Lemon Tree - Wonder / Present Continuous

Source: bruno neurath-wilson on Unsplash

Here is a link to three previous posts on the Present Continuous which includes a translation exercise, a song to complete and a cartoon to watch. In the post with the cartoon there is a link to Agenda Web, where you will find hundreds of exercises to choose from.

Here's a song that you will all know but can you complete the lyrics:


Source: You Tube (musiczone365second) Key Words: Fools Lemon Tree

I___(1)____ here in the boring room
It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon
I___(2)____ my time
I got nothing to do
I___(3)____ around
I___(4)____ for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I___(5)____ around in my car
I___(5)____ too fast
I___(5)____ too far
I'd like to change my point of view
I feel so lonely
I___(4)____ for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree
I__(6)_____ my head up and down
I__(6)_____ _______ _______ _______ _______ around
And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree

I___(1)____ here
I miss the power
I'd like to go out taking a shower
But there's a heavy cloud inside my head
I feel so tired
Put myself into bed
While nothing ever happens and I wonder

Isolation is not good for me
Isolation I don't want to sit on the lemon-tree

I____(7)____ around in the desert of joy
Baby anyhow I'll get another toy
And everything will happen and you wonder

I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree
I___(6)____ my head up and down
I___(6)____ _______ _______ _______ _______ around
And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree
And I wonder, wonder

I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see, and all that I can see, and all that I can see
Is just a yellow lemon-tree

Have a go at the same song in Lyrics Training.

Spotlight on Vocabulary:

Wonder is a very common verb.

Use to ask yourself a question (+ question word or + if/whether)

• I wonder who will win the match on Sunday.
• I wonder how old she is.
• I wonder if there is a class next Tuesday.
• She's wondering whether she made the right decision.
• He often wonders what his ex-girlfriend is doing now.
• I wonder where they are gong for their next holiday.
• I wonder why she did that.

Notice that they take the form of indirect statements:

wonder + question word/if + subject + verb

I wonder why did she marry him.  😡 
I wonder why she married him. 😍

She often wonders where did she go wrong.  😡 
She often wonders where she went wrong. 😍


We often use wonder to make polite requests:

• I wonder if you could help me translate this text.
• I wonder whether you could pass me the wine.
• I wonder if you'd be kind enough to give me a lift.

and we use wonder when you are not sure you will get a positive response:

• I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to the theatre this Saturday.
• I was wondering whether you'd work next weekend for me. I'd really like the day off to see Real Madrid play Barca.

Other common expressions with wonder:

• I wonder why I bother. (you don't know why you make the effort to do something because the result is so disappointing) How many times I say this in a day!
• Who can that be at this time of night, I wonder? (when someone knocks at your door or phones you very late)
• A: Why do you ask? B: I was just wondering. ( I have no specific reason for my question)
• I wonder about you sometimes. (you say this after someone does something strange; it's like saying that you worry about the strange things they do)
• He said it was an accident but I wonder.... (you have your doubts if he is telling the truth or not)

What do you wonder about? Write some examples like the ones above.

Listen to the conversation 👇🏼and answer my questions.
wonder:https://t.co/BIP7ZiZo1E
Read the #blog post:https://t.co/RzThE4HpH9#PV come across:https://t.co/oAZVTQHZX5 https://t.co/g8bnzn0XX6

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) October 3, 2023

Right. Further is a more formal synonym of more/other.

I wonder who Isabel has her eyes set on now. haha

In the meantime, she can return to advertising Ferraro Rocher. pic.twitter.com/Q2HIVeDTEE

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) January 9, 2023

#US #politics
Take a look at some of the replies to this tweet👇🏼I wonder if she reads them.
What words and expressions catch your eye? https://t.co/VuIIyr3D2W

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) October 11, 2022

I wonder what Meghan thinks about this:
Politicians condemn Prince Harry over 'racist' remark https://t.co/KBGLXc7L8q

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) March 9, 2021