Mastering “in her free time”: A Simple Grammar Guide

Do you ever wonder what people do when they're not working or studying? We often talk about hobbies and activities using the phrase “in her free time”. This common adverbial phrase helps us describe what someone does during their leisure. Understanding its meaning and how to use it naturally will boost your fluency in English. It's a great way to talk about daily life and personal interests, making your sentences more descriptive.

Table of Contents

• What Does “in her free time” Mean?
• What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “in her free time”?
• Example Sentences with “in her free time”
• When and How to Use “in her free time”
• Summary and Practice Tip

More: Mastering 'While He Waited Patiently': A Simple Grammar Guide

What Does “in her free time” Mean?

The phrase “in her free time” means during leisure hours or when someone is not busy with work or duties. It refers to the period a person has for relaxation or personal activities. This adverbial phrase tells us when an action happens. It often modifies verbs by adding details about the timing of an activity. For example, "She reads a lot in her free time."

More: Mastering 'after final exams': Grammar Guide for ESL Learners

What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “in her free time”?

“In her free time” is an adverbial phrase of time. It clearly indicates when an action takes place. This phrase describes when a verb's action occurs.

Its grammatical structure breaks down like this:

• Preposition: in
• Possessive Determiner: her (this changes based on the person, e.g., my, his, their, your, our, its, or a name like Sarah's)
• Noun Phrase: free time (meaning leisure time). According to Cambridge Dictionary, "free time" is time when you are not working or studying and can do what you like.

You can place this phrase in different parts of a sentence:

• At the end (most common): This is the natural and common position.
  • Subject + Verb + [Adverbial Phrase]
  • She enjoys painting in her free time.
• At the beginning (for emphasis): Use a comma after the phrase if it starts the sentence.
  • [Adverbial Phrase], Subject + Verb
  • In her free time, she enjoys painting.
• In the middle (less common, usually after the verb 'be' or an auxiliary verb):
  • Subject + Auxiliary Verb + [Adverbial Phrase] + Main Verb
  • She is, in her free time, a keen gardener. (Less common for A2-C1, stick to end/beginning for natural use).

More: Mastering 'in the days that followed': A Grammar Guide

Example Sentences with “in her free time”

Here are some ways to use this phrase naturally in sentences and dialogues:

• Maria loves to explore new hiking trails in her free time.
• In her free time, Sarah often volunteers at the animal shelter.
• My sister practices playing the guitar almost every day in her free time.

Here are some short dialogues:

• Person A: What does Julia usually do on weekends?

• Person B: Oh, in her free time, she loves to read mystery novels.

• Person A: Does Emily have any hobbies outside of work?

• Person B: Yes, she really enjoys baking cakes in her free time.

When and How to Use “in her free time”

Use this phrase when you want to talk about someone's hobbies, interests, or activities they do for leisure. It's perfect for everyday conversations, informal emails, or when describing someone's routine. It's a very common phrase in spoken and written English.

Common variations: The possessive determiner changes based on the person you are talking about:

• in my free time
• in his free time
• in your free time
• in our free time
• in their free time
• in John's free time (using a possessive noun)

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Missing the preposition "in": Don't say "She reads her free time." Always use "in".
• Incorrect possessive: Make sure the possessive (her, his, my) matches the subject. For example, if you're talking about a man, use "in his free time", not "in her free time."
• Using "the" instead of a possessive: "in the free time" is usually incorrect unless referring to a general concept of free time, not a specific person's. For example, "It's important to use the free time wisely." But for personal activities, use the possessive: "She writes in her free time."

Summary and Practice Tip

This phrase is a useful adverbial phrase of time. It helps us describe someone's leisure activities clearly. Remember to use "in" and the correct possessive determiner like "her" or "his." This phrase adds detail to your sentences and is essential for natural English conversation.

Now, it's your turn! Try writing a sentence about what a friend or family member does in their free time. Share it with a language partner or keep it in your notes. Keep practicing for better sentence structure and to improve your English grammar! Find more tips on how to use adverbial phrases in our other articles.