Lauryn Hill discusses the end of her relationship with Wyclef Jean and directly addresses him in “Lost Ones”.

I know you don’t want to hear my opinion.
There come many paths, and you must choose one.
And if you don’t change then the rain soon come.
See you might win some, but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one

Grammar: The Basics of Noun Clauses

1. Noun clauses are dependent clauses, and they are not complete sentences.
2. Noun clauses have a subject and verb
3. Noun clauses begin with that, if, whether, who, whom, where, why, when, what
4. Subject + Verb + Noun Clause. Noun clauses usually follow these verbs:
   1. know, think, believe, wonder, tell

Subject + verb + that + subject + verb

• You are angry. I know that you are angry.
• He does not like the movie. He thinks that the movie is boring. 
• I can’t believe that you are a rapper! You don’t look like a rapper, and it’s surprising

That is optional. Subject + verb + subject + verb

• I know you are angry. = I know that you are angry. Same meaning. 
  
• He thinks the movie is boring. 
• I can’t believe you are a rapper!

Wh~ + verb + subject? 
Subject + verb + wh~ + subject + verb  **different word order

• Where does he work? I don’t know where he works.
• Why is she angry? I wonder why she is angry.
• When did he call? Do you know when he called.

If who or what is the subject of the noun clause, Subject + verb + who/what + verb

• Who wants to watch a movie? I wonder who wants to watch a movie.
  
• What is happening? Tell me what is happening.

Vocabulary

• complication (noun) – a person or thing that makes a situation more difficult. Do not fight with your girlfriend on vacation. You are adding an unnecessary complication!
• emancipation (noun) – freeing and liberating a person from political and social restrictions.
• bawl (verb) – to cry heavily for a long time. He has been bawling over his ex-girlfriend for a week. She broke up with him with a text message.
• You win some. You lose some. (expression) – Say this expression when you accept the good and bad things that happen. He asked five women for their phone numbers, but only one woman gave her number to him. Hey, not bad! You win some. You lose some. 
• repent (verb) – to feel and show you are sorry for something bad you have done. I have repented to her many times, but she still hasn’t forgiven me!
• play innocent (idiom) – to pretend to be innocent. Don’t play innocent with me. I know you stole $10 from my wallet. Stop lying about it!
• face (verb) – to deal with a difficult situation. New Yorkers must face many challenges every day: the crowded subway, the expensive apartments, the loud neighbors. We face many things, but we still love this city!
• path (noun) – a plan of action; a series of decisions. She is on the path to success! She studies very hard at medical school, and her professors have written great recommendations. 
  
• throw out (phrasal verbs) – to eliminate; to get rid of something; to end a relationship. He made a mistake. He threw out a very special woman in his life.

Discussion Questions

Have you ever broken up with a boyfriend or girlfriend? Who ended the relationship? After the break up, how did you feel? Did you feel happy and emancipated, or did you feel angry and thrown out? In life, is it true that people win some and lose some? Please write your comments below!

The post Noun Clause Basics and Vocabulary with Lauryn Hill appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

The Grammar and Pronunciation in the Hook

The song’s hook, or chorus, starts off simple enough.

Everything’s falling
Every-Everything’s falling
Everything’s falling
Every-Everything’s falling
Everything’s falling
Every-Everything’s falling
Everything’s falling
Every-Everything’s falling

The verb tense in the hook is called the present progressive or present continuous. Use it to describe actions that are happening right now, in the moment, as you are speaking. Also use it to describe temporary situations and conditions. 

Subject + be (is, am, are) + ~ing verb

• MC Lars is rapping right now!
• You are studying English with hip-hop music!
• I am writing a new sentence.
• MC Lars is not making bad music now.
• You are not studying French with hip-hop music.
• I am  not eating lasagna because it is 10 o’clock at night right now.

Making a question is very easy. Switch the be verb and the subject to make questions.

Be verb + subject + ~ing verb
Wh~ + be verb + subject + ~ing verb

• Is MC Lars rapping right now?
• Where is he rapping?
• Are you studying English with hip-hop?
• Why are you studying English with hip-hop?

Spelling the ~ing rules follows a few basic rules, but there are some exceptions.

• Many verbs add ing at the end
  • play – playing
  • study – studying
  • eat – eating
• If a verb has a final e, delete the e, and add ing.
  • make – making
  • write – writing
• Look at the last three letters in a word. If they are a consonant + vowel + consonant, the double the final consonant.
  • run – running
  • stop – stopping
  • rap – rapping
  • sit – siting

Most people don’t pronounce ~ing. In the track, MC Lars sings, “Everything’s fallin’.” There’s no G.

Adjective Clauses in the Verse

In this track, MC Lars criticizes overly-commercialized music, while also praising  genuine and authentic hip-hop that is poetic and artful. This verse starts at 1:02

What is Hip-Hop? Is it what you wear?
Is it the brands that you rep or the way you wear you hair?
Is it your attitude, gratitude, identity or fate?
Your history, your future or the problems that you face?
Is it the spirit of the times? The Zeitgeist, believe it
Divinity inside of me, we breathe it cause we need it
The Gospel of Hip-Hop, it really changed my life
KRS relieved the stress – I had to read it twice

-MC Lars

The verse has adjective clauses. Adjective clauses give more information about people, places or things.

• What is hip-hop? Is hip-hop what you wear? What you wear = clothes
  
• Is hip-hop the brands (that) you wear? Is hip-hop the way (that )you wear your hair?

noun (object) + that/which/who + subject + verb

• Hip-hop is music (which) many people listen to. 
  
• Tupac is a rapper (that) many people love.

That/which/who are optional if the noun is an object, but you always need what.

• Hip-hop is music many people listen to.
• Tupac is a rapper many people love.

noun (subject) + that/which/who + verb

• MC Lars is a guy. He writes nerdy hip hop. MC Lars is a guy who writes nerdy hip-hop. 

If the noun is a subject, you must use that/which/who.

• MC Lars is a guy writes nerdy hip-hop.

Vocabulary in the Verse

When it all falls apart I remember what he said
It’s not about the cheddar, creme, fame, skill or bread
Its’s carbon truth in beauty, learning to respect
Learning how to love, putting selfishness in check
What is Hip-Hop? Divine self-discovery
Mastering the elements, defining just what love can be
Testifying truthfully, rhyming with the best
I see the light, it feels so right cause hip-hop’s got me blessed
I stay up, even when everything’s falling apart

-MC Lars

• cheddar/creme/fame/skill/bread (noun) – money. Some rappers are artists, and some rappers only want a lot of fame.
  
• put something in check (verb phrase) – to limit something. Hip-hop music helps MC Lars put bad habits in check.
• the light (idiom) – knowledge.
• blessed (adjective) – to be very lucky because you have something special.

Do you like hip-hop music? Who are your favorite artists? When do you listen to hip-hop music? Do you listen to it when you are happy? Do you listen to it when you are sad? Tell us why you think hip-hop music is great! Please write your comment below!

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