Sunday, June 14, 2020

Present Tense Verbs using "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke

(TESOL Worksheets--Verb Forms General)
Google: docs, pub
[Notes: I was teaching out of a textbook (Close-up C1 p.10) that required reviewing all 4 aspects of the present tense in one lesson (present simple, present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous).  The textbook did not provide any context, so I was searching for some song that would illustrate all 4 aspects.  In the end, I couldn't find a song that had all 4 aspects in it.  (If someone can think of one, please let me know.)  But this song had 3 out of the 4 aspects, so I figured it was close enough.  Plus it's really slow and easy to listen to and has a beautiful melody, so I think it's good to use in the classroom.  (I had previously used it as a TESOL Songsheets.)]

A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke (1964)



I was born by the river in a little tent 
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since 
It's been a long, a long time coming 
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will 


It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die 
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky 
It's been a long, a long time coming 
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will 


I go to the movie and I go downtown
 somebody keep telling me don't hang around 
It's been a long, a long time coming 
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will 


Then I go to my brother 
And I say brother help me please 
But he winds up knocking me 
Back down on my knees 


Ohhhhhhhhh..... 


There've been times that I thought I couldn't last for long 
But now I think I'm able to carry on 
It's been a long, a long time coming 
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Present Tense Verbs
Present Simple
Present Continuous
Present  Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous
















Find verbs in the song matching these descriptions.  Which verbs are they:
1. These verbs describe a condition that started in the past and continued until now.  The speaker imagines this as a state that is always true, all the time.
verb name:
examples: 


2. These verbs describe how the speaker is feeling now.
verb name:
examples: 


3. These verbs describe an action that started in the past and continues until now.  The speaker imagines this as an action that he repeats or continues over and over again.
verb name:
examples: 


4. An indefinite experience in the past.  From what the speaker has said, we know it’s sometime in the past, but we don’t know exactly when.
verb name:
examples: 


5. These verbs describe habits or things that happen repeatedly.  They are not necessarily happening exactly now, but they’ve happened often before and will happen again.
verb name:
examples: 



Answers:
Present Tenses
Present Simple
Present Continuous
Present  Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous
I know,
I’m afraid,
I go to the movies,
I go downtown,
keeps telling,
I go to my brother,
I say,
He winds up, 
I think,
I’m able

It’s been a long time coming,
It’s been too hard living,
There’ve been times
I’ve been running

Other forms
going to future
will future (simple)
imperatives
Infinitives (simple)
Past simple
a change gonna (is going to) come
yes it will
brother help me please,
don’t hang around
to die
was born (passive),
I thought,
I couldn’t last
Answers:


Find verbs in the song matching these descriptions.  Which verbs are they:
1. These verbs describe a condition that started in the past and continued until now.  The speaker imagines this as a state that is always true, all the time.
verb name: Present Perfect
examples: It’s been a long time coming, It’s been too hard living


2. These verbs describe how the speaker is feeling now.
verb name: Present Simple
examples: I know, I’m afraid, I think, I’m able


3. These verbs describe an action that started in the past and continues until now.  The speaker imagines this as an action that he repeats or continues over and over again.
verb name: Present Perfect Continuous
examples: I’ve been running 


4. An indefinite experience in the past.  From what the speaker has said, we know it’s sometime in the past, but we don’t know exactly when.
verb name: Present Perfect
examples: There’ve been times


5. These verbs describe habits or things that happen repeatedly.  They are not necessarily happening exactly now, but they’ve happened often before and will happen again.
verb name: Present Simple

examples: I go to the movies, I go downtown, keeps telling me, I go to my brother, I say, He winds up,

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