Samarakoon Bandara

Grammar Chants
Grammar chants can be a lot of fun to use in classes. They are especially effective when used to help
students learn problematic forms. Grammar chants use repetition to engage the right side of the
brain's 'musical' intelligence. The use of multiple intelligences can go a long way to helping students
speak English 'automatically'. Here are a number of chants for some of the most common beginning
level problem areas. Many of these chants are simple. However, remember that through the use of
repetition and having fun together (be as crazy as you like) students will improve their 'automatic'
use of the language.

Using a chant is pretty straight-forward. The teacher (or leader) stands up in front of the class and
'chants' the lines. It's important to be as rhythmical as possible because these rhythms help the brain
during its learning process.

Introductions 1

Hi! How do you do? How are you?

How do you do? How do you do? How are you?
I'm fine, and you I'm fine thanks. How do you do?
How do you do. How are you? I'm fine, and you?
I'm great, thanks.

Introductions 2

Hi! How do you do? Nice to meet you

How are you? I'm fine and you? What's your name?
My name is Fred. Where are you from? I'm from Chicago.
Are you American? Yes, I am. Where are YOU from?
I'm from India.

Simple Present

I I know you. He
He knows you. I I don't know
He He doesn't know We
We enjoy this class. She She enjoys this class.
You You don't complain. She
She doesn't complain. They Do they like it?
He Does he like it? I, you, we, they
no S, no S, no s He, She, It yes s, yes s, yes s

Grammar Chants – Pronouns

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I I, me My book
That's mine You You, you
Your book That's yours. He
He, him His book That's his.
She She, her Her book
That's hers. We We, us
Our book That's ours They
They, them Their book That's theirs.

Grammar Chants - Questions with 'Like'

LIKE! What is he like? Nice and friendly!

What does she like?
Food!
LIKE!
What do you like?
Nice and friendly.
She likes sports.
What does she look like?
What would you like?
Watching TV and reading
How is he?
What would you like?
Tall and pretty.
Something to drink.
What is she like?
Fine

Grammar Chants - Question Words

Go! Who goes? He goes.

Where does he go?
He goes to school in the
morning
What does he do at school?
Because he wants to learn.
He goes to school. When does he go to school?
How does he go to school? He goes to school by bus.
He learns lots of things. Why does he go to school?

Grammar Chants - Questions with 'How'

How! How much? A lot!

How many? A few. How often?
Sometimes. How long? Two hours.
How far? Twenty miles. How are you?
Fine! How do you do? It's a pleasure.
How much is it? $20. How many are there?
Ten How!

Grammar Chants - Verb + Gerund

ING like doing I like reading.

love doing I love dancing! HATE doing
I hate working! avoid doing He avoided answering.
finish doing He finished playing tennis. practice doing
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He practiced playing the piano.
ING!
Grammar Chants - Verb + Infinitive
INFINITIVE!
appear to do
They claim to work hard.
learn to do
I need to do some work.
INFINITIVE!
Simple Present Tense – Banker’s Wife’s Blues
Where does John live?
Where does he work?
When does he work?
Where does he study?
Where does he sleep?
Why does he spend all day, all
night, all day, all night, at the
bank, at the bank?
Simple Present Tense – On the Rocks
You never listen to me.
You never listen to me.
You never listen to me.
He never talks to me.
He just sits around and watches TV.
She never listens to me.
She never talks to me.
She just sits around.
He never ;listens to me.
He never talks to me.
He just sits around.
try doing We tried chanting!
would like to do I'd like to come.
He appears to like the show. claim to do
hope to do Hope to see you soon!
He learned to play golf. need to do
want to do He wants to come.
He lives near the bank.
He works at the bank
He works all day and he works all night, at the bank, at the
bank, at the great, big bank.
He studies at the bank.
He sleeps at the bank.
Because he loves his bank more than his wife, and he loves
his money more than his life!
What did you say?
What?
She never listens to me.
She never talks to me.
She just sits around and watches TV.
She just sits around.
She just sits around.
She just sits around and watches TV.
She just sits around.
He just sits around.
He just sits around.
He just sits around and watches TV.
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He just sits around.

Present Continuous Tense – Baby’s sleeping

I said, Sh! Sh! Baby’s sleeping!
What did you say?
I said, Hush! Hush! Baby’s sleeping!
What did you say?
I said, Please be quiet, Baby’s sleeping!
What did you say?
I said, Shut up! Shut up! Baby’s sleeping!
Waaaaaaaa
I said, Sh! Sh! Baby’s sleeping!
What did you say?
I said, Hush! Hush! Baby’s sleeping!
What did you say?
I said, Please be quiet, Baby’s sleeping!
What did you say?
I said, Shut up! Shut up! Baby’s sleeping!
Not any more.

Past Tense – A Bad Day

I overslept and missed my train, slipped on the sidewalk
in the pouring rain, sprained my ankle,
skinned my knees, broke my glasses,
lost my keys, got stuck in the elevator,
it wouldn’t go, kicked it twice and stubbed my toe,
bought a pen that didn’t write, took it back and had a fight,
went home angry, locked the door,
crawled into bed, couldn’t take anymore.

Past Tense – More Bad Luck

The bread was stale, it was four days old,

The milk was sour. The coffee was cold.
The butter was rancid. The steak was tough.
The service was dreadful. The waiter was rough.
The bill was huge. His tip was small.
I’m sorry I went to that place at all.

Comparison – I’m sorry

I’m sorry, but you’ve got to do better than this. I’m doing the best I can.
I’m sorry, but you’ve got to walk faster than this. I’m walking as fast as I can.
I’m sorry, but you’ve got to work harder than this. I’m working as hard as I can.
It’s not good enough. It’s not good enough.
It’s not good enough. It’s not good enough.
I’m doing my best. Try a little harder.
I’m doing my best. Try a little harder.
I’m doing my best. Try a little harder.
I can’t, I can’t. Don’t say can’t.
I won’t, I won’t. but I’m doing my best.

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Do a little better. I’m doing my best.

Do a little better. I’m doing my best.
Try a little harder. I’ll try, I’ll try.
Try a little harder. I’ll try, I’ll try.

Past Continuous - Rain

It was raining, raining, raining hard. It was falling on my head.
It was falling on the stars. It was falling on the sun.
It was falling on my shoes. I got soaking wet.
But I stayed outside. I stayed outside.
The rain was sweet. The rain was warm.
The rain was soft. It reminded me of home.
It was raining, raining, raining hard. It was falling, falling, falling on the stars.
It was raining, raining, raining hard. It was falling, falling, falling on the stars.
Soft rain Raining, raining
Sweet rain Raining, raining
Warm rain Raining, raining
Sweet soft - raining raining Warm rain – raining, raining
Sweet soft - raining raining Warm rain – raining, raining
Going to – What are you going to do at two?

What are you going to do at two? What are you going to do?
Where are you going to be at three? Where are you going to be?
Who are you going to see? What are you going to say?
How are you going to go? Where are you going to stay?
What are you going to do? Who are you going to see?
When are you going to leave? Where are you going to be?

Present Perfect – Friends

Well, I have known Jack for fourteen years.
She’s known Jack for fourteen years.
And I’ve known Brian for thirteen years.
She’s known Brian for thirteen years.
I’ve known them both for quite a long time.
She’s known them both for quite a long time.
I’ve known Jim for a long time.
She’s known Jim for a long time.
We’re old friends, old friends.
How long have you known your old friend
Ann?
Well, I met them just before I met you.
He’s a pretty good friend of mine.
He’s a pretty good friend of hers.
He’s a pretty good friend of mine.
He’s a pretty good friend of hers.
They are pretty good friends of mine.
They are pretty good friends of hers.
He’s an old old friend of mine.
He’s an old old friend of hers.
He’s a dear old friend of mine.
How long have you known dear Henry and
Ann?
They’re my closest friends, dear Henry and
Ann.

Present Perfect – The Beaches of Mexico

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Have you ever seen the beaches of Mexico?
Have you ever been to Haiti?
Have you ever walked barefoot in a heavy
rain?
Have you ever been in trouble?
Have you ever been in love?
Well, I’ve never seen the beaches of Mexico.
I’ve never been to Haiti.
I’ve never walked barefoot in a heavy rain.
I’ve sure been in pain,
I’d do it all again.
Modal Auxiliary – Mama knows Best
You ought to do it that way.
You ought to do it this way.
You shouldn’t wear it that way.
You ought to wear it this way.
You shouldn’t go with them.
You shouldn’t take the train.
You shouldn’t wear that hat.
You shouldn’t get so fat.
You shouldn’t do it that way.
You ought to do it this way.
Conditionals – If you go..
If you go, Ill go
If you go, I’ll go,
If you go, I’ll go, I’ll go too.
I’ll go along with you.
If she goes, I’ll go
If she goes, I’ll go, I’ll go too.
I’ll go along with her.
If she goes, I’ll go.
If he goes, I’ll go, I’ll go too.
I’ll go along with him.
If he goes, I’ll go,
If they go, we’ll go, we’ll go too.
We’ll go along with them.
We’ll go along with you.
Have you ever seen the streets of San Juan?
Have you ever been to Spain?
Have you ever been in pain?
Would you do it all again?
I’ve never walked the streets of San Juan.
I’ve never been to Spain.
But I’ve sure been in trouble,
I’ve sure been in love,
You ought to do it this way.
You ought to do it my way.
You ought to wear it this way.
You ought to wear it my way.
You ought to go with us.
You ought to take the bus.
You ought to cut your hair.
You ought to eat a pear.
You ought to do it this way.
You ought to do it my way.
I’ll go with you.
I’ll go along with you.
If you go, I’ll go too.
If she goes, I’ll go, I’ll go too.
I’ll go along with her.
If she goes, I’ll go,
If she goes, I’ll go, I’ll go too.
I’ll go along with you.
If he goes, I’ll go,
If he goes, I’ll go, I’ll go too.
I’ll go along with you.
If they go, we’ll go,
If they go, we’ll go, we’ll go too.
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Conditionals – Would you walk to China..

Would you walk to China if you had the time?
Would you walk to China if you had the time?
Of course I’d walk to China if I had the time.
Of course, I’d walk to China tomorrow night,
Why can’t you walk to China tomorrow night?
Why can’t you walk out on your sweet sugar
cat?
Well, I have to stay home and take care of my
plants
And I’d never walk out on my sweet sugar cat
Would you leave at a quarter to three?
Would you walk to China with me?
I’d leave at a quarter to three.
If I were only free.
Why can’t you go to China at three?
and sail to China with me?
take care of my darling too,
and go to China with you.

Questioning – Do you know Mary?

Do you know Mary? Mary who?
Mary McDonald. of course I do
Do you know her little brother? Yes, of course I do.
I know her brother and her mother and her father too.
Do you know her older sister? Yes, of course I do.
I know her older sister, Carol and her younger sister, Ann.
Do you know her aunt Esther? Yes, of course I do.
I know her aunts and her uncles and her cousins too.
Do you know her husband Bobby? Yes, of course I do.
I know her husband and his brother and his father too.

Personal Questions

Where were you born? I’d rather not say

Where are you from? I’d rather not say
How tall are you? How old are you?
How much do you weigh? I’d rather not say
How much rent do you pay? I’d rather not say
How much do you make? I’d rather not say
Why aren’t you married? I’d rather not say
Why don’t you have children? I’d rather not say
Where were you last night? Why weren’t you home?
Did you stay out late? Did you come home alone?
Did you have a good time? Did you see a good play?
Did you go to a concert? I’d rather not say