Practice the modal verb “would rather” with this classic song, El Condor Pasa by Simon & Garfunkel. There are 5 examples of “would rather” in these song lyrics.
- I’d rather be… (x3)
- I’d rather sail away
- I’d rather feel…
There is a suggestion on how to use this song in your ESL classes below, but for more ideas, click here.
Lyrics
I’d rather be a sparrow than a snail
Yes, I would
If I could
I surely would
I’d rather be a hammer than a nail
Yes, I would
If I only could
I surely would
Away, I’d rather sail away
Like a swan that’s here and gone
A man gets tied up to the ground
He gives the world its saddest sound
Its saddest sound
I’d rather be a forest than a street
Yes, I would
If I could
I surely would
I’d rather feel the earth beneath my feet
Yes, I would
If I only could
I surely would
Suggested activity: choose the correct word
Download this exercise (PDF)
Listen to the song and choose the word that you hear in the lyrics below.
I’d 1 rather / prefer to be a sparrow than a snail
Yes, I would
If I could
I 2 probably / surely would
I’d rather 3 be / hold a hammer than a nail
Yes, I would
If I only could
I surely would
Away, I’d rather 4 sail / fly away
Like a 5 swan / plane that’s here and gone
A man gets tied up to the 6 earth / ground
He gives the world its saddest sound
Its saddest sound
I’d rather 7 walk through / be a forest than a street
Yes, I would
If I could
I 8 surely / really would
I’d rather 9 feel / touch the earth beneath my feet
Yes, I would
If I only could
I surely would
What would you rather be?
- Would you rather be beautiful/handsome but stupid or intelligent but ugly?
- Would you rather go to a concert or to the cinema?
- Would you rather be popular with your classmates or with your teachers?
- Would you rather be super fast or super strong?
- Would you rather be able to teleport anywhere in the world or be able to read minds?
- Would you rather spend a day without water or a day without your smartphone?
- Would you rather cut off a hand or a foot?
- Would you rather have bad breath or smelly feet?