This is the Part 2 and the last part of “English Grammar in Pop Songs” series. You will find the Part 1 here.
It’s a fun way to test your knowledge of English grammar and English listening skills. Listed below are five video clips of some popular songs. The video clips are audios of pop songs together with their lyrics. Here’s what you have to do:
Step One: For each video clip, make a note of what point of English grammar in the pop song you need to pay attention to.
Step Two: Play the video clip and carefully listen to the song WITHOUT looking at the lyrics. Get a feel for the words and try to listen for the grammatical phrases required for the exercise.
Step Three: Listen to the song as many times as you want without looking at the lyrics, writing down as many different phrases you can hear that contain the required grammatical expression.
Step Four: If you have trouble hearing the phrases, then look at the lyrics to complete the exercise.
Step Five: Check your answers.
1. Listen for present perfect phrases
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnD6ojjA0OA
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYJHmAyoTqY&feature=related
2. Listen for phrases with the second conditional, (hypothetical conditional)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDBmRbBfRns
3. Listen for phrases with the third conditional, (past conditional)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJC081LC_HA
4. Listen for phrases with the first conditional, (probable future conditional)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPazGVuBXmY&feature=related
Answers:
1. present perfect:
I have climbed the highest mountain
I have run through the fields
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
I have kissed honey lips
(I have) Felt the healing in her fingertips
I have spoken with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
2. present perfect:
Now I’ve had the time of my life
‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life
Now I’ve finally found someone to stand by me
And I’ve searched through every open door
3. second conditional, (hypothetical conditional):
I’d rather be a sparrow than a snail, yes I would, if I could
I’d rather be a hammer than a nail, yes I would, if I only could
I’d rather be a forest than a tree, yes I would, if I could
I’d rather feel the earth beneath my feet, yes I would, if I only could
4. third conditional, (past conditional):
I should have changed that/my stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key,
if I had known for just one second you’d be back to bother me
5. first conditional, (probable future conditional):
Oh if I ever lose my hands, I won’t have to work no more
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, I won’t have to cry no more
Oh if I ever lose my legs, I won‘t have to walk no more
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, I won’t have to talk …
Were this series useful for you? Do you know any other songs which can be used for an English Grammar in Pop Songs exercise?
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