Be Alive

• By: Beyoncé

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living, not dead
family /ˈfæməli/ A1	noun - a group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption
side /saɪd/ A1	noun - a surface or edge of an object
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - of the darkest color; of or relating to people of African origin
head /hed/ A1	noun - the part of the body above the neck
pride /praɪd/ B1	noun - a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
miles /maɪlz/ A1	noun - plural of mile (a unit of length)
path /pæθ/ B1	noun - a way or track laid down for walking or made by continual treading
gold /ɡoʊld/ A1	noun - a yellow precious metal
hustle /ˈhʌsl/ B2	noun - energetic activity; busy movement verb - to proceed or work rapidly or energetically.
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ A2	verb - Taking part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons.
win /wɪn/ A2	verb - to achieve victory noun - an instance of winning a game or competition
sisters /ˈsɪstərz/ A1	noun - plural of sister
tribe /traɪb/ B2	noun - a social group comprising numerous families, clans, or generations together with their domestic animals, equipment, etc.
celebration /ˌselɪˈbreɪʃn/ B1	noun - the action of celebrating; a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event.

Grammar:

• It feels so good to be alive

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose after adjective

  ➔ The infinitive "to be alive" explains why it feels so good. "So good" is the adjective modified by the infinitive.

• Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried

  ➔ Second Conditional (Mixed)

  ➔ While this sentence is not grammatically perfect, it implies a second conditional structure. If I tried, I couldn't wipe this black off. The "if I tried" indicates a hypothetical situation in the present/future, and "Couldn't wipe" shows the result.

• They want to see how far I'll go

  ➔ Indirect Question

  ➔ "How far I'll go" is an indirect question acting as the object of the verb "see". The word order is statement-like (subject + verb) instead of question-like.

• The path was never paved with gold

  ➔ Passive Voice (Past Simple)

  ➔ The sentence uses the passive voice. The path is the subject, but it's receiving the action of being paved. The active form would be: Someone never paved the path with gold.

• can't nobody knock it if they tried

  ➔ Double Negative (Informal)

  ➔ The phrase "can't nobody" is a double negative. In standard English, it should be "can't anybody" or "nobody can". This is common in some dialects and adds emphasis.

• This is hustle personified

  ➔ Metaphor/Personification

  ➔ "Hustle" is being personified. Personification is giving human qualities to non-human things. Here, "hustle" (hard work, striving) is treated as if it can have a physical form.

• Look how we've been fighting to stay alive

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ The present perfect continuous emphasizes the ongoing nature of the fighting. The action started in the past and continues up to the present.