ESLSongs

Practice the third person singular of the present simple in your ESL class with this song, Ob-la-di Ob-la-da by The Beatles.

There are 11 examples of the third person singular in this song: has / is / says / takes / goes / buys / gives / begins / lets / stays / does

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

Lyrics

Desmond has a barrow in the market place
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond says to Molly “girl, I like your face”
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand.

Chorus
Obladi oblada life goes on bra
Lala how the life goes on
Obladi Oblada life goes on bra
Lala how the life goes on.

Desmond takes a trolly to the jeweller’s store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing.

Chorus

In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard of Desmond and Molly Jones.

Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening, she still sings it with the band

Chorus

In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard of Desmond and Molly Jones.

Happy ever after in the market place
Molly lets the children lend a hand
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening she’s a singer with the band.

Chorus

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Suggested activity: correct the mistakes

Download this exercise (PDF)

It is the year 1969, and Paul McCartney is writing a song for the Beatles. He gives the lyrics to you and says “what do you think?” but when you look at the lyrics, they’re full of grammar mistakes! There are some verbs which should be in the third person singular!

Correct Paul’s mistakes, and then listen to the song to check your answers.

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Desmond have a barrow in the market place
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond say to Molly “girl, I like your face”
And Molly say this as she take him by the hand.

Chorus
Obladi oblada life go on bra
Lala how the life go on
Obladi Oblada life go on bra
Lala how the life go on.

Desmond take a trolly to the jeweller’s store
(He) buy a twenty carat golden ring
(He) take it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he give it to her she begin to sing.

Chorus

In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard of Desmond and Molly Jones.

Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond let the children lend a hand
Molly stay at home and do her pretty face
And in the evening, she still sing it with the band

Chorus

In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard of Desmond and Molly Jones.

Happy ever after in the market place
Molly let the children lend a hand
Desmond stay at home and do his pretty face
And in the evening she’s a singer with the band.

Chorus

.

You give Paul his lyrics back. “Wow, thanks man!” he says. “The song is much better now that it’s grammatically correct! Maybe now it will be a hit!”

Desmond ¹has a barrow in the market place
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond ²says to Molly “girl, I like your face”
And Molly ³says this as she ⁴takes him by the hand.

Chorus
Obladi oblada life ⁵goes on bra
Lala how the life ⁵goes on
Obladi Oblada life ⁵goes on bra
Lala how the life ⁵goes on.

Desmond ⁶takes a trolly to the jeweller’s store
(He) ⁷buys a twenty carat golden ring
(He) ⁸takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he ⁹gives it to her she ¹⁰begins to sing.

Chorus

In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard of Desmond and Molly Jones.

Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond ¹¹lets the children lend a hand
Molly ¹²stays at home and ¹³does her pretty face
And in the evening, she still ¹⁴sings it with the band

Chorus

In a couple of years they have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard of Desmond and Molly Jones.

Happy ever after in the market place
Molly ¹⁵lets the children lend a hand
Desmond ¹⁶stays at home and ¹⁷does his pretty face
And in the evening she’s a singer with the band.

Chorus

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular music as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways. The band also explored music styles ranging from folk and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the Beatles revolutionized many aspects of the music industry and were often publicized as leaders of the era’s youth and sociocultural movements.