Learn Adjectives Through a Song by Alanis Morissette

As we will never tire of repeating, songs are an excellent didactic tool to learn English in a pleasant and effective way. Besides being fun, listening to songs in English, in fact, accustoms our ears to the diverse range of pronunciations and allows us to always be up to date on the evolution of the spoken language.

Among the many advantages of this method, we want to emphasize one. Namely, the ease with which it allows you to learn new words, especially if you do not simply memorize the text, but carefully translate the lyrics as well. Have you ever thought about choosing an area of grammar, such as adjectives, and then identifying a song that contains several examples? Today, we will show you how you can learn many adjectives (up to 26!) through a single song: “Hand in My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette.

Hand in My Pocket

First, listen to the song carefully following along with the lyrics below.

I’m broke but I’m happy, I’m poor but I’m kind
I’m short but I’m healthy, yeah
I’m high but I’m grounded, I’m sane but I’m overwhelmed
I’m lost but I’m hopeful, baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything’s gonna be fine, fine, fine
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five

I feel drunk but I’m sober, I’m young and I’m underpaid
I’m tired but I’m working, yeah
I care but I’m restless, I’m here but I’m really gone
I’m wrong and I’m sorry baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything is going to be quite alright
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette

What it all comes down to
Is that I haven’t got it all figured out just yet
‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a peace sign

I’m free but I’m focused, I’m green but I’m wise
I’m hard but I’m friendly, baby
I’m sad but I’m laughing, I’m brave but I’m chicken shit
I’m sick but I’m pretty baby

And what it all boils down to
Is that no one’s really got it figured out just yet
I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano

And what it all comes down to, my friends, yeah
Is that everything is just fine fine fine
I’ve got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxi cab.

Adjectives

After underlining the adjectives, look up their definition in the dictionary. Finally, write sentences with the adjectives you have learned to help you memorize them.

Broke: This is an archaic form of the past participle of to break. Today it is not used very extensively and has been supplanted by the form broken. In informal use, as in this song, it literally means penniless.

Happy

Poor

Kind

Short

Healthy

High: This adjective, which literally means “elevated”, in informal use means “position.”

Grounded: The past participle of the verb to ground. The expression to be grounded indicates awareness and capacity for judgment.

Sane

Overwhelmed: The past participle of the verb to overwhelm. The expression to be overwhelmed indicates a feeling of being totally enveloped by a very strong emotion, such as the feeling of guilt.

Lost: The past participle of the verb to lose.

Hopeful

Sober

Young

Underpaid: The past participle of the verb to underpay.

Tired

Restless

Free

Focused: The past participle of the verb to focus.

Green

Wise

Hard

Friendly

Sad

Brave

Pretty

What Song Do You Propose?

Now it is your turn. Read the lyrics of your favourite song in English and find some adjectives you can learn. If you are looking for an easy way to learn English, try the ABA English course. We offer you 144 video classes, short films, and native teachers that will help you learn English via a natural and intuitive method.