Tonight’s singer is from Colombia, and she sings in English and Spanish. This song is about one special person.
Learn from Songs · Unit 10: Relative clauses · A2–B1
The One
A gentle song about the person who is always there when life goes up and down: the one who…, someone who…, the thing that…, the place where…, and anyone / everyone who, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
Who?
SOPHIA
The one who comforts her when things go wrong. Everybody needs someone like that.
MARCOS
I’ve got Philo. He comforts me by giving me grammar exercises.
Before you listen: the song
Barranquilla, Colombia, and Miami, 2001
Shakira was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 1977. She wrote her first song when she was eight and signed her first record contract at thirteen. For years she sang only in Spanish.
In 2001 she made her first album in English, Laundry Service. She learned English to write the songs herself. “The One”, written with Glen Ballard, was the sixth and last single from the album. In the video, she ends up singing in the rain, looking up at the sky.
In the song, life goes up and down. When she is sad or tired, there is one person who comforts her and makes her feel safe. He is the one she needs, and she is thankful.
Who is the one who is always there for you?
Listen: the one
PHILO
Listen once. How does she feel when things go wrong? What does “the one” do for her?
SOPHIA
Then answer Section A.
💛 Listen to the song: “The One” (Shakira and Glen Ballard, 2001), sung by Shakira.Find the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “The One”, Shakira.Read the lyrics →
The one who, someone who
MARCOS
He’s the one who comforts her. Everybody needs someone who listens.
SOPHIA
the one / someone / anyone / everyone + who for people: Anyone who wants to come is welcome. We use who (or that) because it is a person.
The thing that, the place where
DEMETRIA
Music is the thing that makes me happy. The library is the place where I feel safe.
SOPHIA
the thing / something / everything + that for things. the place where for places.
Without the pronoun
PHILO
He’s the one she needs (= the one that she needs).
SOPHIA
When there is another subject after it (she), we can leave out who / that: the one (that) I love, the person (who) I call.
Sophia’s comparison: Jonathan and David
PHILO
When King Saul was angry with David, his son Jonathan was the one who warned him and protected him. The Bible says Jonathan loved David as his own soul.
SOPHIA
And Achilles and Patroclus: Patroclus was the one who could always calm Achilles down.
DEMETRIA
So “the one” doesn’t have to be a boyfriend. It can be a friend.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the one / someone + who | people | He’s the one who comforts her. |
| anyone / everyone + who | all people | Anyone who wants to come is welcome. |
| the thing / something + that | things | Music is the thing that makes me happy. |
| the place where | places | the place where I feel safe |
| the one (that) she needs | no pronoun before a new subject | He’s the one she needs. |
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 does life go in the song?
2. What does “the one” do?
3. How does she feel about him?
4. Where is Shakira from?
5. What was special about Laundry Service?
6. How does the video end?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. He’s the one comforts her.
8. Anyone wants to come is welcome.
9. Music is the thing makes me happy.
10. The library is the place I feel safe.
11. She needs someone listens to her.
12. He’s the one she . (need)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “He’s the one which comforts her.”
14. “Everyone who came to the party had fun.”
15. “This is the place where I was born.”
16. “She’s the one who I love her.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
The one. Tell a partner about three people: the one who makes me laugh, the one who helps me, the one I call when…
Discuss. 1. Why do you think Shakira wanted to write in English herself? 2. Can a friend be “the one”? 3. What do you do when someone you love is sad?
Write (80–100 words). My “one”. Write about a person who is always there for you. Use the one who, someone who, the thing that, the place where.
Now play the gamebook: Marcos, the big race, and the one who stays.Play the gamebook →