ESLSongs

Practice the present perfect tense in your ESL class with this song, We are the Champions by Queen.

These song lyrics include 7 examples of the present perfect simple: “I’ve paid”, “I’ve done”, “I’ve made”, “I’ve had”, “I’ve come”, “I’ve taken” & “it’s been”.

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

Lyrics

I’ve paid my dues
Time after time.
I’ve done my sentence
But committed no crime.
And bad mistakes ‒
I’ve made a few.
I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I’ve come through.

And I need to go on and on, and on, and on

We are the champions, my friends,
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end.
We are the champions.
We are the champions.
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions of the world.

I’ve taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all

But it’s been no bed of roses,
No pleasure cruise.
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain’t gonna lose.

And I need to go on and on, and on, and on

We are the champions, my friends,
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end.
We are the champions.
We are the champions.
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions of the world.

We are the champions, my friends,
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end.
We are the champions.
We are the champions.
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions.

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect simple. Then listen to the song to check your answers.

I ¹________________ (pay) my dues
Time after time.
I ²________________ (do) my sentence
But committed no crime.
And bad mistakes ‒
I ³________________ (make) a few.
I ⁴________________ (have) my share of sand kicked in my face
But I ⁵________________ (come) through.

And I need go on and on, and on, and on

We are the champions, my friends,
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end.
We are the champions.
We are the champions.
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions of the world.

I ⁶________________ (take) my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it ⁷________________ (be) no bed of roses,
No pleasure cruise.
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain’t gonna lose.

And I need to go on and on, and on, and on

We are the champions, my friends,
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end.
We are the champions.
We are the champions.
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions of the world.

We are the champions, my friends,
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end.
We are the champions.
We are the champions.
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions…

Queen (band)

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1970 by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor, later joined by John Deacon (bass). Their earliest works were influenced by progressive rock, hard rock, and heavy metal, but the band gradually ventured into more conventional and radio-friendly works by incorporating further styles, such as arena rock and pop rock.