Tonight’s song is a thank-you. The singer looks at the person she loves and says: you are the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Learn from Songs · Unit 5: Comparatives and superlatives · B1
Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
A song of gratitude for one person: the superlative with the present perfect and ever (the best thing that has ever happened to me), the most… I’ve ever…, and the first / the only… that…, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
That’s a big thing to say.
SOPHIA
She means it. She has had bad times, but this person changed everything. Listen for “ever”.
PHILO
Ever: in my whole life, until now.
Before you listen: the song
Atlanta, Georgia, 1974
The song was written by Jim Weatherly, a former American football player who became a songwriter. He also wrote “Midnight Train to Georgia”. The country singer Ray Price recorded it first, but the most famous version is by Gladys Knight & the Pips, from Atlanta, Georgia.
Gladys Knight sang with the Pips, a group made up of her brother Merald and her cousins, from when she was a child. Their version of the song, from 1974, was a top-three hit in America. The album, Imagination, also included “Midnight Train to Georgia”.
In the song, the singer has had difficult times. She has been lonely. But then she met this person, and now she says that he is the best thing that has ever happened to her. Whatever happens next, she is grateful.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?
Listen: the best thing
PHILO
Listen once. How was her life before? What does she say about this person? Does she know what will happen next?
SOPHIA
Then answer Section A.
🌻 Listen to the song: “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” (Jim Weatherly, 1972), sung by Gladys Knight & the Pips.Find the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”, Gladys Knight & the Pips.Read the lyrics →
Superlative + present perfect + ever
MARCOS
You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.
SOPHIA
the + superlative + noun + (that) + I have ever + past participle: the best film I’ve ever seen, the tallest building I’ve ever climbed. ever = in my whole life, up to now.
The most… I’ve ever…
DEMETRIA
It’s the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.
SOPHIA
Long adjectives: the most / the least: the most difficult exam I’ve ever taken. Irregular: good → the best, bad → the worst, far → the furthest.
The first, the only
PHILO
It’s the first time I’ve ever felt this. You’re the only one who has ever understood me.
SOPHIA
After It’s the first / second time, use the present perfect: It’s the first time I’ve been to Spain, not “I am in Spain”.
Sophia’s comparison: Ruth and Naomi
PHILO
Naomi lost her husband and her sons, and came home empty. But Ruth stayed with her, and the women said Ruth was better to her than seven sons.
SOPHIA
And Penelope said that the gods had given her sorrow, but that seeing Odysseus again was the sweetest day of her life.
MARCOS
So the best thing comes after the worst.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the best… I’ve ever… | superlative + ever | the best thing that has ever happened to me |
| the most / least + adjective | long adjectives | the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard |
| good → best, bad → worst | irregular superlatives | the worst day I’ve ever had |
| It’s the first time + present perfect | first experiences | It’s the first time I’ve seen snow. |
| the only… who / that | only one | You’re the only one who has ever understood me. |
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 was the singer’s life before?
2. What does she call this person?
3. How does she feel?
4. Who wrote the song?
5. Who were the Pips?
6. Which other famous song did Jim Weatherly write?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. You’re the thing that has ever happened to me. (good)
8. It’s the best film I’ve ever . (see)
9. It’s the beautiful song I’ve ever heard.
10. That was the day of my life. (bad)
11. It’s the first time I’ve to Spain. (be)
12. Have you seen anything so beautiful?
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “It’s the better film I’ve ever seen.”
14. “She’s the kindest person I’ve ever met.”
15. “It’s the first time I am in Málaga.”
16. “That was the worst day of my life.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Bests and worsts. Tell a partner: the best meal I’ve ever eaten, the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, the worst film I’ve ever watched.
Discuss. 1. Why do people write songs to say thank you? 2. Can a bad time lead to a good thing? 3. Who would you thank, if you wrote a song?
Write (100–120 words). The best thing that ever happened to me. Write about a person, a place or a moment. Use at least three superlatives with ever.
Now play the gamebook: the best memories of the oldest people in Alexandria.Play the gamebook →