Unbeknownst and 'Til in a Taylor Swift Song
2022-11-04
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1Two popular singers, Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, came out with a song together called Snow on the Beach.
2The song is about two people falling in love with each other at the same time, which is uncommon - like snow falling on a beach.
3In this week's Everyday Grammar, we look closely at this song.
4While there are many grammatical structures in it, we will look at just two words: "unbeknownst" and "'til."
5Let's listen to parts of Snow on the Beach:
6I saw flecks of what could've been lights
7But it might just have been you
8Passing by unbeknownst to me...
9And it's fine to fake it 'til you make it...
10'Til you do
11'Til it's true
12The word "unbeknownst" is an adjective meaning "not known or existing without knowledge of someone."
13"Unbeknownst" sounds very old. It has the suffix "st" which was put on the ends of some words hundreds of years ago.
14However, "unbeknownst" is a "newer" version of the old adjective "unbeknown."
15Today it is more common to hear someone using the adjective "unknown,"
16but from time to time you will hear "unbeknownst," just like in the Taylor Swift song.
17So how do we use this adjective?
18We mostly use "unbeknownst" with the preposition "to."
19Something or someone is "unbeknownst to" someone else.
20Here, once again, are the lyrics of Swift's Snow on the Beach.
21I saw flecks of what could've been lights
22But it might just have been you
23Passing by unbeknownst to me...
24We have the structure:
25"...you (passing by) unbeknownst to me."
26"Unbeknownst to me" is an adjective phrase.
27Adjective phrases contain an adjective that describe a noun that is close to the phrase.
28In this part of the song, "unbeknownst to me" as an adjective phrase is actually describing the direct object, the noun of "you."
29Let's look at some other examples of how we can use "unbeknownst."
30Her mom's wedding dress in the back of the closet was unbeknownst to her.
31Here the adjective phrase of "unbeknownst..." is modifying the noun and subject of the sentence "wedding dress."
32We can also use "unbeknownst" in the beginning of a sentence:
33Unbeknownst to many cat owners, dry cat food can make their cats very thirsty.
34Here cat owners do not know that dry food can make cats want water.
35Now let's consider "'til."
36The word "'til" is a shorter form of "until."
37We use it in everyday speech, especially when telling time or using dates.
38We use "until" for somewhat formal writing.
39The word "'til" often appears in spoken language and in writing, like in songs or poems.
40"Until" and "'til" mean "up to a certain point or event in time."
41They can be either a preposition or a conjunction, linking two clauses together.
42Let us look at how Taylor uses "'til" in Snow on the Beach:
43And it's fine to fake it 'til you make it
44'Til you do
45'Til it's true
46In all three lines of the song, Swift uses "'til" as a conjunction, linking the first clause to the second.
47And it's fine to fake it + 'til + you make it
48First clause + conjunction "'til" + second clause.
49Remember that a clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate.
50Clauses do not always contain a complete thought, like a sentence does.
51We can take the three other lines and create two additional sentences:
52And it's fine to fake it 'til you do.
53And it's fine to fake it 'til it's true.
54In these sentences, "'til" is still a conjunction, linking the first clause with the second clause to make a complete sentence.
55Let us look at some other examples of how "'til" can be used as a preposition.
56We can use "'til" just like "until" with points or events in time. Here are some examples.
57We have 'til Friday to get the report done.
58Andrew: What time is it?
59Jill: It's 10 minutes 'til 6 PM or 5:50 PM.
60In the summer, it does not get dark 'til later in the evening.
61Today we looked at two interesting words from the song Snow on the Beach by Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, "unbeknownst" and "'til."
62Both of these words are newer forms of much older words.
63"Unbeknownst" is an adjective and is often used with the preposition "to."
64"'Til" is the short form of the word "until" and can be used as either a preposition or a conjunction.
65Now it's your turn.
66Have you heard or tried to use these words before?
67Do you know any other words with similar meanings or usages?
68Let us know in the comments!
69I'm Faith Pirlo. I'm Andrew Smith. And I'm Jill Robbins.
1Two popular singers, Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, came out with a song together called Snow on the Beach. The song is about two people falling in love with each other at the same time, which is uncommon - like snow falling on a beach. 2In this week's Everyday Grammar, we look closely at this song. While there are many grammatical structures in it, we will look at just two words: "unbeknownst" and "'til." 3Let's listen to parts of Snow on the Beach: 4I saw flecks of what could've been lights 5But it might just have been you 6Passing by unbeknownst to me... 7And it's fine to fake it 'til you make it... 8'Til you do 9'Til it's true 10Unbeknownst 11The word "unbeknownst" is an adjective meaning "not known or existing without knowledge of someone." 12"Unbeknownst" sounds very old. It has the suffix "st" which was put on the ends of some words hundreds of years ago. However, "unbeknownst" is a "newer" version of the old adjective "unbeknown." 13Today it is more common to hear someone using the adjective "unknown," but from time to time you will hear "unbeknownst," just like in the Taylor Swift song. 14So how do we use this adjective? 15We mostly use "unbeknownst" with the preposition "to." 16Something or someone is "unbeknownst to" someone else. 17Here, once again, are the lyrics of Swift's Snow on the Beach. 18I saw flecks of what could've been lights 19But it might just have been you 20Passing by unbeknownst to me... 21We have the structure: 22"...you (passing by) unbeknownst to me." 23"Unbeknownst to me" is an adjective phrase. Adjective phrases contain an adjective that describe a noun that is close to the phrase. 24In this part of the song, "unbeknownst to me" as an adjective phrase is actually describing the direct object, the noun of "you." 25Let's look at some other examples of how we can use "unbeknownst." 26Her mom's wedding dress in the back of the closet was unbeknownst to her. 27Here the adjective phrase of "unbeknownst..." is modifying the noun and subject of the sentence "wedding dress." 28We can also use "unbeknownst" in the beginning of a sentence: 29Unbeknownst to many cat owners, dry cat food can make their cats very thirsty. 30Here cat owners do not know that dry food can make cats want water. 31Now let's consider "'til." 32'Til 33The word "'til" is a shorter form of "until." We use it in everyday speech, especially when telling time or using dates. 34We use "until" for somewhat formal writing. The word "'til" often appears in spoken language and in writing, like in songs or poems. 35"Until" and "'til" mean "up to a certain point or event in time." They can be either a preposition or a conjunction, linking two clauses together. 36Let us look at how Taylor uses "'til" in Snow on the Beach: 37And it's fine to fake it 'til you make it 38'Til you do 39'Til it's true 40In all three lines of the song, Swift uses "'til" as a conjunction, linking the first clause to the second. 41And it's fine to fake it + 'til + you make it 42First clause + conjunction "'til" + second clause. 43Remember that a clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. Clauses do not always contain a complete thought, like a sentence does. 44We can take the three other lines and create two additional sentences: 45And it's fine to fake it 'til you do. 46And it's fine to fake it 'til it's true. 47In these sentences, "'til" is still a conjunction, linking the first clause with the second clause to make a complete sentence. 48Let us look at some other examples of how "'til" can be used as a preposition. 49We can use "'til" just like "until" with points or events in time. Here are some examples. 50We have 'til Friday to get the report done. 51Andrew: What time is it? 52Jill: It's 10 minutes 'til 6 PM or 5:50 PM. 53In the summer, it does not get dark 'til later in the evening. 54Closing thoughts 55Today we looked at two interesting words from the song Snow on the Beach by Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, "unbeknownst" and "'til." Both of these words are newer forms of much older words. 56"Unbeknownst" is an adjective and is often used with the preposition "to." 57"'Til" is the short form of the word "until" and can be used as either a preposition or a conjunction. 58Now it's your turn. Have you heard or tried to use these words before? Do you know any other words with similar meanings or usages? 59Let us know in the comments! 60I'm Faith Pirlo. I'm Andrew Smith. And I'm Jill Robbins. 61Faith Pirlo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 62___________________________________________________________________ 63Words in This Story 64fleck - n. a small spot or mark 65fake - v. to make (something) seem real or true in an effort to trick someone 66beach - n. an area covered with sand or small rocks that is next to an ocean or lake 67lyrics -n. (pl.) the words of a song or poem 68phrase - n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence 69thirsty - adj. needing water 70formal - adj. following or according with established form, custom, or rule 71conjunction - n. grammar : a word that joins together sentences, clauses, phrases, or words 72clause - n. (grammar) a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb 73predicate - n. grammar: the part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject 74_____________________________________________________________________ 75What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. Write to us at learningenglish@voanews.com or leave us a comment below. 76We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 77Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.