Really! More than 50%
Did you know that the Present Simple is the most commonly used tense in spoken and written English? It accounts for between *50-60% of English communication.
The second most commonly used tense is the Past Simple with nearly *20% usage.
The number one song in the USA right now is YMCA by The Village People. It provides ideal revision and practice for these two tenses. Click on the Official Music Video, with subtitles, below. I hope you enjoy the video. It’s part of our 70s’ music culture! If you sing along, you will improve your listening, speaking & pronunciation, and reading skills, as well as grammar and vocabulary. All in less than five minutes!
Then check out the lyrics below the video. I have colour-coded the tenses.
(* These figures vary depending on which study you check.)Song Lyrics
Present Simple in Orange /Past Simple in Pink ………………………………………….. Song: YMCA by The Village People ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Young man, there’s no need to feel down. I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground. I said, young man, ’cause you’re in a new town, There’s no need to be unhappy. ……………………………………………………..…………………………………….. ……………………….. Young man, there’s a place you can go. I said, young man, when you’re short on your dough, You can stay there, and I’m sure you will find Many ways to have a good time. ………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Chorus: It’s fun to stay at the YMCA It’s fun to stay at the YMCA They have everything For young men to enjoy. You can hang out with all the boys. It’s fun to stay at the YMCA It’s fun to stay at the YMCA You can get yourself clean. You can have a good meal. You can do whatever you feel.
Young man, Are you listening to me? I said, young man, what do you want to be? I said, young man, you can make real your dreams, but you’ve got to know this one thing. No man, does it all by himself; I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf And just go there, to the YMCA I’m sure they can help you today.Chorus:
Young Man, I was once in your shoes. I said, I was down and out with the blues. I felt no man cared if I were alive; I felt the whole world was so tight. That’s when someone came up to me and said, Young man take a walk up the street. There’s a place there called the YMCA They can start you back on your way.Chorus:
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Did you notice that some lines include the word can? Even though can is a modal verb, we often use it in the Present Simple sense. It is easier to think of can = be able to / be possible / be okay. We use can when we want to express,1) ability: The Village People can really sing!
2) possibility: You can get yourself clean. You can have a good meal.
3) to indicate that something is okay: You can hang out with all the boys. You can do whatever you feel.
The song focuses on the possibilities that the YMCA provides for the welfare of young men.
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Click here for more songs which use Present Simple Tense: Present Simple Present Simple for Opinions and Beliefs Present Simple & Present Perfect Present Simple & Present Continuous Present Simple, Present Continuous, & Present Perfect Continuous
