What Christmas Means to Me

• By: Cher, Stevie Wonder

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
burn /bɜːrn/ A2	verb - to be on fire
mistletoe /ˈmɪsəltəʊ/ B1	noun - a plant with white berries, traditionally used as a Christmas decoration
snow /snoʊ/ A1	noun - frozen water that falls from the sky as white flakes
ice /aɪs/ A1	noun - frozen water
choir /ˈkwaɪər/ B1	noun - a group of people who sing together
carol /ˈkærəl/ B1	noun - a religious folk song or popular hymn, particularly associated with Christmas
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection verb - to feel affection for
smile /smaɪl/ A2	verb - to have a happy expression on your face noun - a happy expression on your face
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head
card /kɑːrd/ A1	noun - a piece of thick paper or thin cardboard, typically rectangular, used for writing or printing on
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood around the body
wild /waɪld/ B1	adjective - living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated
child /tʃaɪld/ A1	noun - a young human being below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority
kiss /kɪs/ A2	verb - to touch with the lips as a sign of love noun - an act of kissing someone
merry /ˈmeri/ B1	adjective - cheerful and lively
happiness /ˈhæpinəs/ B1	noun - the state of being happy
year /jɪr/ A1	noun - the time it takes the earth to travel around the sun
deck /dek/ B2	verb - to decorate
holly /ˈhɑːli/ B2	noun - an evergreen tree with prickly dark green leaves and red berries
angel /ˈeɪndʒəl/ A2	noun - a spiritual being believed to act as a messenger of God
hair /her/ A1	noun - any of the fine threadlike strands growing from the skin of humans
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible

Grammar:

• Candles burnin' low

  ➔ Present participle as adjective.

  ➔ The word "burnin'" (burning) modifies the noun "candles," describing their state. It's a shortened form of "burning" for stylistic effect. Level B2-C1 understanding of participles as adjectives.

• Like I never seen before

  ➔ Incorrect past participle use (should be "seen" instead of "saw" or "seen"). Subjunctive Mood (implied)

  ➔ This line uses non-standard grammar ("seen" instead of "seen"), likely for stylistic or dialectical reasons. The intended meaning is a comparison: "Like I have never seen before." The implied subjunctive suggests disbelief or strong emotion: "as if I had never seen."

• It seems I love you more

  ➔ Reporting verb "seems" + clause.

  ➔ "It seems" introduces a clause expressing the speaker's subjective feeling or perception. "Seems" indicates a degree of uncertainty or indirectness. Level B2-C1 understanding.

• The little cards you'll give-me

  ➔ Future tense with "will" (contracted to "'ll"). Colloquial omission of 'to' in "give me".

  ➔ "You'll give" indicates a future action. "Give-me" is a colloquial contraction of "give me", demonstrating informal speech patterns. Omission of the preposition 'to' is a feature of informal speech.

• Will touch my heart for sure

  ➔ Future tense with "will". Adverbial phrase "for sure".

  ➔ "Will touch" indicates a future action. "For sure" is an adverbial phrase used to emphasize certainty.

• As anxious as a-little-child

  ➔ Simile using "as...as". Incorrect article usage (should be 'a little child' or 'as a little child'.)

  ➔ The structure "as anxious as" forms a simile, comparing the speaker's anxiety to that of a child. The hyphenated phrase "a-little-child" is grammatically incorrect and likely used for emphasis or stylistic effect. Correct usage would include a space: "a little child."

• Let's deck the halls with holly

  ➔ Imperative sentence using "Let's" (Let us). Preposition "with" indicating means.

  ➔ "Let's deck..." is an invitation or suggestion for a joint action. The phrase "with holly" indicates what the halls will be decorated using.