Tonight’s song is about a woman who is a mystery. Every line says what she may be, what she might be. Nobody knows for certain.
Learn from Songs · Unit 8: Modals · B1
She
A mysterious love song made of possibilities: may, might and could for possibility in the present and future (She might be a queen), may for permission (May I help you?), maybe or may be, and can’t be, with Marcos, and a veiled visitor at the Library.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
That’s very romantic.
SOPHIA
It was written by a great French singer, and sung again for a famous film set in London.
MARCOS
Notting Hill! With the blue door!
Before you listen: the song
Paris, 1974, and London, 1999
“She” was written by the French singer Charles Aznavour with the English lyricist Herbert Kretzmer (who later wrote the English words of Les Misérables). Aznavour’s version went to number one in Britain in 1974. He also recorded it in French and other languages.
In 1999, Elvis Costello recorded a new version for the film Notting Hill, about a London bookseller who falls in love with a famous film star. It was his first top-twenty hit in Britain for sixteen years.
In the song, the singer tries to describe the woman he loves, and every description is a possibility: she may be one thing, or she may be something completely different, happy or sad, near or far. He doesn’t really know her, and that is part of the magic.
She may be anything.
Listen: the possibilities
PHILO
Listen once. How many different things does he say she may be? Are they positive or negative?
SOPHIA
Then listen for may. Answer Section A.
👑 Listen to the song: “She” (Charles Aznavour and Herbert Kretzmer, 1974), sung by Elvis Costello (1999).Find the recording on YouTube →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “She”, Elvis Costello.Read the lyrics →
May, might, could: possibility
DEMETRIA
She may be a merchant’s wife. She might be a spy. It could be a disguise.
SOPHIA
may / might / could + base verb = it’s possible (now or in the future). Might is a little less sure than may. Negative: may not / might not (She might not want to be recognised). Not could not for possibility, which means impossible!
Can’t be, must be
MARCOS
She can’t be a servant. She must be someone important.
SOPHIA
From the evidence: must be = almost certain; can’t be = almost certainly not. may / might / could be = perhaps. Like a detective: Look at her guards. She must be rich.
Maybe or may be? May I…?
PHILO
Maybe she’s a queen. She may be a queen. May I help you?
SOPHIA
maybe (one word) = perhaps, usually at the start. may be (two words) = modal + verb. And May I…? is a very polite way to ask permission or to offer: May I come in? May I help you?
Sophia’s comparison: the mysterious visitor
SOPHIA
In the Odyssey, the goddess Athena visits Telemachus disguised as an old family friend, Mentes. Nobody knows who she is, until she flies away like a bird.
PHILO
And Abraham welcomed three strangers at his tent, and only later understood who they were. Our Torah says: be kind to strangers.
DEMETRIA
So you should always be polite to mysterious visitors. Just in case.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| may / might / could + base verb | possibility now or in the future | She might be a queen. |
| may not / might not | negative possibility | She might not want to be seen. |
| must be / can’t be | almost certain / almost certainly not | She can’t be a servant. |
| maybe / may be | perhaps / modal + verb | Maybe she’s a queen. She may be a queen. |
| May I…? | polite permission or offer | May I help you? |
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. What is the song about?
2. How does he describe her?
3. Who wrote the song?
4. Which film was Elvis Costello’s version for?
5. How does the song sound?
6. Which famous musical did Herbert Kretzmer also write English words for?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. She be a queen. (possibility, one modal)
8. she’s a spy! (perhaps, one word)
9. She be a servant: look at her guards. (impossible)
10. I help you? (polite offer)
11. She might want people to know. (negative)
12. She may back tomorrow. (come)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “She mays be a queen.”
14. “Maybe she’s a spy.”
15. “She might to come tomorrow.”
16. “May I sit here?”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Who is she? Look at a photo of a mysterious person. Make guesses: She might be…, She can’t be…, She must be…
Discuss. 1. Is it romantic not to know someone completely? 2. How do we judge people from their appearance? 3. Which version do you prefer, Aznavour’s or Costello’s?
Write (80–100 words). The stranger. Describe a mysterious person you saw, with at least six sentences of possibility and deduction.
Now play the gamebook: Marcos and the veiled visitor.Play the gamebook →