Mastering ‘Hang out’: Your Key to IELTS Speaking Success

1. Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb “hang out” is an informal expression commonly used in everyday English. It generally means to spend time relaxing or socializing with others in a casual setting. This versatile phrase can also refer to spending time alone in a particular place.

Primary meanings:

1. To spend time with friends or others in a relaxed, informal way
2. To frequent a particular place
3. To loiter or idle in a specific location

Synonyms and equivalent expressions:

• Socialize
• Spend time together
• Chill (very informal)
• Relax with friends
• Lounge around

2. Contextual Usage

“Hang out” is primarily used in informal situations and is particularly common among younger people. Here are some examples of how to use it in different contexts:

• Informal speaking: “We often hang out at the local café after school.”
• Writing (informal): “I love hanging out with my cousins during summer breaks.”
• More formal alternative: “I frequently spend time with my colleagues outside of work hours.”

Friends hanging out at a cafe

3. Grammar Analysis

“Hang out” is a separable phrasal verb, which means the object can be placed between “hang” and “out” or after “out.”

• “I hang out with my friends on weekends.” (Object after the phrasal verb)
• “I hang my friends out on weekends.” (Object between the verb and particle)

However, if the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between “hang” and “out”:

• “I hang them out on weekends.” (Correct)
• “I hang out them on weekends.” (Incorrect)

4. Application in IELTS

In Speaking:

“Hang out” can be effectively used to describe leisure activities or social interactions. It’s particularly useful for answering questions about free time, hobbies, or social life.

Example question: “What do you usually do in your free time?”

Sample answer: “Well, I often hang out with my friends at local cafés or parks. We enjoy chatting, playing board games, or simply relaxing together. It’s a great way to unwind after a busy week of studying or working.”

In Writing:

While “hang out” is informal, it can be used in certain IELTS Writing tasks, particularly in Task 1 (General) informal letters or Task 2 essays where a more conversational tone is appropriate.

Example: “Many young people prefer to hang out in shopping malls rather than outdoor spaces, which has led to concerns about their physical activity levels.”

Note: Use this phrasal verb judiciously in formal writing tasks, opting for more formal alternatives when necessary.

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Meet up (with) /miːt ʌp/: To come together with someone, usually by arrangement
   Example: “Let’s meet up for coffee this afternoon.”

2. Get together /ɡet təˈɡeðər/: To gather or assemble, often for a social occasion
   Example: “Our class gets together once a year for a reunion.”

3. Chill out /tʃɪl aʊt/: To relax and stop being angry or nervous
   Example: “After a stressful day, I like to chill out by listening to music.”

4. Catch up /kætʃ ʌp/: To talk to someone you haven’t seen for a while and tell each other your news
   Example: “It’s been ages! We should catch up soon.”

5. Drop by /drɒp baɪ/: To visit someone, usually without prior arrangement
   Example: “Feel free to drop by anytime; I’m usually home in the evenings.”

6. Hang around /hæŋ əˈraʊnd/: To spend time somewhere, often without a specific purpose
   Example: “We used to hang around the park after school.”

7. Show up /ʃəʊ ʌp/: To arrive or appear, especially at an arranged meeting place
   Example: “I waited for an hour, but he never showed up.”

8. Turn up /tɜːn ʌp/: Similar to ‘show up’, to arrive or appear unexpectedly
   Example: “We were surprised when he turned up at the party uninvited.”

Phrasal verbs related to 'hang out'

6. Practice Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks

1. We often __ __ at the beach on weekends.
2. Where do you usually __ __ with your friends?
3. I’m planning to __ __ with some old classmates next week.
4. She likes to __ __ at the library to study.
5. Let’s __ __ sometime and catch up.
6. The teenagers were __ __ in the park all afternoon.
7. Do you want to __ __ after work today?
8. I enjoy __ __ with my family on holidays.
9. They often __ __ at the local coffee shop.
10. We used to __ __ at the mall when we were younger.

B. Rewrite the sentences

1. We spend time together at the cinema every Friday.
   We __ __ __ __ __ every Friday.

2. I frequently visit my grandparents’ house.
   I often __ __ __ my grandparents’ house.

3. The students were loitering in the hallway.
   The students were __ __ in the hallway.

4. Where do you usually socialize with your colleagues?
   Where do you usually __ __ __ your colleagues?

5. They spend a lot of time at the skate park.
   They __ __ __ the skate park a lot.

6. We’re meeting up for dinner tonight.
   We’re __ __ __ dinner tonight.

7. I like to relax at home on weekends.
   I like to __ __ at home on weekends.

8. They frequently spend time together after class.
   They frequently __ __ after class.

9. Let’s spend some time together this weekend.
   Let’s __ __ this weekend.

10. She often relaxes with her friends at the café.
    She often __ __ __ her friends at the café.

Answers and Explanations

A. Fill in the blanks

1. hang out
2. hang out
3. hang out
4. hang out
5. hang out
6. hanging out
7. hang out
8. hanging out
9. hang out
10. hang out

B. Rewrite the sentences

1. We hang out at the cinema every Friday.
2. I often hang out at my grandparents’ house.
3. The students were hanging out in the hallway.
4. Where do you usually hang out with your colleagues?
5. They hang out at the skate park a lot.
6. We’re hanging out for dinner tonight.
7. I like to hang out at home on weekends.
8. They frequently hang out after class.
9. Let’s hang out this weekend.
10. She often hangs out with her friends at the café.

Explanations:

• In all these sentences, “hang out” is used to replace more formal or specific phrases that describe spending time casually or socializing.
• Note that the tense changes in some sentences (e.g., “hanging out” for continuous actions).
• The structure of “hang out” remains consistent: it’s followed by “with” when specifying people, and “at” or “in” when specifying places.

7. Memorization Tips

1. Visual association: Imagine a group of friends literally hanging from a tree branch, chatting and laughing. This absurd image can help cement the phrase in your memory.

2. Chunk learning: Practice using “hang out” in common phrases like “hang out with friends,” “hang out at the mall,” or “favorite place to hang out.”

3. Personal connection: Think about your own favorite places to hang out and create sentences about them using this phrasal verb.

4. Mnemonic device: Remember H.O.U.T. – “Having Our Usual Time” to associate with the casual, relaxed nature of hanging out.

5. Use it daily: Try to incorporate “hang out” into your everyday English conversations to reinforce your memory and usage.

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mistake: Using “hang out” in formal contexts.
   Correction: Reserve “hang out” for informal situations. In formal settings, use alternatives like “socialize” or “spend time together.”

2. Mistake: Incorrect preposition usage (e.g., “hang out to the park”).
   Correction: Use “at” or “in” for places (e.g., “hang out at the park” or “hang out in the café”).

3. Mistake: Separating the phrasal verb incorrectly (e.g., “hang my friends out”).
   Correction: Keep “hang out” together unless using a pronoun (e.g., “hang out with my friends” or “hang them out”).

4. Mistake: Overusing “hang out” in IELTS Writing tasks.
   Correction: Use “hang out” sparingly in writing, especially in formal essays. Opt for more formal alternatives when appropriate.

5. Mistake: Using the wrong tense (e.g., “I am hang out yesterday”).
   Correction: Remember to conjugate “hang” correctly (e.g., “I hung out yesterday” or “I am hanging out today”).

9. Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like “hang out” can significantly enhance your English fluency and performance in the IELTS exam. This versatile phrase is particularly useful for discussing social activities and leisure time, topics that frequently appear in the Speaking and Writing sections of IELTS.

Remember to practice using “hang out” in various contexts, paying attention to its informal nature and correct grammatical usage. By incorporating this phrasal verb naturally into your language, you’ll demonstrate a more native-like command of English, potentially boosting your IELTS score.

As you prepare for your IELTS exam, don’t forget to explore other aspects of English language and culture. For instance, you might find it interesting to learn about how the internet is changing the way we learn about culture, which could provide valuable insights for discussion topics in your exam.

Keep practicing, stay confident, and remember that mastering phrasal verbs like “hang out” is just one step in your journey to English fluency and IELTS success!