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What are Sports?

Sports are activities where people move their bodies for fun, competition, or exercise. Many people like to watch sports, and many people like to do sports.

Learning the names of sports in English is a good way to start talking about what you like.

Common Sports Words

Here are some common sports words in English. You can use these words to talk about different activities.

• football: A popular game with a ball, played with feet.
• tennis: A game played with rackets and a small ball.
• sailing: Traveling on water in a boat with sails.
• swimming: Moving in water using your body.
• cycling: Riding a bicycle.
• windsurfing: Standing on a board with a sail on water.
• horse riding: Sitting on a horse and making it move.
• volleyball: A game where two teams hit a ball over a net.
• golf: A game where you hit a small ball into holes with clubs.
• basketball: A game where two teams try to throw a ball into a high net.

How to Talk About Sports: Play, Go, Do

In English, we use different verbs with different sports. The most common verbs are play, go, and do.

• We use play for ball sports and team games. For example, I play football.
• We use go for activities that end in -ing and individual activities. For example, I go swimming.
• We use do for individual exercises or martial arts. For example, I do yoga.

Verbs for Different Sports

Verb	Examples of Sports
play	football, tennis, volleyball, golf, basketball
go	sailing, swimming, cycling, windsurfing, horse riding
do	yoga, exercise, karate

Examples

• I like to watch football on TV.
• My friend plays tennis every Saturday.
• They go sailing in the summer.
• She goes swimming in the pool.
• He likes cycling in the park.
• Do you play basketball?
• My sister loves horse riding.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

A common mistake for Spanish speakers is using do for all sports, like I do football. In English, we use specific verbs:

• For ball sports and team games, use play: I play football. (NOT I do football.)
• For activities ending in -ing, use go: I go swimming. (NOT I do swimming.)

Remember to choose the correct verb for each sport!

Frequently asked questions

Why is it important to learn sports vocabulary?

It helps you talk about your hobbies, what you do in your free time, and understand conversations about popular activities. For example, you can say I like swimming.

What is the difference between 'play' and 'go' for sports?

We use play for sports with a ball or team games, like play tennis. We use go for activities ending in -ing, like go cycling.

Can I use 'do' for any sport?

You use do for individual exercises or martial arts, like do yoga or do karate. For most sports with a ball or -ing activities, use play or go.

Related lessons

• Sport and exercise