For The Longest Time Notes

Activity types: tense review, comprehension.

Grammar: Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple, Present Perfect Simple,
Present Perfect Continuous, Future Simple, Second Conditional.

Time: 30 mins.

1) Elicit examples of each of the tenses listed above.

2) Play the song. Ask students to listen for examples of each tense.
3) Feedback (but do not expect a complete list!)
4) Give each student a copy of the worksheet. Working in pairs, ask them to complete the
worksheet before playing the song again.
5) Play the song. Students check their answers and correct as necessary.
6) Correct.
7) Ask the students the following Comprehension questions:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

Does the singer think it is probable that his girlfriend will say goodbye to him that night?
What would he do if she did?
How is he feeling in this period?
Has he felt like this recently?
Is the feeling they have for each other mutual?
Is he willing to risk feeling sad again?
How did he feel at the beginning?
What does he plan to do now?

Key:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Yes - he uses the Second Conditional to refer to her saying goodbye.

Write music - What else could I do?.
Inspired.
No - that hasnt happened for the longest time.
Yes (although the singer uses the Present for himself, and the Past for her I need
you you needed me too, so perhaps not!).
f. Yes - Ill take my chances.
g. Unsure I had second thoughts at the start.
h. I intend to hold you for the longest time!

8) Play the song and sing together.

This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only

Activity Tune into English 2008 www.tuneintoenglish.com

Worksheet written by Prof. Claudia Cantaluppi, Como

For The Longest Time - Billy Joel

Chorus:
Oh, oh, oh, for the longest time
Oh, oh, oh, for the longest
Verbs

Tenses

If you _________ goodbye to me tonight

There _________ still _________ music left to write
What else _________ I do?
I_________ so inspired by you
That _________________for the longest time

be (2)
can
not happen
say

Present Simple (1)

Present Perfect Simple (1)
Second Conditional (2)

Once I _________ my innocence _________ gone

Now I _________ that happiness _________ on
That's where you _________ me
When you _________ your arms around me
I _________________there for the longest time

be
not be
find
go
know
put
think

Present Simple (2)

Past Simple (4)
Present Perfect Simple (1)

I_________ that voice you_________ in the hall

And the greatest miracle of all
_________ how I _________ you
And how you _________ me too
That _________________for the longest time

be (2)
hear
need (2)
not happen

Present Simple (3)

Present Continuous (1)
Past Simple (1)
Present Perfect Simple (1)

Maybe this _________ very long

But you _________ so right, and I _________ be wrong
Maybe I_______________ too hard
But I _________ this far
And it_________ more than I _________ for

be
can
feel
go
hope (2)
not last

Present Simple (2)

Past Simple (1)
Present Perfect Simple (1)

be (3)
not be
forget
go
know
take

Present Simple (3)

Past Simple (1)
Present Perfect Simple (1)
Future Simple (3)

be (3)
have
hope
know
say

Present Simple (4)

Past Simple (3)

be
bring
not care
intend
think
want

Present Simple (5)

Present Perfect Simple (1)

Repeat Chorus

Who _________ how much further we_________ on

Maybe I_________ sorry when you_________ gone
I_________ my chances
I _________ how nice romance _________
I _________________there for the longest time

I _________ second thoughts at the start

I _________ to myself Hold on to your heart
Now I _________ the woman that you _________
You_________ wonderful so far
And it_________ more than I _________ for

I
I
I
I
I

_________
_________
_________
_________
_________

what consequence it brings

a fool for lesser things
you so bad
you ought to know that
to hold you for the longest time

Present Perfect Continuous (1)

Future Simple (1)

Second Conditonal (1)

Repeat Chorus to fade

This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only
Activity Tune into English 2008 www.tuneintoenglish.com

Worksheet written by Prof. Claudia Cantaluppi, Como

For The Longest Time Complete

Chorus:

Oh, oh, oh, for the longest time,

Oh, oh, oh, for the longest
If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do?
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time
Once I thought my innocence was gone
Now I know that happiness goes on
That's where you found me
When you put your arms around me
I haven't been there for the longest time
Repeat Chorus
I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall
And the greatest miracle of all
Is how I need you
And how you needed me too
That hasn't happened for the longest time
Maybe this won't last very long
But you feel so right, and I could be wrong
Maybe I've been hoping too hard
But I've gone this far
And it's more than I hoped for
Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances
I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time
I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself Hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
You're wonderful so far
And it's more than I hoped for
I don't care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things
I want you so bad
I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you for the longest time
Repeat Chorus to fade

This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only

Activity Tune into English 2008 www.tuneintoenglish.com

Worksheet written by Prof. Claudia Cantaluppi, Como