Likes & Abilities

Hobbies / Preferences / Can & Can't

👋 A complete A1–A2 lesson

About likes and preferences, hobbies and leisure, and can / can't. This page includes grammar, bilingual vocabulary, reading with QCM, writing, listening, and a 15-minute application exercise.

This lesson helps students talk about what they like, what they prefer, and what they can or cannot do.

Likes and Preferences

Structure: Subject + like / likes + noun or verb-ing

I like football. · She likes music. · We like reading. · I prefer tea to coffee. · My favorite hobby is drawing.

Can / Can't

Structure: Subject + can + base verb

I can swim. · She can dance. · He can speak English. · I can't drive. · They can't play the piano.

Questions

Structure: Can + subject + base verb?

Can you swim? · Can she sing? · Can they play football? · Yes, I can. · No, I can't.

Simple rules for A1/A2

Use like for general likes. Use prefer for choosing one thing over another.

Use can for abilities and skills. Use can't for things you are not able to do.

Useful words for hobbies, free time, likes, and abilities. English meaning and French meaning are shown together.

Hobby — Passe-temps
Example: My hobby is music.

Leisure — Loisir
Example: I read in my leisure time.

Favorite — Préféré
Example: My favorite sport is football.

Enjoy — Aimer / apprécier
Example: I enjoy drawing.

Prefer — Préférer
Example: She prefers tea to coffee.

Ability — Capacité
Example: Swimming is an ability.

Skill — Compétence
Example: Singing is a good skill.

Swimming — Natation
Example: I like swimming.

Drawing — Dessin
Example: She likes drawing.

Singing — Chant
Example: He can sing very well.

Cooking — Cuisine
Example: My mother likes cooking.

Traveling — Voyager
Example: They enjoy traveling.

music = musique · football = football · books = livres · games = jeux · TV = télévision · dance = danse

Read the text carefully or listen to it.

My Hobbies

Sarah is thirteen years old. She likes music and reading books. On weekends, she goes to the library and listens to music. She can play the piano, and she can sing very well. Her brother Tom likes sports. He likes football and basketball. He can play football, but he can't play the piano.

Write 5 to 8 sentences about what you like, what you prefer, and what you can or can't do.

0 word(s)

"I like music and football. My favorite hobby is reading. I enjoy drawing on weekends. I can swim and speak English. I can't play the piano. I prefer tea to coffee."

Click Start Listening to hear the text. The audio can be played only 3 times. The questions appear when you start.

Plays: 0 / 3

Transcript

My name is David. I like football and swimming. Every Saturday, I play football with my friends. I can swim very well, but I can't dance. My sister Emma likes music. She can sing and play the guitar, but she can't swim.

Complete the exercise in 15 minutes. Click Start to launch the timer.

⏱️ 15:00

A) Likes and Preferences

B) Can / Can't

C) Vocabulary

🏁 Results

— / 16