Our first song about the past as it used to be: habits and situations that have changed. Katy Perry used to be quiet. Not any more.
Learn from Songs · Unit 7: Past habits and memories · A2–B1
Roar
A song about changing from shy to strong: used to for past habits and states (I used to keep quiet), didn’t use to, Did you use to…?, and used to vs the present (I used to…, but now I…), with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
What changed?
SOPHIA
She decided to stop being afraid. And now everyone is going to hear her roar.
MARCOS
Like a tiger! There’s a tiger in the video!
Before you listen: the song
Los Angeles, 2013
Katy Perry is an American pop singer, famous for her bright, colourful style. “Roar” was the first single from her 2013 album Prism, written with a team of pop songwriters. It went to number one in many countries, and its video has been watched more than four billion times on YouTube.
In the video, Katy survives a plane crash in the jungle, and slowly changes from a frightened tourist into the queen of the jungle, who teaches a tiger to obey her.
In the song, she remembers how she used to be: she used to stay quiet, and agree with everyone, and let people push her around. But not any more. Now she stands up for herself, and everyone is going to hear her.
I used to be quiet. Now I roar.
Listen: then and now
PHILO
Listen once. How was the singer before? How is she now?
SOPHIA
Then listen for used to. Answer Section A.
🐯 Listen to the song: “Roar” (Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee and Henry Walter, 2013), sung by Katy Perry.Watch the official video →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Roar”, Katy Perry.Read the lyrics →
Used to: past habits and states
DEMETRIA
I used to be shy. I used to keep quiet in class.
SOPHIA
used to + base verb for habits or situations in the past that are not true now: I used to live in Rome. He used to smoke. It’s only for the past: for the present, say I usually…
Negatives and questions
MARCOS
I didn’t use to like vegetables. Did you use to have long hair?
SOPHIA
After did / didn’t, write use to, without -d: Did you use to…? I didn’t use to…. And another way: I never used to…
Then and now
PHILO
I used to be afraid, but now I’m brave. I used to hate school, but now I love it.
SOPHIA
used to… but now… is the perfect pattern to describe a change. Careful: I’m used to + -ing means something different (= accustomed to): I’m used to getting up early. We’ll see it later!
Sophia’s comparison: Demosthenes
SOPHIA
Demosthenes, the great orator of Athens, used to stammer, and his voice used to be weak. So he practised speaking with pebbles in his mouth, and shouting over the noise of the sea.
PHILO
And Moses said to God: I am slow of speech. And he became the voice of a whole people.
DEMETRIA
So the quiet ones can roar too.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| used to + base verb | past habits and states, not true now | I used to be shy. |
| didn’t use to | negative | I didn’t use to like coffee. |
| Did you use to…? | questions | Did you use to play football? |
| used to… but now… | describing a change | I used to be quiet, but now I speak up. |
| stand up for yourself | phrasal verb | She learned to stand up for herself. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. How did the singer use to be?
2. How is she now?
3. What happens in the video?
4. Which animal does she compare herself to?
5. How many times has the video been watched?
6. What is the message?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. I to be very shy. (past habit)
8. Did you use have long hair?
9. I didn’t to like vegetables.
10. I used to be afraid, but I’m brave.
11. She learned to stand for herself.
12. He used to in Rome, but now he lives in Alexandria. (live)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “I use to play football when I was a child.”
14. “Did you use to have a dog?”
15. “I didn’t used to like tea.”
16. “She used to be shy, but now she sings on stage.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Then and now. Bring a photo of yourself as a small child. Tell the class: I used to…, but now I…
Discuss. 1. What did you use to be afraid of? 2. What helps shy people become confident? 3. Is it always good to “roar”?
Write (60–80 words). I used to… Write about five ways you have changed since you were small, using used to, didn’t use to and but now.