ESLSongs

Practice modal verbs in your ESL class with this song, Resistance by Muse. The 7 modal verbs of ability, possibility and obligation that appear several times in these song lyrics are:

• ability: it could never last, it could have been right, we can’t pretend
• possibility: it could be wrong
• obligation: it should have been right, we must run, (we) must erase, our lips must always be sealed

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

Lyrics

Is our secret safe tonight?
And are we out of sight?
Or will our world come tumbling down?
Will they find our hiding place?
Is this our last embrace?
Or will the walls start caving in?

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it should have been right
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) To let our hearts ignite
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) Are we digging a hole?
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) This is out of control

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) It could never last
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) Must erase it fast
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it could have been right
(It could be wrong, could be…)

Love is our resistance
They’ll keep us apart and they won’t stop breaking us down
Hold me
Our lips must always be sealed

If we live a life in fear
I’ll wait a thousand years
Just to see you smile again

Kill your prayers for love and peace
You’ll wake the thought police
We can’t hide the truth inside

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it should have been right
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) To let our hearts ignite
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) Are we digging a hole?

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) This is out of control
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) It could never last
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) Must erase it fast
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it could have been right
(It could be wrong, could be…)

Love is our resistance
They’ll keep us apart and they won’t stop breaking us down
Hold me
Our lips must always be sealed

The night has reached its end
We can’t pretend
We must run
We must run
It’s time to run
Take us away from here
Protect us from further harm
Resistance

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Listen to the song and fill the gaps with an appropriate auxiliar verb + the verb in brackets. Sometimes you will need to put the verb in the participle form.

• can’t / could / must
• could have + participle / should have + participle

Is our secret safe tonight?
And are we out of sight?
Or will our world come tumbling down?
Will they find our hiding place?
Is this our last embrace?
Or will the walls start caving in?

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it ¹_______________ (be) right
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) To let our hearts ignite
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) Are we digging a hole?
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) This is out of control

(It could be wrong, could be wrong) It ²_______________ (never last)
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) (we) ³_______________ (erase) it fast
(It could be wrong, could be wrong) But it ⁴_______________ (be) right
(It could be wrong, could be…)

Love is our resistance
They’ll keep us apart and they won’t stop breaking us down
Hold me
Our lips ⁵_______________ (always be) sealed

If we live a life in fear
I’ll wait a thousand years
Just to see you smile again

Kill your prayers for love and peace
You’ll wake the thought police
We ⁶_______________ (hide) the truth inside

The night has reached its end
We ⁷_______________ (pretend)
We ⁸_______________ (run)
We ⁹_______________ (run)
It’s time to run
Take us away from here
Protect us from further harm
Resistance

Muse (band)

Muse are an English rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme, and Dominic Howard.