ESLSongs

Practise the present simple, and especially the third person singular, in your ESL class with this classic song, For No One by The Beatles. The lyrics of this song contain 26 examples of the present simple tense, and it is appropriate for basic level learners.

There is a suggestion on how to use this song in your ESL classes below, but for more ideas, click here.

Lyrics

Your day breaks, your mind aches
You find that all her words of kindness linger on
When she no longer needs you
She wakes up, she makes up
She takes her time and doesn’t feel she has to hurry
She no longer needs you

And in her eyes, you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You want her, you need her
And yet you don’t believe her
When she says her love is dead
You think she needs you

And in her eyes, you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You stay home, she goes out
She says that long ago she knew someone
But now he’s gone, she doesn’t need him
Your day breaks, your mind aches
There will be times when all the things she said will fill your head
You won’t forget her

And in her eyes, you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Your day ¹  breaks   (break), your mind ² __________ (ache)
You ³ __________ (find) that all her words of kindness ⁴ __________ (linger) on
When she no longer ⁵ __________ (need) you

She ⁶ __________ (wake) up, she ⁷ __________ (make) up
She ⁸ __________ (take) her time and ⁹ __________ (feel – negative)
she ¹⁰ __________ (have) to hurry
She no longer ¹¹ __________ (need) you

And in her eyes you ¹² __________ (see) nothing
No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You ¹³ __________ (want) her, you ¹⁴ __________ (need) her
And yet you ¹⁵ __________ (believe – negative) her
When she ¹⁶ __________ (say) her love is dead
You ¹⁷ __________ (think) she ¹⁸ __________ (need) you

And in her eyes you ¹⁸ __________ (see) nothing
No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You ²⁰ __________ (stay) home, she ²¹ __________ (go) out
She ²² __________ (say) that long ago she knew someone
But now he’s gone
She ²³ __________ (need – negative) him

Your day ²⁴ __________ (break), your mind ²⁵ __________ (ache)
There will be times
When all the things she said will fill your head
You won’t forget her

And in her eyes you ²⁶ __________ (see) nothing
No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years