Long Sleeves

• By: Gracie Abrams
• Album: minor

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
catalyst /ˈkætəˌlɪst/ C1	noun - a person or thing that precipitates an event
breathe /brið/ B1	verb - to take air into and send out of the lungs
alone /əˈloʊn/ A2	adjective - without other people; by oneself
love /lʌv/ A2	verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something noun - a deep affection or attachment
work /wɜːrk/ A2	verb - to do tasks or employ effort to achieve a purpose
think /θɪŋk/ B1	verb - to have an opinion or belief about something
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a period during which something happens
long /lɔːŋ/ A2	adjective - having a great length from end to end
coming /ˈkʌmɪŋ/ B1	verb - approaching or arriving
maybe /ˈmeɪbi/ A2	adverb - perhaps; possibly
surface /ˈsɜːrfɪs/ B2	noun - the outer face or layer of an object or a person
enough /ɪˈnʌf/ A2	adjective - as much as needed

Grammar:

• Packing while you're asleep

  ➔ Present participle as adverbial modifier

  ➔ The phrase "packing" modifies the main clause, indicating what the speaker is doing *while* the other person is asleep. It describes the simultaneous action.

• You were the catalyst

  ➔ Simple past tense

  ➔ "Were" is the past tense of the verb "to be," indicating a state or condition in the past. The statement implies that the person had a significant, transformative effect.

• I want to be alone

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose (to be)

  ➔ "To be alone" explains the purpose of the speaker's wanting. It shows what they desire to achieve.

• Could you just pretend that it was only wind?

  ➔ Conditional sentence (mixed type)

  ➔ This sentence uses a polite request framed as a conditional. It's technically a mixed conditional, although the result clause is more directly related to the condition. "Could you pretend" is a request, and "that it was only wind" describes the scenario being requested to pretend.

• Got a lot to work through

  ➔ Reduced relative clause / Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "To work through" acts as an infinitive phrase explaining what the speaker needs to do with "a lot." It implies "I have a lot *that I need* to work through."

• It's been a long time coming

  ➔ Present perfect continuous

  ➔ "It's been" indicates something that started in the past and continues to the present. "Coming" signifies an ongoing process or development.

• Used to the turbulence

  ➔ Passive voice with "used to"

  ➔ "Used to" indicates a past habit or state. In this context, it suggests the speaker is accustomed to experiencing emotional instability or turmoil.

• I wore long sleeves

  ➔ Simple past tense

  ➔ "Wore" is the past tense of "wear," indicating an action completed in the past. In the song's context, it likely symbolizes hiding something, either physically or emotionally.