ENGLISH FORM 3 CHAPTER 8: TIME TO SPARE
Time to Spare
Unit 8 • Free Time, Hobbies & Postcards
🌪️ Hobbies on the Edge
While most people enjoy relaxing activities like listening to music or shopping in their free time, some seek the ultimate thrill. Let’s look at two extreme hobbies.
Herb Stein works for the Center for Severe Weather Research. He drives a specially-equipped research vehicle called DOW 7 straight into violent storms and tornadoes to gather scientific data.
- Highly dangerous.
- Requires advanced technology.
- Helps scientists understand weather patterns.
Practiced by young people in places like Aberystwyth, Wales. Freerunning involves treating the urban environment like a giant obstacle course—running, jumping, and climbing over walls and buildings.
- Requires incredible physical fitness.
- Develops balance and coordination.
- High risk of injury.
🎮 Vocabulary & Phrasal Verbs
Hover over the cards to learn essential words from this unit!
Headlamp
NounA large, powerful light that you wear on your forehead (used by cavers or rescuers).
Victim
NounSomeone who has been hurt, damaged, or killed or has suffered, either because of the actions of someone or something else.
Keep on
Phrasal VerbTo continue doing something.
“Let’s keep on walking for a while.”
Take up
Phrasal VerbTo start doing a particular job or activity / hobby.
“I decided to take up freerunning.”
⚖️ Modals (Part 1)
Modal verbs are helper verbs that change the meaning of the main verb. They express ability, permission, or advice.
💪 Ability
Can (Present ability)
Could (Past ability)
Be able to (Any tense)
- “I can run very fast.”
- “She could swim when she was five.”
- “They were able to go on holiday last summer.”
✋ Permission / Requests
Can (Informal)
Could / May (More polite)
- “Can I borrow your book?”
- “Could you help me with this equipment?”
💡 Advice / Suggestions
Should
Ought to
- “You should ask for your parents’ permission.”
- “We ought to take a map with us.”
- “Shall we keep on walking?” (Suggestion)
🚨 Modals (Part 2)
These modals are used for strong rules, obligations, or when we are guessing/deducing something.
⚠️ Obligation & Necessity
Must (Internal rule)
Have to (External rule)
Need to (Necessary)
- “I must study tonight.”
- “All rescuers have to wear special clothes.”
- “They didn’t need to find a hotel because they camped.” (Lack of necessity)
🔍 Deduction (Guessing)
Must (99% sure it’s true)
Might / May / Could (50% possible)
Can’t (99% sure it’s impossible)
- “They must be tired after the run.”
- “The climbers may be lost. Let’s call the police.”
- “That can’t be John; he is in London!”
✍️ Writing a Postcard
Postcards are short, informal, and fun! We use them to tell friends or family about our holidays. Use linking words (and, but, because, so) to make your writing flow better.
Greetings from Wales! We are having a fantastic time here. Yesterday, we went to the beach and we tried surfing for the first time! It was difficult, but we laughed a lot.
Tomorrow we are going hiking because the weather is supposed to be sunny. I’m taking lots of photos so I can show you when I get back.
Miss you!
Love, Alex xx
Unit 8: Time to Spare
Test your knowledge on free-time activities, extreme hobbies, and grammar (Modals & Question Tags)!