ESLSongs

Practise the present perfect simple with ever in your ESL class with this song, Glitter in the air by Pink.

There are 9 different examples of the present perfect in this song:

• have you ever fed…
• have you ever thrown…
• have you ever looked…
• have you ever felt…
• have you ever hated…
• have you ever been touched…
• have you ever invited…
• have you ever wished…
• have you ever held…

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

Lyrics

Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Close your eyes and trust it, just trust it
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face and said I just don’t care?

It’s only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn
The thunder before the lightning
And the breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?

Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
Your whole life waiting on the ring to prove you’re not alone
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?

It’s only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table
The walk before the run
The breath before the kiss
And the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?

La la la la la la la la

There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee
Calling me sugar
You called me sugar

Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself
Will it ever get better than tonight?
Tonight

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

What is the participle of these verbs? be, feed, feel, hate, hold, invite, look, throw, touch, wish

Look at the lyrics below. Try to put a verb in its participle form into each of the gaps. Notice that number six has two gaps! Also, there is one verb which is repeated. After you have guessed which verbs go into each gap, listen to the song to check.

Have you ever ¹_________ a lover with just your hands?
Close your eyes and trust it, just trust it
Have you ever ²_________ a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever ³_________ fear in the face and said I just don’t care?

And it’s only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn
The thunder before the lightning
And the breath before the phrase
Have you ever ⁴_________ this way?

Have you ever ⁵_________ yourself for staring at the phone?
Your whole life waiting on the ring to prove you’re not alone
Have you ever ⁶_________ _________ so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever ⁷_________ a stranger to come inside?

It’s only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table, the walk before the run
The breath before the kiss
And the fear before the flames
Have you ever ⁸_________ this way?

La la la la la la la la

There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee
Calling me sugar
You called me sugar

Have you ever ⁹_________ for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever ¹⁰_________ your breath and asked yourself
Will it ever get better than tonight?
Tonight

Pink (singer)

Alecia Beth Moore Hart, known professionally as Pink, is an American singer and songwriter. She is known for her rock-influenced pop songs, powerful contralto voice, and activism.