Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about sports and exercise.
Example: She likes to _____ in the swimming pool. (swim / run / kick)
Answer: She likes to swim in the swimming pool.
Sports and Exercise: Essential Vocabulary for Beginners
Do you like to move your body and stay healthy? Sports and exercise are a big part of everyday life all around the world. People play football in the park, swim at the local pool, or go for a run in the morning. Learning the words for sports and exercise will help you talk about what you like to do and understand others when they talk about their favourite activities.
Read this short situation and notice the words in bold:
Anna and Tom are friends. Anna says: "I go to the gym on Monday. I run for thirty minutes and then I do some exercise. On Saturday, I play tennis with my sister. What about you, Tom?" Tom says: "I swim every morning. And on weekends, I watch football on TV!"
Now let's learn all these words and more.
Key Vocabulary and Meaning Breakdown
1. Popular Sports
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| football | noun — a popular team sport played with a round ball and two goals | I watch football every Saturday with my dad. | In the UK, "football" = soccer. Use play football. |
| tennis | noun — a sport played with a racket and a small ball, usually between two or four players | She plays tennis at the sports centre. | Use play tennis. |
| basketball | noun — a team sport where players throw a ball through a high basket | The boys play basketball after school. | Use play basketball. |
| swimming | noun — moving through water using your body | Swimming is good for your whole body. | Use go swimming. |
| cycling | noun — riding a bicycle as a sport or activity | We go cycling in the park at the weekend. | Use go cycling. |
| running | noun — moving fast on your feet as exercise or sport | She does running every morning before work. | Also called jogging (slow running). Use go running. |
| yoga | noun — a gentle activity with stretching and breathing exercises | My mum does yoga on Tuesday evenings. | Use do yoga. |
2. Places and Equipment
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| gym | noun — a building or room with equipment for exercise and sport | I go to the gym three times a week. | Short for "gymnasium". Say go to the gym. |
| pool | noun — a place filled with water where people swim | The children swim in the pool. | Also called a swimming pool. |
| pitch | noun — a flat area of ground used for playing sports like football | The players run on the football pitch. | Used for football, rugby, and cricket. |
| court | noun — an area used for playing sports like tennis or basketball | There are four tennis courts at the sports centre. | Used for tennis, basketball, and volleyball. |
| ball | noun — a round object used in many sports | Kick the ball into the goal! | Different sports use different balls (football, tennis ball, etc.). |
| racket | noun — a piece of equipment with a handle and a round frame, used to hit a ball | She bought a new tennis racket. | Used in tennis and badminton. |
| trainers | noun (plural) — comfortable sports shoes used for exercise | I wear my trainers when I go running. | Also called sports shoes or sneakers (American English). |
| kit | noun — the special clothes and equipment you wear or use for a sport | Don't forget your football kit for training tonight. | Includes a shirt, shorts, and socks. |
3. Exercise and Action Words
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| exercise | noun / verb — physical activity to keep your body healthy and strong | It is important to exercise every day. / I do exercise at home. | Can be a noun or a verb. Say do exercise (noun) or exercise regularly (verb). |
| run | verb — to move quickly on your feet | I run five kilometres every morning. | Past tense: ran. Say go for a run. |
| swim | verb — to move through water using your body | She can swim very fast. | Past tense: swam. Say go for a swim. |
| kick | verb — to hit something with your foot | He kicks the ball into the goal. | Common in football. |
| throw | verb — to send something through the air using your hand | She throws the ball to her teammate. | Past tense: threw. Common in basketball. |
| catch | verb — to take hold of something that is moving through the air | He catches the ball with both hands. | Past tense: caught. |
| stretch | verb — to extend your arms, legs, or body to warm up or relax | Always stretch before you exercise. | Important before and after sport. |
| win | verb — to finish first or be the best in a game or competition | Our team won the match! | Past tense: won. Opposite: lose. |
| lose | verb — to not win a game or competition | We lost the game 2–1. | Past tense: lost. Opposite: win. |
| train | verb — to practise a sport or exercise to get better | The team trains every Tuesday and Thursday. | A person who trains is an athlete. |
Collocations and Useful Expressions
In English, certain words go together naturally. Here are the most important collocations for sports and exercise at A1 level:
play + sport name
Use "play" with team sports and ball sports.
I play football with my friends. She plays tennis every week. He plays basketball after school.
go + activity (-ing form)
Use "go" with activities that end in -ing.
I go swimming on Saturdays. We go running in the park. She goes cycling at the weekend.
do + activity
Use "do" with exercise, yoga, and non-team activities.
He does exercise every morning. My sister does yoga at home.
go to + place
Use "go to" with places for sport.
I go to the gym after work. She goes to the pool on Fridays.
score + a goal
When a player puts the ball in the goal, they score.
He scored a goal in the last minute of the match.
win + a match / a game / a race
Our team won the match 3–0. She won the race easily.
lose + a match / a game
They lost the game last night. We lost the match 1–2.
warm up / cool down
Before exercise, you warm up. After exercise, you cool down.
Always warm up before you play football. Remember to cool down after your run.
Important Differences and Confusing Words
Play, Go, or Do?
This is one of the most common problems for beginners with sports vocabulary. Here is a simple guide:
| Verb | When to use it | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| play | Team sports and ball sports | play football, play tennis, play basketball, play volleyball |
| go | Activities that end in -ing, usually done alone | go swimming, go running, go cycling, go jogging, go hiking |
| do | Individual activities, exercise, and martial arts | do yoga, do exercise, do karate, do gymnastics |
Match, Game, or Race?
Match — an organised competition between two teams or players
We have a football match on Saturday.
Game — a more general word for sport or play activity
Let's have a game of basketball.
Race — a competition to see who is fastest
She won the swimming race.
Pitch or Court?
Pitch — a grassy outdoor area for team sports like football, rugby, or cricket
The football pitch is wet today.
Court — a hard surface (indoors or outdoors) for sports like tennis or basketball
There is a new tennis court in the park.
Common Mistakes
❌ I do football every Saturday.
✅ I play football every Saturday. (Use play with team and ball sports, not do.)
❌ She plays swimming at the pool.
✅ She goes swimming at the pool. (Use go with activities ending in -ing, not play.)
❌ He go to gym every morning.
✅ He goes to the gym every morning. (Use the before gym, and remember the -s ending with he/she/it.)
❌ I runned five kilometres yesterday.
✅ I ran five kilometres yesterday. (Run is an irregular verb. The past tense is ran, not runned.)
❌ We play tennis in a pitch.
✅ We play tennis on a court. (Tennis is played on a court, not a pitch.)
❌ They did yoga in the gym pool.
✅ They did yoga in the gym. (A pool is for swimming. Yoga is done in a gym or at home.)
Sports and Exercise: Quick Summary and Review
Well done! In this lesson, you have learnt important vocabulary about sports and exercise. Here is a quick review of what to remember:
- Use play with team sports and ball games: play football, play tennis, play basketball.
- Use go with activities ending in -ing: go swimming, go running, go cycling.
- Use do with individual activities and exercise: do yoga, do exercise.
- Sports are played in different places: a pitch (football), a court (tennis, basketball), a pool (swimming), or a gym (general exercise).
- Important action words include: run, swim, kick, throw, catch, stretch, train, win, and lose.
- Always warm up before exercise and cool down afterwards!
- Remember: win → won (past), run → ran (past), swim → swam (past).
Now practise sports and exercise vocabulary in the exercises below.
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