Write About Your Hobbies A2 Writing Practice Tests Rules & Examples

How to Write About Your Hobbies in English

In this lesson, you will learn how to write a short message or email to a friend about your hobbies and free-time activities. Writing about your hobbies is a very common task in everyday English. You might write an email to a new friend, reply to a message asking what you enjoy doing, or write a short description of yourself for a class or online profile.

In real life, people write about their hobbies when they send messages to new friends, join a club, sign up for a course, or write a personal introduction. This type of writing uses the present simple for routines and preferences, because and so for reasons and results, and friendly, informal language throughout.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to write a clear, well-organised message of 60–90 words about your hobbies, using linking words, correct verb forms, and a natural informal style.

Essential Writing Rules and Sentence Structure

1. Organise Your Writing into Clear Paragraphs

A short message about your hobbies should have two or three paragraphs. Each paragraph has a clear job:

• Paragraph 1 – Greeting and opening: Say hello and explain why you are writing.
• Paragraph 2 – Main details: Describe your hobbies and give reasons why you enjoy them.
• Paragraph 3 – Closing: Ask a question, make a friendly comment, and sign off.

2. Use the Present Simple for Habits and Preferences

When you talk about things you do regularly or things you enjoy, use the present simple tense.

• I play football every Saturday.
• She loves reading in the evenings.
• We go cycling at the weekend.

3. Use Connectors to Join Your Ideas

Do not write a list of short, separate sentences. Use linking words like because, so, and, but, and although to connect your ideas and make your writing flow naturally.

• I love cooking because it is creative and relaxing.
• I don't like running, but I enjoy swimming.
• I play the guitar, so I practise every evening.

4. Use Commas Correctly with Time Clauses

When you begin a sentence with a time word like when, before, or after, always put a comma after the time clause before the main part of the sentence.

• When I finish work, I go to the gym. ✅
• After I have dinner, I usually read a book. ✅
• Before I go to bed I watch a film. ❌ (missing comma)

5. Use 'Also' to Add Extra Information

Use also to add another point without starting a new topic. Place also after the subject and before the main verb.

• I also enjoy painting at the weekend. ✅
• Also I enjoy painting at the weekend. ❌ (incorrect position)

Useful Linking Words (Connectors)

Model Writing Sample: An Email to a New Friend About Hobbies

Read this model email carefully. Notice how it is organised and how the writer uses linking words and the present simple tense.

The Writing Task: Write an email to your new English friend, Amy. Tell her about your hobbies and why you enjoy them. Ask her about her hobbies too. Write 60–90 words.

Model Email

Hi Amy,

Thanks for your last message! I'm really happy to hear from you. I'm writing to tell you a bit about my hobbies.

I love playing basketball because it's fun and exciting. I play every Saturday morning with my friends. I also enjoy cooking, so I often try new recipes at the weekend. Although baking is difficult sometimes, I really enjoy it.

What about you? Do you have any hobbies? Let me know!

Best wishes,
Marco

Model Email — Annotated Breakdown

Word Count Check

The model email above is 82 words — perfectly within the A2 target range of 60–90 words. ✅

Key Phrases and Sentence Starters

Greetings

• Hi [Name],
• Dear [Name],
• Hello [Name],

Opening Lines and Reason for Writing

• I'm writing to tell you about my hobbies.
• Thanks for your message! I'd love to tell you what I do in my free time.
• How are you? I want to share a bit about my favourite activities.
• I hope you're well. Let me tell you about the things I enjoy doing.

Talking About Hobbies and Giving Reasons

• I love ________ because it is ________.
• I really enjoy ________ because it makes me feel ________.
• I like ________, so I usually ________ at the weekend.
• I play ________ every ________ with my friends.
• I also enjoy ________ in my free time.
• Although ________ is sometimes difficult, I love it.
• When I feel tired, I like to ________.
• After school / work, I usually ________.
• I'm quite good at ________, so I practise every week.

Ending Your Message and Sign-offs

• What about you? Do you have any hobbies?
• Let me know what you enjoy doing!
• I'd love to hear about your hobbies too.
• Write back soon!
• Hope to hear from you!
• Best wishes, [Your name]
• See you soon, [Your name]
• All the best, [Your name]
• Love, [Your name]

Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Confusing 'because' and 'so'

❌ I love swimming so it is good for my health.
✅ I love swimming because it is good for my health.
Use because to give a reason (it answers why?). Use so to give a result (it answers what happened?). Example with so: Swimming is good for my health, so I go every week.

Mistake 2: Missing a Comma After a Time Clause

❌ When I get home I play the guitar.
✅ When I get home, I play the guitar.
When you start a sentence with when, before, or after, always put a comma at the end of the time clause, before the main clause begins.

Mistake 3: Using a Run-on Sentence Without a Connector

❌ I like reading I also like painting I do these every weekend.
✅ I like reading and I also enjoy painting. I do both of these every weekend.
Do not join too many ideas with no punctuation or connectors. Use a full stop to separate two main ideas, or use a connector like and, but, or so.

Mistake 4: Incorrect Position of 'Also'

❌ Also I play tennis at the weekend.
✅ I also play tennis at the weekend.
Also goes after the subject and before the main verb. Do not put also at the very beginning of a sentence in this type of writing.

Writing Checklist and Practice Task

Writing Checklist

Before you finish your email or message, check every point below:

• ✅ Did I include a friendly informal greeting (e.g. Hi Amy,)?
• ✅ Did I write a clear opening line that explains why I am writing?
• ✅ Did I mention at least two hobbies in my main paragraph?
• ✅ Did I give a reason for each hobby using because?
• ✅ Did I use at least one other linking word (e.g. so, although, also, when)?
• ✅ Did I add a comma after any time clause that starts with when, before, or after?
• ✅ Did I use the present simple correctly for habits and preferences?
• ✅ Did I use contractions naturally (e.g. I'm, it's, don't)?
• ✅ Did I ask my friend a question at the end?
• ✅ Did I use an appropriate informal sign-off (e.g. Best wishes, or See you soon,) followed by my name?
• ✅ Is my email between 60 and 90 words?

Your Practice Writing Task

Read the task carefully and write your email. Use the model text, key phrases, and checklist above to help you.

Writing Task:

You have a new English friend called Daniel. He has sent you a message asking about your free time and hobbies. Write an email to Daniel. In your email:

• Tell him about two or three hobbies you enjoy.
• Explain why you enjoy each hobby.
• Ask Daniel about his hobbies.

Write 60–90 words. Use an informal greeting and sign-off.

Now test your writing mechanics and sentence skills in the exercises below.