we can’t be friends (wait for your love) – English Lyrics

• By: Ariana Grande
• Album: eternal sunshine (slightly deluxe and also live)

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Ariana Grande's emotionally rich track, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” a song that offers a powerful window into expressing complex feelings in English. Through its introspective lyrics, you can explore vocabulary related to heartbreak, difficult relationships, and public perception, making it an excellent resource for understanding nuanced English expressions. The song's dual meaning—addressing both a personal breakup and her relationship with the media—adds layers of interpretation, challenging listeners to think critically about language and subtext, while its catchy synth-pop melodies make learning enjoyable.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to perceive the intended meaning of words, language, or a speaker.
try /traɪ/ A2	verb - to attempt to do something.
hide /haɪd/ A2	verb - to put or keep out of sight.
fire /faɪər/ A2	noun - the process of combustion.
pretend /prɪˈtend/ B1	verb - behave as if something is true when it is not.
cling /klɪŋ/ B2	verb - to hold on tightly to something.
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ B1	noun - the complete absence of sound.
argue /ˈɑːrɡjuː/ B1	verb - to have an angry or serious disagreement.
bite /baɪt/ A2	verb - to cut or pierce with the teeth.
misunderstood /ˌmɪsʌndərˈstʊd/ B2	adjective - not correctly understood.
paint /peɪnt/ A2	verb - to cover with color.
truth /truːθ/ B1	noun - the quality or state of being true.
daydream /ˈdeɪdriːm/ B2	noun - a series of pleasant thoughts that fill one's mind when awake.
seen /siːn/ A2	adjective - having perceived with the eyes.
need /niːd/ A2	noun - the state of requiring something.
made /meɪd/ A2	verb - past tense of make

Key Grammar Structures

• I DIDN’T THINK YOU’D UNDERSTAND ME

  ➔ Past Simple Negative (didn't think)

  ➔ The past simple negative is used to talk about actions that did not happen in the past.

• HOW COULD YOU EVER EVEN TRY

  ➔ Modal Verb 'Could' in the Past (question)

  ➔ 'Could' here expresses surprise or disbelief about someone's past attempt.

• CAUSE I DON’T WANT TO TIPTOE

  ➔ Present Simple Negative (don't want)

  ➔ Expresses a current desire or feeling of not wanting to do something.

• BUT I DON’T WANNA HIDE

  ➔ Informal Contraction (wanna = want to)

  ➔ 'Wanna' is a common colloquial contraction of 'want to', often used in informal speech and lyrics.

• JUST WANT TO LET THIS STORY DIE

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose (to let)

  ➔ The infinitive 'to let' explains the purpose or reason behind the speaker's desire.

• WE CAN’T BE FRIENDS BUT I’D LIKE TO JUST PRETEND

  ➔ Conditional Sentence Type 2 (Hypothetical Present/Future)

  ➔ 'We can't be friends' states a fact, while 'I'd like to just pretend' expresses a hypothetical desire.

• YOU CLING TO YOUR PAPERS AND PENS

  ➔ Present Simple (describing a habitual or characteristic action)

  ➔ This describes a consistent behavior or a tendency of the person being addressed.

• WAIT UNTIL YOU LIKE ME AGAIN

  ➔ Imperative (Wait)

  ➔ The imperative 'Wait' is used to give a command or make a request.

• I’LL WAIT FOR LOVE, BABE

  ➔ Future Simple (I'll wait)

  ➔ The future simple 'I'll wait' indicates a decision or a commitment to wait in the future.

• YOU GOT ME MISUNDERSTOOD BUT AT LEAST I LOOK THIS GOOD

  ➔ Present Perfect (got me misunderstood - informal for 'have made me misunderstood')

  ➔ This colloquial use of 'got' is a way to express the result of an action or the state of being.