Practice the first conditional in your ESL class with this song, Count on me by Bruno Mars.
There are 7 different examples of the 1st conditional in these song lyrics, with both if and when as the connectors.
There is a suggestion on how to use this song in your ESL classes below, but for more ideas, click here.
Lyrics
If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea
I’ll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can’t see
I’ll be the light to guide you
We’ll find out what we’re made of
When we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one, two, three
I’ll be there
And I know when I need it, I can count on you like four, three, two
And you’ll be there
‘Cause that’s what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah
If you tossin’ and you’re turnin’ and you just can’t fall asleep
I’ll sing a song beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Every day I will remind you, oh
We’ll find out what we’re made of
When we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one, two, three
I’ll be there
And I know when I need it, I can count on you like four, three, two
And you’ll be there
‘Cause that’s what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah
You’ll always have my shoulder when you cry
I’ll never let go, never say goodbye
You know you can count on me like one, two, three
I’ll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two
And you’ll be there
‘Cause that’s what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
You can count on me ’cause I can count on you
Suggested activity: match the sentence halves
Download this exercise (PDF)
Match the first half of each 1st conditional phrase in black with the second half
First halves…
1If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea…
2If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can’t see…
3And I know when I need it…
4If you’re tossing and you’re turning and you just can’t fall asleep…
5And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me…
6We’ll find out what we’re made of…
7You’ll always have my shoulder…
Second halves…
…every day I will remind you
…when we are called to help our friends in need
…I’ll be the light to guide you
…I’ll sail the world to find you
…when you cry
…I can count on you
…I’ll sing a song beside you
Bruno MarsPeter Gene Hernandez, known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his stage performances, retro showmanship, and for performing in a wide range of musical styles, including pop, R&B, funk, soul, reggae, disco, and rock. Mars is accompanied by his band, the Hooligans, who play a variety of instruments, such as electric guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, drums, and horns, and also serve as backup singers and disco dancers. In 2021, he collaborated with Anderson .Paak, as the American musical superduo Silk Sonic.
Not convinced?
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The Beautiful South – I’ll sail this ship alone
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The Guess Who – She might have been a nice girl
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Beyoncé – If I were a boy
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Adele – If it hadn’t been for love
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Barenaked Ladies – If I had a million dollars
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Pete Seeger – If I had a hammer
Practice the second conditional in your ESL class with this song, If I Had a Hammer by Pete Seeger. To see suggestions on how to use this song in class, click here….
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Alanis Morissette – Ironic
Discover “Murphy’s Law” with your ESL students with this song, Ironic, by Alanis Morissette. The lyrics of this song contain eleven different examples of situations which we could define as “Murphy’s Law”….
