Respect

• By: Aretha Franklin
• Album: I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
want /wɒnt/ A1	verb - to have a desire for something noun - a desire for something
need /niːd/ A1	verb - to require something because it is essential or very important noun - a thing that is essential or very important
respect /rɪˈspekt/ B1	noun - a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements verb - to admire someone or something deeply
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives adverb - to or at one's home
wrong /rɔːŋ/ A2	adjective - not correct or true; incorrect
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes
return /rɪˈtɜːrn/ B1	noun - an act of coming or going back to a place or person verb - to go or come back to a place or person
honey /ˈhʌni/ A2	noun - a sweet, sticky yellowish-brown fluid made by bees and other insects from the nectar of flowers noun - a term of endearment
propers /ˈprɒpərz/ C2	noun - one's due; what is rightfully deserved or expected
kisses /ˈkɪsɪz/ A2	noun - an act of touching with the lips as a sign of love, sexual desire, or greeting verb - to touch with the lips as a sign of love, sexual desire, or greeting
sweeter /ˈswiːtər/ A2	adjective - having a pleasant taste like that of sugar; more sweet
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A2	adjective - in need of sleep or rest; weary
find /faɪnd/ A1	verb - to discover or perceive by chance or unexpectedly
gone /ɡɔːn/ A2	adjective - having left or departed

Grammar:

• All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you get home

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense (I'm askin')

  ➔ The present continuous tense is used here in its shortened form (I'm = I am) to emphasize the ongoing nature of the request. "Askin'" is a colloquial form of "asking." The structure is 'All + [clause with be verb] + is + [noun phrase]'.

• I ain't gon' do you wrong while you're gone

  ➔ Future tense (gon' = going to) with a negative contraction (ain't = am not/is not/are not/have not/has not). Subordinate clause with 'while'.

  ➔ "Ain't" is a non-standard contraction used in colloquial speech. "Gon'" is a shortened form of "going to," indicating future intention. The 'while' clause indicates the time frame when the speaker will not do the person wrong.

• Ain't gon' do you wrong 'cause I don't wanna

  ➔ Negative contraction (ain't = am not/is not/are not/have not/has not), Future tense (gon' = going to), Contraction ('cause = because), Negative present simple ('don't wanna' = do not want to).

  ➔ This line uses multiple contractions typical of informal speech. 'Cause is a shortened version of 'because,' and 'wanna' is a shortened version of 'want to.' The 'ain't gon' do' structure demonstrates a double negative, which, while grammatically incorrect in standard English, is common in certain dialects.

• All I want you to do for me, is give it to me when you get home

  ➔ Cleft sentence using 'All...is' structure, relative clause ('you to do for me'), and adverbial clause of time ('when you get home').

  ➔ This sentence emphasizes what the speaker wants by using the 'All...is' construction. The 'you to do for me' functions as a relative clause describing what is wanted, even though it's not introduced by a relative pronoun. The 'when you get home' clause provides the timing for the requested action.

• Find out what it means to me

  ➔ Imperative mood ('Find out'), Indirect question ('what it means to me').

  ➔ The phrase 'Find out' is in the imperative mood, a direct command or instruction. 'What it means to me' is an indirect question functioning as the object of the verb 'find out.'