What About Your Friends – English Lyrics

• By: TLC

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the world of 90s R&B with TLC's "What About Your Friends." This iconic song, known for its catchy sound and authentic portrayal of friendship, offers a relatable narrative about trust and loyalty. Language learners can benefit from its clear, conversational lyrics, which provide an excellent opportunity to grasp everyday English expressions and delve into the nuances of discussing interpersonal relationships.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ B1	adjective - mentally deranged; mad
vision /ˈvɪʒən/ B2	noun - the faculty or state of being able to see
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of noun - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A2	noun - the solid surface of the earth
low /loʊ/ A1	adjective - of less than average height from top to bottom or little height
backs /bæks/ A2	noun - the posterior surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips
friendly /ˈfrendli/ A2	adjective - kind and pleasant
creativity /ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvəti/ B2	noun - the use of imagination or original ideas to create something
hate /heɪt/ B1	verb - feel intense dislike for noun - intense dislike; hatred
enemy /ˈenəmi/ B1	noun - a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
destiny /ˈdestəni/ B2	noun - the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future
envy /ˈenvi/ B2	verb - desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else) noun - a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck
times /taɪmz/ A1	noun - an instance of something happening; an occasion
rough /rʌf/ B1	adjective - having an uneven or irregular surface; not smooth or level
friend /frend/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
true /truː/ A2	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality
easy /ˈiːzi/ A1	adjective - achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - make or become different noun - the act or instance of making or becoming different

Key Grammar Structures

• I can't tell who I should trust

  ➔ Indirect question with interrogative pronoun "who" and modal verb "should"

  ➔ The sentence uses an indirect question. Instead of asking directly "Who should I trust?", it's embedded within the larger sentence. "Should" expresses advice or a recommendation.

• They tell me I changed because I got money

  ➔ Reported speech (indirect speech) and causal conjunction "because"

  ➔ The sentence reports what "they" said. The conjunction "because" shows the reason why they think the speaker changed: "I got money".

• If your friend is true they'll be there

  ➔ First conditional (Type 1) with contraction "they'll"

  ➔ This is a first conditional sentence. "If" clause expresses a possible condition in the present or future. "They'll" is a contraction of "they will".

• I'll be a friend as long as you're a friend to me

  ➔ Future simple with "I'll" and subordinating conjunction "as long as"

  ➔ "I'll" is the contraction of "I will," indicating future simple. "As long as" indicates a condition or time limit.

• Even though I might seem easy it don't give you no cause to deceive me

  ➔ Subordinating conjunction "even though", modal verb "might", double negative "don't give you no cause"

  ➔ "Even though" introduces a contrast. "Might" expresses possibility. The double negative, while grammatically incorrect in formal English, is used for emphasis (though the meaning is technically a positive).

• Will they ever be around?

  ➔ Future simple question with "will" and adverb of frequency "ever"

  ➔ "Will" is used to form the future simple question. "Ever" questions if something will happen at any time in the future.