New blog on English songs

http://learnenglisheoi.wordpress.com

Infinitive or gerund??

The complete list in English grammar online together with a handful of exercises! You can also try English-Hilfen, theory and translation in parasaber and English File. Recommend, suggest or advise? Nice video

When choosing infinitive or gerund may change the meaning. Have a look at English Page with theory and exercises.

SONGS with verbs followed by infinitives / gerunds, most of which with the lyrics:

El Condor Pasa (‘d rather), Sign Your Name Across My Heart (just one example of ‘d rather but… What a beautiful song!) Santa Claus is coming to town (‘d better).

Can’t stand losing you (Police),

Can’t wait for the weekend to begin,

I just can’t wait to be king,

Can’t afford to drive my car (free version of the Beatles).

Compare Can’t help falling in love by Elvis Presley with UB40′s version. Can you find any differences?

Feel like making love,   The Lazy song (Girl I don’t feel like doing anything)

Let it be, Let me love you (also with conditionals).

Rehab (They try to make me go to rehab and I say no, no, no.. I’d rather be…), You make me feel like a natural woman, What can I do to make you love me? (The Corrs), Only girl in the world (Rihanna) with ‘make me feel like’… and ‘I want you to love me’

CHRISTMAS SONGS

SOME TYPICAL CHRISTMAS SONGS

So This is Christmas by John Lennon

Kylie Minogue asks Santa for all kinds of things… Watch her performance or the lyrics

Last Christmas by Wham or watch the tacky original video…

Jingle Bell Rock by Billie Idol or the classic version with lyrics.

Star signs / fortune telling (listening)

Here’s a listening (an interview) on star signs and another one with the typical characteristics of a star sign.

If you don’t really believe in horoscopes just listen toBeyonce’s Ft. Missy Elliot signs with lyrics! Try singing it!!! Did you pronounce the names of the star signs correctly?

would rather / had better

An interesting explanation (in Spanish) with peculiar phonetics (I’m sure most of you will enjoy the transcription rather than the standard ones). The BBC also provides with an interesting explanation including rather than.

The theory is useless without some practice: ejerciciodeingles, tolearnenglish (scroll down a bit to see the practice), autoenglish (in pdf), EFL para secundaria, baladre1 and baladre2,  and from OUP.

You can also sing the songs we saw in class: El Condor Pasa (‘d rather), Sign Your Name Across My Heart (just one example of ‘d rather but… What a beautiful song!) Santa Claus is coming to town (‘d better)

DON'T YOU or DONTCHA? Auxiliaries

Remember to pronounce the final t as a t or as in ch. Listen to  these songs and choose what you prefer!!

The classic by Simple Minds ‘Don’t you forget about me’ or another classic by The Human League ‘Don’t you want me, baby‘. Or the more modern ‘Don’t cha’ by The Pussycat Dolls. And a little present for the sake of curiosity.

More exercises on auxiliaries in the web of our book.

All pop songs are the same…

Do you disagree? Have a look at this four chord songs