English through Music

Ed Sheeran: Perfect

Finding someone special

A2–B1Approximately 31 minutesAdults

Created by Denis M., British English teacher.

01 Watch 02 Useful English 03 Quick quiz 04 Speaking

Your goal: Understand a romantic song and describe a person or moment that matters to you.

Romantic relationships and affectionate imagery.

01 · 7 minutes

Watch

Watch the complete video once without pausing. Focus on the overall meaning and mood; you do not need to catch every word.

Listen for how the speaker describes the relationship and the future he imagines.

If the player cannot load or reports an error, open the video on YouTube.

Open on YouTube

Choose one word for your first reaction. There is no correct answer.

02 · 5 minutes

Useful English

Four useful items connected with the song. Definitions and examples are original; not every item is claimed to appear in the recording.

British English vocabulary audio

Open the full MP3

Choose an item to hear its word, meaning and example.

fall in love

verb phrase

To begin to feel romantic love for someone.

They fell in love while they were studying abroad.

Fall is irregular: fall, fell, fallen.

verb

To have, use or experience something together.

My best friend and I share an interest in old films.

barefoot

adjective / adverb

Without shoes or socks.

We walked barefoot across the warm sand.

cherish

verb

To value someone or something deeply.

I cherish the quiet evenings I spend with my family.

03 · 9 minutes

Quick quiz

Choose one answer for each question. Questions 1–2 focus on the song; questions 3–6 practise useful vocabulary.

Open the six-question quiz

1. What best describes the speaker’s main feeling?

He has found someone he deeply loves.He is unsure whether he likes the other person.He wants to end a relationship calmly.

2. How does the speaker present the relationship?

As an experience he wants to forget immediately.As something he hopes to build a future around.As a friendship he insists must never change.

3. Two friends share an interest in music. What does this mean?

Only one of them enjoys music.They have exactly the same singing voice.Both enjoy music.

4. Which person is barefoot?

Someone wearing comfortable trainers.Someone walking without shoes or socks.Someone carrying a pair of gloves.

5. You cherish a memory. How do you feel about it?

You value it deeply.You find it difficult to believe.You are trying to erase it.

6. Which sentence describes the beginning of romantic love?

They fell asleep during the film.They fell behind with their work.They fell in love during their first year at university.

1–2 minGrammar in a minuteA2–B1 · A moment in progress

Use two past tenses to describe the background to a meaningful meeting.

We were talking when the music stopped.

Original practice model, not a song lyric

Was/were + -ing sets an activity in progress. The past simple presents the event that happened during it. The two forms help a listener follow the scene.

Choose the sentence that puts walking in progress before the sudden start of the rain.We were walking home when it started to rain.We walked home after it had stopped raining.We have walked home because it is raining.

Grammar support

A2–B1Past simple vs past continuous

04 · 10 minutes

Speaking

Give your opinion and explain it. Different reactions are welcome. You may use invented examples instead of personal experiences.

Open the three speaking questions

1. What makes this song feel romantic to you, or prevents it from doing so?

Mention one feature of the music, voice or video.

For me, the song feels… because…

2. Describe a small moment that became a happy memory.

Who was there, and what were you doing? You may invent a scene.

We were… when…

3. What qualities make someone a good long-term companion?

Choose two qualities and explain why they matter.

I value someone who…

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