

"Yes, I ski and climb. I go climbing twice a week and I'm going skiing with friends in February." 


 

 

to play

 

Some competitive sports, especially those played with a ball

 

football

tennis

golf

squash

cricket

rugby

 

 

Games

 

Note that we also say 'to have a game of...'

 

chess

Monopoly

draughts

cards

 

 

Console/computer games

 

PlayStation/X-box games

on a PlayStation/X-box

 

 

Musical instruments

 

the piano

the violin

the drums

the guitar

 


 

 

 

To do

 

A form of exercise or something we do at the gym

 

gymnastics

aerobics

spinning*

weight-training*

yoga

pilates

 

*[also used with 'go']

 

 

Martial arts

 

judo

taekwondo

karate

kung fu

 

 

Something that we try to solve

 

a puzzle

a quiz

a crossword

 


See also 'Make' or 'do'? 

 

 

 

chess game play jeu échecs

grandmother granddaughter puzzle crossword

Do you fancy going out for a walk later?

 

No, it's too cold. Let's stay at home and play chess. 

 

They love doing puzzles.

music, piano musique

woman headstand yoga

She plays the piano really well - she practises every day.

She does yoga before breakfast.