Contractions

Contractions are used to represent the way people talk.

They are often used in lyrics to better fit the musical part.
Examples
Ive gotta go now. (I have got to go now.)
They werent who they said. (They were not)
I cant wait until the play starts. I cannot wait)
Sometimes words are omitted:
I better go now. (I had better go now)
I gotta run. (I have got to run.)

(Mariah Carey)

Mariah Carey
Complete as you listen:
I gotta take a (1)_________________
A little time to (2)_________________ over
I better read (3)_________________
In case I need it when (4)_________________
In my (5)_________________ heartache and pain
I don't know if I (6)_________________ again
I can't stop now, (7)_________________ so far
To change (8)_________________
I wanna know what love is
I want you (9)_________________
I wanna feel what love is
I know you (10)_________________
Gonna take a little time
A little time (11)_________________
I've got (12)_________________ to hide
It looks like love has finally found me
In my life there's been heartache (13)_________________
I don't know if (14)_________________ again
I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
(I wanna know)
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is

There are many contractions and omitted words in the

lyrics. Can you find them? After finding, write the
corresponding formal written form and create 2 original
sentences with it. The first with formal written
(standard) English and the second with the informal
(contracted / omitted words) form:
1- _______________ = ___________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________
2- _______________ = ___________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________
3- _______________ = ___________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________
4- _______________ = ___________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________
5- _______________ = ___________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________
6- _______________ = ___________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________
7- _______________ = ___________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________
8- _______________ = ___________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________
9- _______________ = ___________________________
_______________________________________________
______________________________________________

Missing words

and pain between the lines can face it can show

me I can face it I'm older I've traveled life there's
been little time nowhere left think things this
lonely life to look around me to show me

I wanna know what love is

I gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm older
In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
Gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me
In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
(I wanna know)
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is

Underline the verbs and write them below, according to their

tenses, and write a brief explanation about the uses:
Present Simple
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Present Perfect
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Future with going to

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Infinitive
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Explain the use of some special and modal

verbs found in the lyrics and write
examples taken from it:

have got to
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_____________________________________

had better
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_____________________________________

can
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_____________________________________

Write original sentences using the tenses and special verbs found
in the lyrics. Try using the contracted form or omitting some
words, as in the examples provided in the song:

have got to
_________________________________________________________
had better
_________________________________________________________
can
_________________________________________________________
Present Simple
_________________________________________________________
Present Perfect
_________________________________________________________
Future with going to
_________________________________________________________
Infinitive
______________________________________________________

Answer some questions about the lyrics:

A.

B.

I wanna know what love is

1.
2.
3.
4.

I gotta take a little time

A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm older

5.
6.
7.
8.

In my life there's been heartache and pain

I don't know if I can face it again
I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life

C.

D.

E.

9. I wanna know what love is

10. I want you to show me
11. I wanna feel what love is
12. I know you can show me

F.

G.

H.
13. Gonna take a little time
14. A little time to look around me
15. I've got nowhere left to hide
16. It looks like love has finally found me
17. In my life there's been heartache and pain
18. I don't know if I can face it again
19. I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
20. To change this lonely life
21. I wanna know what love is
22. I want you to show me
23. I wanna feel what love is
24. I know you can show me
25. (I wanna know)
26. I wanna know what love is
27. I want you to show me
28. I wanna feel what love is
29. I know you can show me
30. I wanna know what love is
31. I want you to show me
32. I wanna feel what love is

I.

J.

Why does she need to take a little time? (lines 1 and 2)

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
What does she mean when she says I better read between the
lines? (line 3)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
When does she think shell need this information? (line 4)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Whats there been in her life? (line 5)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
What is that she doesnt know? (line 6)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
What does she mean by Ive traveled so far? (line 7)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
What does she want? (lines 9 to 12)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Why is she going to take a little time? (lines 13 and 14)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
What hasnt she got? (line 15)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
What does she meant to hide from? (line 16)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Personal questions:
1) Have you ever been in a situation in which you needed time to
think about?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
2) Do you think people always hide from bad things and never
from good things?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
3) Is it possible that someone is hiding from something that can
make him happy? Why do you think so?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
4) Is it possible to teach someone what is love? And is it possible
to show it?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
5) Do you need some time before taking important decisions?
Can you remember a situation about it?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________