FAMILY PORTRAIT

(sung by Pink)

Exercise-1: Prepositions & Particles (scroll to next box)

Exercise-2: Mixed Tenses (simple present v present continuous v simple past, present perfect, simple future, imperative)

Exercise-3: Comprehension (fact gathering & giving opinions)

Subjects for role-play, essay or discussion

Language Notes

The Full Lyrics Answer Key

EXERCISE 1

ACTIVITY: Gapped

PRACTICE: Prepositions & Particles

SKILLS: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fill the gaps with one of the prepositions, or particles, shown below.

Discuss your choice of answers with another student

Listen to the song to check your answers.

Make this exercise easier by listening to the song and completing the gaps.

THE MISSING PREPOSITIONS

about <> around <> at <> away <> back <> from <> out <> to <> up
NOTE: 'tearing me down' is omitted. See the language notes below

FAMILY PORTRAIT
(sung by Pink)
Uh, uh, some deep shit, uh, uh.
Momma please stop crying; I cant stand the sound;
Your pain is painful and it's tearing me down.
I hear glasses breaking, as I sit .................. in my bed.
I told dad you didnt mean those nasty things you said.
You fight ..................t money, .................. me and my brother
And this I come home ..................; this is my shelter.
It aint easy growing ..................

.................. World War III,

Never knowing what love could be. Youll see

I dont want love .................. destroy me, like it has done .................. my family
Can we work it ..................? Can we be a family?
I promise Ill be better, Mommy, Ill do anything
Can we work it ..................? Can we be a family?
I promise Ill be better. Daddy please dont leave.
Daddy please stop yelling; I cant stand the sound.
Make mama stop crying, 'coz I need you ...................
My mama, she loves you, no matter what she says. It's true
I know that she hurts you, but remember I love you, too.
I ran .................. today, ran .................. the noise, ran ..................
(I) Dont want .................. go .................. to that place, but dont have no choice, no way.
It aint easy growing .................. in World War III,
Never knowing what love could be. Well, I've seen
I dont want love .................. destroy me, like it did my family.
Can we work it ..................? Can we be a family?

I promise Ill be better, Mommy, Ill do anything.

Can we work it ..................? Can we be a family?
I promise Ill be better; Daddy please dont leave.
.................. our family portrait; we look pretty happy.
Lets play pretend; let's act like it comes naturally.
I dont want .................. have .................. split the holidays;
I dont want two addresses. I dont want a step-brother anyways
And I dont want my mom .................. have .................. change her last name.
.................. our family portrait, we look pretty happy.
We look pretty normal; let's go .................. .................. that.
.................. our family portrait we look pretty happy.
Let's play pretend - act like it comes naturally.
.................. our family portrait, we look pretty happy.
(Can we work it ..................? Can we be a family?)
We look pretty normal; let's go .................. .................. that.
(I promise Ill be better, Mommy Ill do anything)
.................. our family portrait, we look pretty happy
(Can we work it ..................? Can we be a family?)
Let's play pretend - act like it comes so naturally.
(I promise Ill be better, Daddy please don't leave)
.................. our family portrait, we look pretty happy.
(Can we work it ..................? Can we be a family?)
We look pretty normal; let's go .................. .................. that.
(I promise Ill be better, Daddy please don't leave)
Daddy dont leave. (x3)
Turn .................. please;
Remember that the night you left you took my shining star?

Daddy dont leave. (x3)

Don't leave us here alone.
Mom will be nicer.
Ill be so much better; Ill tell my brother.
Oh, I wont spill the milk .................. dinner.
Ill be so much better; Ill do everything right.
Ill be your little girl forever;
Ill go to sleep .................. night.

Exercise:

Levels:

Intermediate +

Activity:

Gapped

Language:

Mixed Tenses

Skills:

Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking

INSTRUCTIONS:

Replace the infinitives with one of the following tenses:-

Imperative

Simple Future

Simple Present

Present Continuous

Present Perfect

Simple Past

Discuss your choice of answers with another student

Listen to the song to check your answers

Make this exercise easier by listening to the song and completing the gaps.

FAMILY PORTRAIT
(sung by Pink)
Uh, uh, some deep shit, uh, uh.
Momma please stop crying; I cant stand the sound;
Your pain ..................(be) painful and it ..................(tear) me down.
I ..................(hear) glasses breaking, as I ..................(sit) up in my bed.
I ..................(tell) dad you ..................(not mean) those nasty things you ..................(say).
You ..................(fight) about money, about me and my brother
And this I ..................(come) home to; this is my shelter.
It ..................(not be) easy growing up in World War III,
Never knowing what love could be. You ..................(see)

I .................. (not want) love to destroy me, like it ..................(do) my family

Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I ..................(promise) I ..................(be) better, Mommy, I ..................(do) anything
Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I ..................(promise) Ill be better. Daddy please ..................(not leave).
Daddy please ..................(stop) yelling; I cant stand the sound.
..................(make) mama stop crying, 'coz I ..................(need) you around.
My mama, she ..................(love) you, no matter what she ..................(say). It ..................(be) true
I ..................(know) that she ..................(hurt) you, but ..................(remember) I ..................(love) you, too.
I ..................(run) away today, ..................(run) from the noise, run away.
(I) ..................(not want) to go back to that place, but ..................(not have) no choice, no way.
It ..................(be) easy growing up in World War III,
Never knowing what love could be. Well, I ..................(see)

I ..................(not want) love to destroy me, like it did my family.

Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I ..................(promise) I ..................(be) better, Mommy, I ..................(do) anything.
Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I ..................(promise) I ..................(be) better; Daddy please ..................(not leave).
In our family portrait; we ..................(look) pretty happy.
..................(let) s play pretend; ..................(let) 's act like it ..................(come) naturally.
I ..................(not want) to have to split the holidays;
I ..................(not want) two addresses. I ..................(not want) a step-brother anyways
And I ..................(not want) my mom to have to change her last name.
In our family portrait, we ..................(look) pretty happy.
We ..................(look) pretty normal; ..................(let) 's go back to that.
In our family portrait we ..................(look) pretty happy.
..................(let) 's play pretend - act like it ..................(come) naturally.
In our family portrait, we ..................(look) pretty happy.
(Can we work it out? Can we be a family?)
We ..................(look) pretty normal; ..................(let) 's go back to that.
(I ..................(promise) I ..................(be) better, Mommy I ..................(do) anything)
In our family portrait, we ..................(look) pretty happy
(Can we work it out? Can we be a family?)
..................(let) 's play pretend - act like it ..................(come) so naturally.
(I ..................(promise) I.................. (be) better, Daddy please .................. (not leave) )
In our family portrait, we ..................(look) pretty happy.
(Can we work it out? Can we be a family?)
We ..................(look) pretty normal; ..................(let) 's go back to that.
(I ..................(promise) I ..................(be) better, Daddy please ..................(not leave) )
Daddy ..................(not leave). (x3)

..................(turn) around please;

..................(remember) that the night you ..................(leave) you ..................(take) my shining star?
Daddy .................. (not leave). (x3)
.................. (not leave) us here alone.
Mom ..................(be) nicer.
I ..................(be) so much better; I ..................(tell) my brother.
Oh, I ..................(not spill) the milk at dinner.
I ..................(be) so much better; I ..................(do) everything right.
I ..................(be) your little girl forever;
I ..................(go) to sleep at night.

Exercise:

Activities:

Pairwork, groupwork, threesomes, classwork

Language:

Comprehension

Functions:

Fact gathering, giving opinions

Skills:

Reading, Note-taking, Speaking, Listening

INSTRUCTIONS

Find answers to the following questions

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SUGGESTION

GROUPS: Divide the class into three groups

Hand each group a separate question

PAIRWORK: If the groups are large enough, students can work in pairs within their group.

Allow adequate time (according to their level) to find answers within the lyrics.

GROUPS: Instruct students to report their findings back to their group, in a group discussion.

MONITOR: Listen to each group's findings and add information if necessary, so they are fully armed with all the facts.

REGROUP INTO GROUPS OF THREE: Instruct the class to regroup into groups of three, containing one student from each group. (Each
student is an expert on their question.)

Instruct each group to pose their question to the other two in their group. They must then correct and advise, as appropriate, whilst indicating
which particular words in the lyrics support their argument.

CLASS DISCUSSION: Finally pose the following questions to the whole class:

Is the marriage on the rocks?

Can it be saved?

If it cannot be saved, what is the next stage?

cut- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1-Who does the singer blame for the problems between her mother and father? What solutions does she offer? What particularly upsets her?
cut- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2-What does the singer think will improve the marriage? How does she try to intervene? How does she feel?
cut- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3-What is the current situation within the marriage?
cut- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Answer Key

Subjects for Essay or Discussion

The possible long-term effects on children from broken marriages

Types of marital problems and the possible causes of marriage break-ups

The recipe for a perfect marriage

The effects of a marriage breakdown on children

Should parents stay together for the sake of the children?

ROLE-PLAY SUGGESTION (2 groups)

Create a fictitious dysfunctional family & show how they deal with everyday problems

Create a perfect marriage & family. Contrast it with the dysfunctional one. (Show them dealing with the same problems)

Language Notes

'coz = because

ain't = is not

it's tearing me down SHOULD BE it's tearing me apart

Momma, Mama = mum [UK]

Mommy = mummy [UK]

but dont have no choice (English should NOT have more than one negative word in a sentence, as the second one cancels out the first. The
above clause therefore means that there IS a choice)

It is not polite to say 'I want' or 'I don't want', as it can irritate the listener. Much better to say 'I would like' or 'I wouldn't like' or 'I would
prefer not to have....'

The Full Lyrics Answer Key

Prepositions & particles are shown in GREEN

Conjugated Tenses are shown in RED

FAMILY PORTRAIT
(sung by Pink)
Uh, uh, some deep shit, uh, uh.
Momma please stop crying; I cant stand the sound;
Your pain is painful and it's tearing me down.
I hear glasses breaking, as I sit up in my bed.

I told dad you didnt mean those nasty things you said.
You fight about money, about me and my brother
And this I come home to; this is my shelter.
It aint easy growing up in World War III,
Never knowing what love could be. Youll see
I dont want love to destroy me, like it has done to my family
Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I promise Ill be better, Mommy, Ill do anything
Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I promise Ill be better. Daddy please dont leave.
Daddy please stop yelling; I cant stand the sound.
Make mama stop crying, 'coz I need you around.
My mama, she loves you, no matter what she says. It's true
I know that she hurts you, but remember I love you, too.
I ran away today, ran from the noise, ran away.
(I) Dont want to go back to that place, but dont have no choice, no way.
It aint easy growing up in World War III,
Never knowing what love could be. Well, I've seen
I dont want love to destroy me, like it did my family.
Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I promise Ill be better, Mommy, Ill do anything.
Can we work it out? Can we be a family?
I promise Ill be better; Daddy please dont leave.
In our family portrait; we look pretty happy.
Lets play pretend; let's act like it comes naturally.
I dont want to have to split the holidays;
I dont want two addresses. I dont want a step-brother anyways

And I dont want my mom to have to change her last name.

In our family portrait, we look pretty happy.
We look pretty normal; let's go back to that.
In our family portrait we look pretty happy.
Let's play pretend - act like it comes naturally.
In our family portrait, we look pretty happy.
(Can we work it out? Can we be a family?)
We look pretty normal; let's go back to that.
(I promise Ill be better, Mommy Ill do anything)
In our family portrait, we look pretty happy
(Can we work it out? Can we be a family?)
Let's play pretend - act like it comes so naturally.
(I promise Ill be better, Daddy please don't leave)
In our family portrait, we look pretty happy.
(Can we work it out? Can we be a family?)
We look pretty normal; let's go back to that.
(I promise Ill be better, Daddy please don't leave)
Daddy dont leave. (x3)
Turn around please;
Remember that the night you left you took my shining star?
Daddy dont leave. (x3)
Don't leave us here alone.
Mom will be nicer.
Ill be so much better; Ill tell my brother.
Oh, I wont spill the milk at dinner.
Ill be so much better; Ill do everything right.
Ill be your little girl forever;

Ill go to sleep at night.

The Answer Key for Exercise 3

1-Who does the singer blame for the problems between her mother and father?

she thinks her own behaviour is responsible

she also blames her mother for saying nasty things

NOTE: behaviour (UK spelling)

What solutions does she offer?

she promises to behave better

she promises not to spill milk at the table

she offers to do anything to save the marriage

What particularly upsets her?

Her mother's crying

Her mother's distress

Her father's threats to leave

The thought of her mother having a new surname

The thought of living between two addresses

The thought of dividing her school holiday time between the two parents

The possibility of a step-brother

What long-term effects does she anticipate?

She will sleep properly at night if the marriage is saved.

The current unpleasantness will have a detrimental influence on her future opinion of marriage

She will never trust love

2-What does the singer think will improve the marriage?

She wants them to pretend they are happy, rather than split up

How does she try to intervene?

She tells her father that her mother does not mean the nasty things she says

She tells him that her mother really loves him

She tells him that she loves him too

She tells him how she needs him around

She asks him to stop her mother crying

She promises that her mother will be nicer

She promises to do everything right

She promises to be his little girl forever

How does she feel?

She feels it is like growing up in the middle of a battlefield

She feels that she has only seen love as a destructive force

She wants to run away from it all, but cant

Just wants a family at any cost

3-What is the current situation within the marriage?

Father has already left once and the singer has a step-brother somewhere

Mother & Father arguing over money

Mother & Father arguing over the children

Father shouting

Father about to leave

Mother saying nasty things

Mother crying