A1 · Beginner · Relations with other people
Sports and games
6 short A1 English scripts to practise how to sports and games. Read one out loud, record yourself, listen back and try again.
Key phrase What's the score?
Little brother rules
My little brother and I play football in the garden. He has the ball, so he makes the rules.
Rule one: he always wins. Rule two: when I score, it doesn't count. Rule three: when he loses, he goes inside.
Today I score three goals. He says it's one. Then he picks up the ball and goes inside. I win! ...I think.
American English
My little brother and I play soccer in the yard. He has the ball, so he makes the rules.
Rule one: he always wins. Rule two: when I score, it doesn't count. Rule three: when he loses, he goes inside.
Today I score three goals. He says it's one. Then he grabs the ball and runs inside. I win! ...I think.
A very rainy match
I'm not a football fan, but my sister is. So I'm at the match. It's raining.
What's the score? A draw? One-one? The players look cold. I'm cold too, and my chips are cold.
The final whistle! Good game, everybody. Wait, a draw means nobody wins? Nobody is sad? Football is strange.
American English
I'm not a soccer fan, but my sister is. So I'm at the game. It's raining.
What's the score? A tie? One-one? The players look cold. I'm cold too, and my fries are cold.
The final whistle! Good game, everybody. Wait, a tie means nobody wins? Nobody is sad? Soccer is strange.
Terrible at sports
I'm terrible at sports. In tennis, I hit the ball into the next garden. In basketball, I throw the ball and hit the teacher.
In rugby, I catch the ball, then run the wrong way. Everyone shouts. Now they call me "Speedy".
But I can kick very well. Look: I can kick my shoe over a bus. My teacher says that's a world record.
American English
I'm terrible at sports. In tennis, I hit the ball into the next yard. In basketball, I throw the ball and hit the coach.
In rugby, I catch the ball, then run the wrong way. Everyone shouts. Now they call me "Speedy".
But I can kick very well. Look: I can kick my sneaker over a bus. My coach says that's a world record.
Game night, no queen
It's game night in our flat. We have one board game, one pack of cards, and a chess set with no queen.
I roll the dice. Six! Now it's your turn, Sam. Sam, you're asleep. Sam!
OK, let's play cards instead. And chess with a salt pot as the queen. Sam is very good at chess. I hate him.
American English
It's game night in our apartment. We have one board game, one deck of cards, and a chess set with no queen.
I roll the dice. Six! Now it's your turn, Sam. Sam, you're asleep. Sam!
OK, let's play cards instead. And chess with a salt shaker as the queen. Sam is very good at chess. I hate him.
The big stadium, the small team
My team plays at the big stadium today. We're a little team, but the stadium is huge, and the pitch is so green. I can't believe it.
The referee is a woman in yellow. She blows her whistle every ten seconds. We cheer, and the other fans cheer louder.
We beat them two-nil! After the match, the referee gets a round of applause. Even the other team claps.
American English
My team plays at the big stadium today. We're a little team, but the stadium is huge, and the field is so green. I can't believe it.
The referee is a woman in yellow. She blows her whistle every ten seconds. We cheer, and the other fans cheer louder.
We beat them two to nothing! After the game, the referee gets a round of applause. Even the other team claps.
Everybody must take part
It's sports day at school. I'm not good at athletics, but everybody must take part. Even my teacher takes part, in a very short race.
After lunch, we play cricket. It's your turn, Ollie! Hit the ball! He misses. Then he hits the teacher. Oops.
Sports day isn't about winning. That's what they say when I come last.
American English
It's field day at school. I'm not good at track and field, but everybody must take part. Even my teacher takes part, in a very short race.
After lunch, we play baseball. It's your turn, Ollie! Hit the ball! He misses. Then he hits the coach. Oops.
Field day isn't about winning. That's what they say when I come last.
Key words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| play verb | to take part in a game or sport |
| ball noun | a round thing you kick, throw or hit |