How to listen to this song: In My Life by The Beatles

How to Listen to This Song: “In My Life” by The Beatles

You’ll use this song to review different verb tenses.

First, listen to the song “In My Life” by The Beatles. You can listen here or here or here.

Now, let’s quickly review some verb tenses. (These explanations and examples are just quick reminders. For much better explanations, visit perfect-english-grammar.com.)

Future Simple: will+base form of the verb*, used for things that happen at one specific time in the future

Examples: I will go to the party at 7pm. I’ll meet you on Saturday

Present Simple: base verb + s/es, used for things that are generally true and the specific times aren’t important because they’re always true/false or the same.

Examples: I love pizza! He sleeps on the floor.

Past Simple: base verb + -ed (2^nd form), used for things that happen at one specific time in the past (and we know when).

Examples: I walked home yesterday. I called her at 5pm.

Present Continuous: base verb + -ing (present participle), used for temporary (non-permanent) situations

Examples: I am eating, but I’ll finish soon. I am working as a waiter, but I want to change jobs.

Present Perfect: have/has + base verb+ed, used for things that happened and finished in the past, but we don’t know (or don’t care) when they happened.

Examples: I have already watched that movie, so let’s see a different movie. I’ve visited Canada. I’ve baked a cake!

* The base form of the verb is the form you find in the dictionary. For example the base form of “go” is “go”. The base form of “went” is also “go”.

Next, listen to the song and read the lyrics

There are places I remember

All my life, though some have changed

Some forever, not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends, I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life, I’ve loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers

There is no one compares with you

And these memories lose their meaning

When I think of love as something new

Though I know I’ll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I’ll often stop and think about them

In my life, I love you more

Though I know I’ll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I’ll often stop and think about them

In my life, I love you more

In my life, I love you more.

After Listening Now, looking at the lyrics, make a list of all the examples of each verb tense you can find. (Answers below)

Three more things…

Can you memorize this song? If you can, then you’ll always remember your verb tenses.

Listen to the song and try to sing it too.

Finally, use each verb tense to write three practice sentences (three Future Simple, three Present Simple, etc.)

Answers:

Future Simple: I’ll never lose affection, I’ll often stop and think

Present Simple: There are places, I remember, Some remain, Some are dead, There is no one, No one compares with you, These memories lose their meaning, I think of love, I know, I love you

Past Simple: These places had their moments, People and things…went before

Present Progressive: Some are living

Present Perfect: Some have changed, Some have gone, I’ve loved them all