This English lesson uses a Billboard article naming Beyoncé the greatest pop star of the 21st century as a text to teach advanced vocabulary and grammar. The lesson explains various grammatical concepts like the historical present and present perfect tenses, and defines numerous vocabulary words within the context of the article, including compound adjectives and phrasal verbs. The lesson also discusses the Billboard charts and their significance in the music industry. Finally, homework questions encourage students to practice the newly learned vocabulary and grammar.

Music Industry Analysis & Grammar Review

Quiz

1. What is the “historical present tense” and why is it used in the article’s headline?
2. Explain the difference between the present perfect tense used in the first paragraph (“has been named”) and the simple present tense (“names”) used in the headline.
3. What is a compound adjective? Give two examples used in the article.
4. How does the article define “the bar” in the context of evaluating pop stars?
5. Explain the phrase “have long been” as it is used in the context of the article, and give an example sentence.
6. What does it mean to “scoop up” trophies, as used in the context of the article?
7. What are the two Billboard charts mentioned in the article, and what does each measure?
8. What does it mean for an entertainer to “dominate the airwaves?”
9. Explain the use of the suffix “-dom” as it relates to the word “stardom.”
10. What is the meaning of the phrasal verb “to round out” as it’s used in the text?

Quiz – Answer Key

1. The “historical present tense” is when the present tense is used to describe a past event, which makes the event sound more interesting or urgent. This is why the headline uses “names” instead of “named.”
2. The present perfect tense (“has been named”) is used to describe a past event that has a present effect, indicating that the naming has recently occurred and is relevant now. The simple present tense (“names”) in the headline uses the historical present, a style used in headlines to create immediacy.
3. A compound adjective is a phrase with two or more words that act together as an adjective. Examples from the article include “staff-chosen” and “Grammy-winning.”
4. In this context, “the bar” represents the standard of quality or performance against which all other pop stars of the 21st Century are measured. Beyonce is described as “the bar.”
5. The phrase “have long been” is a formal way of saying that something has happened or existed for a long time. For example: “Education has long been considered the key to success.”
6. In this context, “scooping up” trophies means winning awards very easily, with little resistance or challenge.
7. The two Billboard charts mentioned in the article are the Hot 100, which measures the most popular songs, and the Billboard 200, which measures the most popular albums.
8. To “dominate the airwaves” means to be the largest, most noticeable, or most important presence on radio or television broadcasts.
9. The suffix “-dom” creates nouns that refer to a state, status, or quality. So, “stardom” refers to the state of being a star.
10. The phrasal verb “to round out” means to complete something or make it perfect, typically by adding a final component.

Essay Questions

1. Analyze how the article uses formal and informal language to convey information about Beyoncé’s achievements. Discuss the effect of these different styles on the overall message.
2. Discuss the role of music charts and awards in determining the success and influence of a pop artist, using specific examples from the article. How does the article seem to position these measures?
3. The article mentions several grammatical concepts such as the historical present tense, compound adjectives, and prepositions. Analyze the importance of these different grammatical points in the lesson.
4. Explore the theme of innovation and evolution as presented in the article. How does the article use these concepts in relation to Beyonce’s career and influence on the music industry?
5. Compare and contrast the use of direct language and idioms/phrasal verbs (such as “scoop up,” “round out,” and “the bar”) in the article. How do these choices affect the tone and inform the reader?

Glossary of Key Terms

Billboard: A famous American music and entertainment magazine that creates official charts of the most popular songs and albums in the U.S.

Compound Adjective: A phrase with two or more words that act as a single adjective to describe a noun, often connected by a hyphen.

Debut: The first time an entertainer, athlete, or product is introduced to the public.

Dominate (the airwaves): To be the largest, most noticeable, or most important part of something being broadcasted on radio or television.

Editorial: An article in a newspaper or magazine that expresses the editor’s opinions or ideas.

Exemplify: To be a clear or typical example of something.

Evolution: The process of slow change and development over time.

Historical Present Tense: Using the present tense to describe recent past events, often to create a sense of immediacy or urgency.

Innovation: The introduction of new and better ideas or methods, often associated with technology or inventions.

Measure (against): To compare someone or something to a specific standard or benchmark.

Nod: An informal term for a nomination for an award.

Ongoing: Continuing to happen or not yet completed.

Ordinal Numbers: Numbers that indicate position in a series (e.g., first, second, third, 21st).

Pick: An informal term for a selection or choice.

Rank: To choose the order of people or things on a list based on quality, importance, or success.

Record: Used as an adjective before a noun to describe something that is the highest, most, or best ever achieved.

Round out: (phrasal verb) To make an experience feel complete or perfect, usually by adding something final.

Scoop up: (phrasal verb) In this context, to win something very easily.

Series: A set of related things that happen or are done one after the other. (Note: it’s both singular and plural)

Staff Chosen: A compound adjective describing something that was selected by the staff of an organization.

Stardom: The state or status of being a star, often in the entertainment industry.

Suffix: A letter or a group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning.

The Bar: A standard level of quality or performance used to compare others.

To Claim: To gain, win, or achieve something, often in a formal way.

To Name (someone something): To officially select or identify someone for a specific title.

To Top (a list): To be in the highest position on a list or to be better than a previous person or thing.

Turn of the Millennium: The beginning of the Millennium, specifically referring to the year 2000.

Beyoncé: Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star

Okay, here is a briefing document summarizing the key themes, ideas, and facts from the provided text excerpts.

Briefing Document: Billboard Names Beyoncé Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century

Date: October 26, 2023

Subject: Analysis of a news article about Billboard’s selection of Beyoncé as the greatest pop star of the 21st century.

Sources: Excerpts from a transcript of an English language lesson analyzing a news article.

Overview:

The core of the text is the analysis of a news article where Billboard magazine has named Beyoncé the greatest pop star of the 21st century. The provided text is from an English language lesson that uses this article as a vehicle to teach advanced vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation skills. The analysis goes into depth on the language used in the headline and article, highlighting the nuances of formal and informal language.

Key Themes and Ideas:

1. Billboard’s Ranking of Beyoncé:

• Billboard, a leading American music and entertainment magazine, declared Beyoncé the greatest pop star of the 21st century as part of an ongoing series. This was based on her “full 25 years of influence.”
• Quote: “Beyonce has been named the greatest pop star of the 21st century by billboard the music charting site announced on Tuesday as a part of an ongoing series Beyonce tops our staff chosen editorial list based on her full 25 years of influence.”

1. Beyoncé’s Impact and Achievement:

• Beyoncé is considered the standard against which other pop stars are measured due to her “commitment to Innovation, Evolution and all-around Excellence.”
• Quote: “her commitment to Innovation Evolution and allaround Excellence has made her the bar against which all other pop stars this Century have long been measured over the past 25 years”
• She is the most Grammy-winning artist with a record of 32 wins.
• Quote: “Beyonce is the most Grammy winning artist with a record 32 wins”
• She has received 11 nominations (nods) for her 2024 album, Cowboy Carter, with predictions for further award wins.
• Quote: “after earning 11 more nods for her 2024 album Cowboy Carter is expected to scoop up more trophies come January”
• She has a strong presence on Billboard’s charts with nine number-one songs and 24 top 10 songs on the Hot 100, and eight albums have reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
• Quote: “She has nine number one songs and 24 top 10 songs on the Hot 100 eight of her albums have claimed the number one spot on the billboard 200 albums chart”

1. Billboard’s Top 25 Pop Artists:

• The article mentions that Billboard has been ranking their staff picks for the top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years since August.
• Taylor Swift was announced as number two, and Rihanna was number three in the list.
• Quote: “last week Taylor Swift was announced as Billboard’s number two pick with Rihanna claiming the third spot”
• Other artists that were in the top 10 are Adele, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Drake. Katie Perry was named as number 25.
• Quote: “Adele Ariana Grande Justin Bieber Kanye West Britney Spears Lady Gaga and Drake round out the top 10 at number 25 is Katie Perry with other pop artists including Bad Bunny the weekend One Direction Miley Cyrus Eminem Usher and others ranking in between”

1. Language Analysis:

• The lesson emphasizes the use of advanced vocabulary such as “ongoing,” “innovation,” “evolution,” “editorial,” “exemplify,” and “dominate.”
• It delves into grammar concepts such as the “historical present tense” used in the headline, the use of “present perfect tense” (“has been named”), ordinal numbers, compound adjectives, and formal grammatical structures such as the phrase “have long been.”
• Idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs like “scoop up” and “round out” are also explained.
• The text also discusses the use of “as” to indicate a title or job, and how the suffix “dom” can be used to form nouns about a state, status, or quality.
• There is a discussion about the word “debut” where the “t” is silent and the way Texas Hold ’em is pronounced colloquially as “holdom.”

1. The “Bar” Metaphor:

• Billboard’s use of the metaphor “the bar” indicates Beyoncé’s position as the standard to which other pop stars are compared. This is a standard of performance and quality.
• Quote: “her commitment to Innovation Evolution and allaround Excellence has made her the bar against which all other pop stars this Century have long been measured over the past 25 years”
• It also discussed common uses of “the bar”, such as “set the bar,” “raise the bar,” and “lower the bar.”

1. Purpose of the Lesson:

• The text is part of an English language learning lesson designed to enhance reading comprehension and vocabulary through the analysis of news articles, and to highlight the nuances of formal and informal English.
• The lesson also includes opportunities for pronunciation and listening practice through a read through at a normal pace and concludes with homework questions to encourage writing practice.

Important Facts:

• Billboard: A famous American music and entertainment magazine that creates official charts of the most popular songs and albums in the U.S.
• Historical Present Tense: Using present tense to describe recent past events to make them sound more interesting or urgent, this was used in the headline.
• Compound Adjectives: Two or more words that work together as an adjective to describe a noun.
• Ordinal Numbers: Used to denote centuries like “21st” as opposed to “21.”
• Grammys: The Grammy Awards, the music industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.
• Texas Hold’em: A popular card game that is the namesake of one of Beyonce’s songs.
• Hot 100: Billboard chart for most popular songs.
• Billboard 200: Billboard chart for most popular albums.
• Airwaves: The waves or signals that are used to broadcast radio or television programs.

Conclusion:

This document analyzes a news article about Billboard’s selection of Beyoncé as the greatest pop star of the 21st century. The article serves as a learning tool for advanced English lessons that cover nuances of the language as well as various aspects of the music industry. The article highlights Beyoncé’s major achievements and contributions to pop music. It provides key insight to the language used in media and its context.

Beyoncé: Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century

1. How did Billboard determine that Beyoncé is the greatest pop star of the 21st century?

Billboard named Beyoncé the greatest pop star of the 21st century as part of an ongoing series where their staff chooses an editorial list of artists. This decision was based on her 25 years of influence, commitment to innovation and evolution, and overall excellence. They essentially view her as setting the standard or “the bar” against which all other pop stars of this century are measured.

2. What are some of the key achievements that support Beyoncé’s recognition?

Beyoncé’s key achievements include being the most Grammy-winning artist with a record of 32 wins. She also has 9 number-one songs and 24 top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, eight of her albums have reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and 11 of her solo albums have charted in the top 10. Her impact, described as her influence, innovation, evolution, and “all-around excellence” are also cited as reasons.

3. What is the “historical present tense,” and why is it used in headlines?

The “historical present tense” is when the present tense is used to describe recent past events. It is often used in headlines to make the event sound more interesting or more urgent. For example, instead of saying “Billboard named Beyoncé,” the headline uses “Billboard names Beyoncé,” even though the naming event has already occurred. This is a stylistic choice to capture the reader’s attention.

4. What is a “compound adjective,” and can you provide some examples from the article?

A compound adjective is a phrase with two or more words that work together as an adjective to describe a noun. These words are often connected by a hyphen. Examples from the article include: “staff-chosen editorial list,” “all-around excellence,” and “Grammy-winning artist.” These phrases combine multiple words to offer a more specific description of the noun they are modifying.

5. What is meant by the phrase “the bar” in the context of the article, and how is it used?

In the context of the article, “the bar” is a metaphor for the standard level of quality or performance against which others are measured. By saying Beyoncé is “the bar,” Billboard is stating that her level of achievement, innovation and impact represents the benchmark for pop stars in this century. It’s used to show that other pop stars are compared to her success and influence.

6. What is the significance of the Billboard charts mentioned in the article (Hot 100 and Billboard 200)?

The Billboard charts are considered the standard for success in the music industry in the US. The Hot 100 chart tracks the most popular songs, while the Billboard 200 chart tracks the most popular albums. Placement on these charts is an indicator of an artist’s popularity and commercial success. For instance, Beyoncé’s nine number one hits on the Hot 100, and eight number one albums on the Billboard 200 are significant markers of her prominence and impact on the music industry.

7. What does it mean to “dominate the airwaves” and who else has been mentioned as dominating the airwaves?

To “dominate the airwaves” means to be the largest, most noticeable, or most important part of radio or television broadcasts. It indicates that an artist’s music is frequently played and their presence is highly visible. The article mentions that Beyoncé’s former girl group Destiny’s Child dominated the airwaves in the early 2000s.

8. Besides Beyoncé, which other artists were mentioned in the top picks by Billboard?

Besides Beyoncé at number one, Billboard’s top picks include Taylor Swift at number two, Rihanna at number three, and other artists within the top ten such as Adele, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Drake. Katie Perry is listed as number 25. Other notable artists ranked in between include Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, One Direction, Miley Cyrus, Eminem, and Usher.

Beyoncé: Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star

Okay, here is the detailed timeline and cast of characters based on the provided text:

Timeline of Events

• Past 25 Years: Billboard has been tracking the influence of pop artists. Beyoncé has demonstrated consistent innovation, evolution, and excellence, establishing a high standard. Her commitment to these elements has been measured by the industry.
• 2003: Beyoncé’s debut solo album, Dangerously in Love, was released. This marked the beginning of her solo career after being part of the group Destiny’s Child.
• Early 2000s: Destiny’s Child was dominating the airwaves and charts.
• Recent Past: Billboard begins an ongoing series ranking the top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years. The rankings are based on staff picks.
• August (Year Not Specified): Billboard begins ranking staff picks for the top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years.
• Last Week (Prior to Article): Billboard announces Taylor Swift as their number two pick, and Rihanna as number three in their list of top pop artists.
• Tuesday (Prior to Article): Billboard announces that Beyoncé has been named the greatest pop star of the 21st century as part of their ongoing series. This is done through a staff-chosen editorial list based on 25 years of influence.
• January (Future): The Grammy Awards will be held, and Beyoncé is expected to win more awards for her 2024 album, Cowboy Carter, for which she has received 11 nominations.

Cast of Characters

• Beyoncé: An American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Named by Billboard as the greatest pop star of the 21st century, based on her 25 years of influence, her commitment to innovation, evolution, all-around excellence, and her position as the standard against which other pop stars are measured. She has won a record 32 Grammy Awards and has received 11 more nominations for her 2024 album Cowboy Carter. Has a deep history on Billboard’s charts, with nine number-one songs, 24 top 10 songs on the Hot 100, and eight number-one albums on the Billboard 200. A former member of the girl group Destiny’s Child.
• Taylor Swift: An American singer-songwriter. Ranked number two on Billboard’s list of top pop artists.
• Rihanna: A Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman. Ranked number three on Billboard’s list of top pop artists.
• Adele: A British singer-songwriter. Part of the top 10 on Billboard’s list of top pop artists.
• Ariana Grande: An American singer, songwriter, and actress. Part of the top 10 on Billboard’s list of top pop artists.
• Justin Bieber: A Canadian singer-songwriter. Part of the top 10 on Billboard’s list of top pop artists.
• Kanye West: An American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Part of the top 10 on Billboard’s list of top pop artists.
• Britney Spears: An American singer, dancer, and actress. Part of the top 10 on Billboard’s list of top pop artists. She is also the speaker’s personal pick for top pop star of the last 25 years.
• Lady Gaga: An American singer, songwriter, and actress. Part of the top 10 on Billboard’s list of top pop artists.
• Drake: A Canadian rapper, singer, and actor. Part of the top 10 on Billboard’s list of top pop artists.
• Katy Perry: An American singer-songwriter. Ranked number 25 on Billboard’s list of top pop artists.
• Bad Bunny: A Puerto Rican rapper and singer. Appears on Billboard’s list of top pop artists somewhere between number 11 and 24.
• The Weeknd: A Canadian singer-songwriter and record producer. Appears on Billboard’s list of top pop artists somewhere between number 11 and 24.
• One Direction: A British-Irish boy band. Appears on Billboard’s list of top pop artists somewhere between number 11 and 24.
• Miley Cyrus: An American singer-songwriter and actress. Appears on Billboard’s list of top pop artists somewhere between number 11 and 24.
• Eminem: An American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Appears on Billboard’s list of top pop artists somewhere between number 11 and 24.
• Usher: An American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Appears on Billboard’s list of top pop artists somewhere between number 11 and 24.
• Destiny’s Child: An American girl group from which Beyoncé launched her solo career.

This timeline and character list provide a clear overview of the events and people mentioned in your source materials. Let me know if you need any clarification or additional information.

Beyoncé: A Pop Star Grammar Lesson

This English lesson uses a Billboard article naming Beyoncé the greatest pop star of the 21st century as a text to teach advanced vocabulary and grammar. The lesson explains various grammatical concepts like the historical present and present perfect tenses, and defines numerous vocabulary words within the context of the article, including compound adjectives and phrasal verbs. The lesson also discusses the Billboard charts and their significance in the music industry. Finally, homework questions encourage students to practice the newly learned vocabulary and grammar.

Beyoncé: Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star

Beyonce has been named the greatest pop star of the 21st century by Billboard [1]. This decision is based on her 25 years of influence and her commitment to innovation, evolution, and all-around excellence [2, 3]. Billboard considers her the standard against which other pop stars of this century are measured [3].

Here are some of the accomplishments that contributed to this assessment:

• Grammy Awards: Beyonce is the most Grammy-winning artist with a record 32 wins [4]. She has also received 11 more nominations for her 2024 album, “Cowboy Carter,” and is expected to win more awards [4].
• Billboard Charts: Beyonce has had a significant presence on Billboard’s charts, including [4]:
• Nine number-one songs on the Hot 100 [5]
• 24 top-ten songs on the Hot 100 [4]
• Eight albums that have reached number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart [5]
• Solo Albums: 11 of Beyonce’s solo albums have charted in Billboard’s top 10 [5]. Her debut solo album was “Dangerously in Love” in 2003 [5].
• Early Career: She previously dominated the airwaves as part of the girl group Destiny’s Child [5].

Billboard has been ranking their staff picks for the top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years, and they believe that Beyonce has most defined pop stardom and exemplified pop greatness since the turn of the Millennium [6].

Billboard Crowns Beyoncé Greatest Pop Star

Beyonce has been named the greatest pop star of the 21st century by Billboard [1]. This decision was made as part of an ongoing series where Billboard has been ranking their staff picks for the top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years [1-3]. Billboard’s picks are based on which artists they believe have most defined pop stardom and exemplified pop greatness since the turn of the Millennium [2, 3].

Key Points from the Article:

• Billboard: Billboard is an American music and entertainment magazine that creates official charts of the most popular songs and albums in the US [4]. These charts are considered the standard for success in the music industry [4]. When a song is on the top of the charts, it usually means the Billboard music charts [4].
• Beyonce’s Recognition: Billboard named Beyonce the greatest pop star of the 21st century [1]. This was based on her 25 years of influence, commitment to innovation, evolution, and all-around excellence [4-6].
• Grammy Wins: Beyonce is the most Grammy-winning artist with a record of 32 wins [7]. She has also earned 11 more nominations for her 2024 album “Cowboy Carter” and is expected to win more trophies [6, 7].
• Billboard Chart Performance: Beyonce has had nine number-one songs and 24 top-ten songs on the Hot 100 [6, 8]. Additionally, eight of her albums have claimed the number one spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart [3, 8]. Eleven of her solo albums have charted in Billboard’s top 10 [3, 8].
• Other Artists: Taylor Swift was announced as Billboard’s number two pick and Rihanna claimed the third spot [3, 6]. The top 10 also includes Adele, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Drake [3, 6]. Katie Perry is ranked at number 25 [3, 6]. Other pop artists ranked in between include Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, One Direction, Miley Cyrus, Eminem, and Usher [3, 6].
• Terminology:
• Compound adjectives are phrases with two or more words that act together as an adjective to describe a noun, such as “staff-chosen editorial list” [4].
• “The bar” is a standard level of quality or performance that is used to compare all others [5].
• “Nod” is an informal term for a nomination for an award or title [7].
• “Scoop up” in this context means to win something very easily [7].
• “Debut” is the first time an entertainer, athlete or product is introduced to the public [8].
• “Airwaves” are the signals that are used to broadcast radio or television programs [8].
• “Stardom” refers to the status of being a star [2].
• “Exemplify” means to be a clear typical example of something [2].
• “Round out” means to make an experience feel complete by adding something final [6].
• “The turn of the Millennium” refers to the beginning of the Millennium, specifically the year 2000 [2].

The article also includes a grammar lesson covering the historical present tense, present perfect tense, ordinal numbers, compound adjectives, idioms using the phrase “the bar”, formal word order, the use of the preposition “against,” separable phrasal verbs, the use of the word “as,” and the use of the phrase “come January” [1, 4-7].

English Vocabulary for Music and Entertainment News

The sources provide several examples of English vocabulary, including definitions and usage in context [1-7]. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key terms:

General Vocabulary

• To name someone something: To officially select or identify someone or something for a specific title [1].
• Ongoing: Continuing to happen or not yet completed [2].
• To top something: To be in the highest position on a list or to be better than a previous person or thing [2].
• Innovation: The introduction of new and better ideas or methods [3].
• Evolution: The process of slow change and development over time [3].
• All-around: Having many skills, abilities, or uses [3].
• To measure someone or something against someone or something else: To compare someone or something to a standard [3].
• To scoop something up: In this context, it means to win something very easily [4].
• To claim something: A formal verb that means to gain, win or achieve something [5].
• Debut: The first time an entertainer, athlete or product is introduced to the public [5].
• To rank someone or something: To choose the order of people or things on a list based on quality, importance, or success [6].
• Stardom: The status of being a star [6].
• To exemplify something: To be a clear, typical example of something [6].
• To round something out: To make an experience feel complete by adding something final [7].

Phrases and Idioms

• The bar: The standard level of quality or performance that is used to compare all others [3].
• Nod: An informal term for a nomination for an award or title [4].
• The airwaves: The waves or signals that are used to broadcast radio or television programs [5].
• The turn of the Millennium: The beginning of the Millennium or the year 2000 [6].

Grammatical Terms

• Historical present tense: Using the present tense to describe recent past events, making the event sound more interesting or urgent [1].
• Present perfect tense: Used to describe an event that happened recently in the past, but has an effect on the current situation [1].
• Ordinal numbers: Numbers like first, second, third, etc. used for centuries [2].
• Compound adjectives: Phrases with two or more words that work together as an adjective to describe a noun [2]. Examples from the sources include “staff-chosen editorial list” [2] and “Grammy winning artist” [4].
• Separable phrasal verb: A verb like ‘to round out’ which has two parts that can be separated by another word [7].
• Suffix: A letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to create a new word [6]. The sources give examples such as the -dom suffix used to create “stardom” and the -ness suffix that turns adjectives into nouns [6].

Additional Notes

• The sources highlight how compound adjectives are often connected with hyphens [2].
• The sources mention how some words, like “series,” have the same form for both singular and plural [2].
• The sources point out that it is sometimes acceptable and even necessary to end a sentence with a preposition [3].
• The sources note that the word “come” can be used as a preposition when referencing a future date or time such as “come January” [4].
• The word “as” can be used to indicate someone’s title, job, role or function [7].

By understanding these terms and their context, your English vocabulary can improve, especially in the areas of music and entertainment news [1-7].

Grammar and Style Guide for English

The sources offer several grammar tips, focusing on both formal and informal English usage, as well as specific grammatical structures and concepts [1, 2]. Here’s a breakdown of those tips:

Tense Usage

• Historical Present Tense: This tense uses the present tense to describe recent past events, making them sound more interesting or urgent [1]. For example, the headline “Billboard names Beyonce the greatest pop star of the 21st century” uses this tense [1].
• Present Perfect Tense: This tense describes an event that happened recently in the past but has an effect on the current situation [1]. For example, “Beyonce has been named the greatest pop star…” [1].

Sentence Structure and Word Order

• Formal vs. Informal Word Order: The sources highlight that formal English sometimes uses word orders that are not typical in everyday speech or writing [3]. An example of this is: “her commitment… has made her the bar against which all other pop stars this Century have long been measured” [2, 3]. In more natural English, this would be: “her commitment… has made her the bar that all other pop stars this Century have long been measured against” [3].
• Ending Sentences with Prepositions: It is acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition, and sometimes there is no other choice [3]. For example, “…that all other pop stars this Century have long been measured against” [3].

Other Grammatical Concepts

• Ordinal Numbers: Use ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) for centuries [2]. For example, “the 21st century” [1].
• Compound Adjectives: These are phrases with two or more words that act as an adjective to describe a noun [2]. They are often connected with a hyphen [2]. Examples include “staff-chosen editorial list” and “Grammy winning artist” [2, 4].
• “Have long been”: This is a formal way to express that something has existed or happened for a long time, especially when talking about historical trends [3]. For example, “education has long been considered the key to success” [3].
• Separable Phrasal Verbs: These are verbs, like “round out”, that have two parts that can be separated by another word [5]. For example, “…to round out the team” [5].
• Use of ‘As’: The word ‘as’ can be used to indicate someone’s title, job role or function [5]. For example, “as your teacher” [5].
• Use of ‘Come’: The word “come” can be used as a preposition when referencing a future date or time such as “come January” [4].

Additional Notes

• The sources mention that some words, like “series,” have the same form for both singular and plural [2].
• The source emphasizes the importance of understanding suffixes, such as -dom (stardom), and -ness (greatness), to improve vocabulary [6].

These grammar tips provide insight into how to use English more naturally and effectively, both in formal and informal contexts.

Beyoncé’s Billboard Chart Dominance

Billboard is a well-known American music and entertainment magazine that creates official charts of the most popular songs and albums in the U.S. every week [1, 2]. These charts are considered the standard for success in the music industry [2]. When someone says a song is at the top of the charts, it usually means the Billboard music charts [2].

Here are some key points about Billboard charts discussed in the sources:

• Hot 100: This chart tracks the most popular songs in the U.S. [3]. Beyonce has had nine number one songs and 24 top 10 songs on the Hot 100 [4, 5].
• Billboard 200: This chart tracks the most popular albums in the U.S [3]. Eight of Beyonce’s albums have reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 [4, 5].
• Beyonce’s Chart History: In addition to her number one hits, 11 of Beyonce’s solo albums have charted in Billboard’s top 10 [3, 5]. Her debut solo album, “Dangerously in Love,” was released in 2003 [3, 5].
• Ranking of Artists: Billboard has been ranking their staff picks for the top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years [6, 7]. These picks are based on artists who they believe have most defined pop stardom and exemplified pop greatness since the turn of the Millennium [6, 7]. Billboard named Beyonce the greatest pop star of the 21st century as part of this series [1, 5].
• Other Ranked Artists: Taylor Swift was announced as Billboard’s number two pick, and Rihanna claimed the third spot. The top 10 includes Adele, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Drake. Katie Perry is ranked at number 25 [5, 7]. Other artists who have been ranked in between include Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, One Direction, Miley Cyrus, Eminem, and Usher [5, 7].
• “Claimed the number one spot”: The source uses the phrase “claimed the number one spot” to describe albums that reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart, and this phrase is described as a formal verb meaning to gain, win, or achieve something [3].

These points highlight the importance of Billboard charts in the music industry and how Beyonce has achieved significant success, according to Billboard’s rankings [1-5].

in today’s English lesson we’re going to read a news article together you’re going to learn a lot of advanced vocabulary in context for formal and informal situations you’ll also learn some important grammar tips for more natural speaking and writing in English after we analyze each paragraph you will have an opportunity to practice your pronunciation and listening skills by listening to me read everything from start to finish a little bit faster then I’ll have some homework questions for you to practice your writing and as always I’ve created a free PDF for today’s lesson you can download all of today’s notes by clicking the link in the description of this video are you ready today’s article is about some big news in the music industry let’s start with the head headline or the title of today’s news article billboard names Beyonce the greatest pop star of the 21st century first we have the verb to name someone something which means to officially select or identify someone or something for a specific title for example she was named the winner of the competition after an amazing performance he was named employee of the month for his hard work and dedication if you watched my other lesson about how to understand newspaper headlines then you already know that sometimes headlines don’t use the typical grammer rules of standard speaking and writing this title uses something called the historical present tense this is when we use present tense to describe recent past events and this makes the event sound more interesting or more urgent that’s why we’re using names here but in the regular paragraphs of the article we switch back to standard grammar rules and the first sentence of the first paragraph is a great example of this let’s read that now Beyonce has been named the greatest pop star of the 21st century by billboard the music charting site announc on Tuesday as a part of an ongoing series Beyonce tops our staff chosen editorial list based on her full 25 years of influence so here we’re using the present perfect tense has been named this is how we would typically describe an event that happened recently in the past but it has an effect on the current situation next we have the 21st Century not 21 century or Century 21 in English we use ordinal numbers for centuries these are numbers like 1 second 3D fourth Etc the S at the end are the last two letters in the word first the 21st century now let’s talk about billboard billboard is a famous American music and entertainment m magazine that creates official charts of the most popular songs and albums in the US every week these music charts are considered the standard for success in the music industry so when someone says that a song is on the top of the charts that usually means the Billboard music charts here we have a very useful adjective ongoing this means that something is continuing to happen or is not yet completed the crime investigation is still ongoing there are ongoing discussions about how to improve the project a quick grammar note here I know that the word series looks like a plural noun but in English the singular form is also Series so you can watch a series or you can watch many series on Netflix for example here we’re using top as a verb to top something means to be in the highest position on a list or to be better than a previous person or thing for example the song topped the charts for 6 weeks she topped her previous high score in the game by 20 points an editorial is a type of article in a newspaper or a magazine a person who’s in charge of a newspaper or a magazine is called an editor so the purpose of an editorial is to express the editor’s opinions or ideas here we have a compound adjective these are phrases with two or more words that work together as an adjective to describe a noun so what type of editorial list is this you could say an editorial list that was chosen by the staff but this sounds a bit long and the relationship between the adjective and the noun is unclear it sounds much better to say a staff chosen editorial list the words staff and chosen are connected with this punctuation mark which is called a hyphen we use a lot of compound adjectives in English and we’ll see a few more examples of this later let’s go to the next paragraph her commitment to Innovation Evolution and allaround Excellence has made her the bar against which all other pop stars this Century have long been measured over the past 25 years let’s talk about the word Innovation Innovation is the introduction of new and better ideas or methods you usually hear this word in the context of technology or inventions the late 19th and early 20th centuries are remembered as times of great Innovation Innovation is necessary to stay competitive in the technology industry next Evolution evolution is the process of slow change and development over time The Evolution of Music Styles reflects changes in culture the evolution of the internet has transformed how we communicate with people we have another compound adjective allaround this means having many skills abilities or uses he’s an all-around Entertainer who can sing dance and act now we have a lot of idioms in English that use the phrase the bar the bar is the standard level of quality or performance that is used to compare all others you often see this with the verb set so in the same way that you can set a goal or set an example you can also set the bar some other options are to raise the bar or lower the bar in this case billboard is saying that Beyonce is the bar she is the standard when we talk about comparing other people or other things to the standard a more formal verb for this is to measure someone or something against someone or something else now pay attention because we have some very Advanced grammar here this word order is extremely formal and it’s not how we would typically speak or write in everyday English let’s use this part of the sentence as an example and I’m going to replace the subject with the word this this has made her the bar against which all other pop stars this Century have long been measured in everyday English the more natural word order would be this has made her the bar that all other pop stars this Century have long been measured against yes you can end a sentence with a preposition in English in fact sometimes you must end with a preposition because sometimes there’s no other choice in the comments let me know if you’d like a more detailed gramar lesson about the location of prepositions in sentences but wait what about this phrase have long been well this is a more formal way to say that something has happened or has existed for a long time we especially like to use this to talk about historical Trends after the auxiliary phrase have or has been we can use a past participle verb an adjective or a noun education has long been considered the key to success the Statue of Liberty has long been a popular tourist attraction in the United States Beyonce is the most Grammy winning artist with a record 32 wins and after earning 11 more nods for her 2024 album Cowboy Carter is expected to scoop up more trophies come January before the noun artist we have another compound adjective Grammy winning and just like all other adjectives you can use compound adjectives in the comparative form with more or the superlative form the most the most Grammy winning the Grammy Awards are usually just called the gramys and I would say that the gramys are like the Oscars of music we can use the word record as an adjective before a noun to describe something that’s the highest the most or the best ever achieved the band has sold a record number of albums we’ve experienced record amounts of snow this winter the noun nod is a more informal term that’s common in the entertainment industry a nod is a nomination for an award or a title here’s an interesting phrasal verb to scoop something up usually this means to lift or collect something with a scoop or scooping motion but in this context scooping up more trophies means winning something very easily so billboard is predicting that Beyonce will scoop up some more Awards because of the 11 nods specifically 11 Grammy nods that she received for her most recent album the Grammys will be in January and that’s why you see this phrase at the end of the sentence come January this is another way to say when January comes I know it sounds kind of strange but in this phrase the word come is a preposition and then you can add a particular time in the future I would say this sounds a bit old-fashioned but it’s still pretty common in every day conversation for example my daughter will be 10 years old come next Wednesday the garden doesn’t look good right now but come spring it will be filled with green grass and colorful flowers the Texas holdom singer has a deep history on Billboard’s charts as well she has nine number one songs and 24 top 10 songs on the Hot 100 eight of her albums have claimed the number one spot on the billboard 200 albums chart starting with her 2003 debut solo album Dangerously in Love after previously dominating the airwaves as part of girl group Destiny’s Child 11 of Beyonce’s solo albums have charted in Billboard’s top 10 Texas holdom is the name of one of Beyonce’s songs but what does that mean well it’s a popular card game that originated in the state of Texas Texas holdom is a well-known variation of Poker where you have two personal cards and there are five Community cards holdom is a reduction of hold them this spelling is not standard so so don’t use this informal writing or speaking it’s modified to represent colloquial speech or how native speakers pronounce these two words in everyday conversation not always but sometimes in fast spoken English you will hear hold them pronounced as hold them hold them so U my dad’s a Texas hold them player Texas hold them Texas hold them when you purchase them and hold them and hold them and hold them here n o period is an abbreviation for number also we have the name of two important Billboard music charts the Hot 100 is for the most popular songs and the billboard 200 is for the most popular albums in the US every week to claim something is a formal verb that means to gain win or achieve something the politician claimed Victory after a long and difficult campaign many people believe that he will claim the gold medal in the next Olympic race next we have the word debut debut the t is completely silent a debut is the first time an Entertainer athlete or product is introduced to the public the director’s debut film was a massive success The Talented actor made his Hollywood debut when he was only 18 years old we can also use this word as a verb The Talented actor debuted in Hollywood when he was only 18 years old next we have a noun phrase the airwaves the airwaves are the waves or signals that are used to broadcast radio or television programs so if you hear something on the airwaves then you hear it on the radio or maybe you see it on TV so what does it mean to dominate the airwaves well in this context the verb dominate means to be the largest most noticeable or most important part of something Destiny’s Child dominated the charts in the early 2000s when I was a child I had their albums I went to their concert I used to listen to Destiny’s Child a lot since August billboard has been ranking their staff picks for the top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years Billboard’s picks are artists who they believe have most defined pop stardom and have exemplified pop greatness since the turn of the Millennium to rank someone or something this means to choose the order of people or things on a list based on quality importance or success it’s very common to use the passive form of this verb be ranked as plus a number or position Princeton is ranked as one of the best universities in the United States next this is an informal noun a pick is just a selection or a choice Florida is a popular pick for winter vacation destinations what’s your pick for the best restaurant in town now let’s talk about the word stardom we already know the word star so let’s focus on this D suffix a suffix is a letter or a group of letters added to the end of a word and this creates a new word if you want to improve your vocabulary it’s really really important to become familiar with the most common suffixes words that end with the D suffix are nouns that refer to a state status or equality for example freedom is the state of being free boredom is the state of being bored so pop stardom is the status of being a pop star next we have a very formal professional verb to exemplify something exemplify this means to be a clear typical example of something his actions exemplify true leadership so his actions are a perfect example of true leadership this photo exemplifies popular fashion and makeup styles from the 1960s here we have the word greatness this is a combination of the word great plus the NSS suffix this is a very useful suffix that turns adjectives into nouns the adjective happy becomes the noun happiness kind becomes kindness great becomes greatness next the turn of the Millennium just means the beginning of the Millennium or when the beginning of the Millennium came which was the year 2000 the phrase the turn of the focuses on the transition from one period of time in history to the next so this can be the start of a new century or decade or year Etc at the turn of the 20th century industrialization was transforming cities around the world music videos started to become popular at the turn of the 1980s last week Taylor Swift was announced as Billboard’s number two pick with Rihanna claiming the third spot Adele Ariana Grande Justin Bieber Kanye West Britney Spears Lady Gaga and Drake round out the top 10 at number 25 is Katie Perry with other pop artists including Bad Bunny the weekend One Direction Miley Cyrus Eminem Usher and others ranking in in between one of the most common questions that I receive is how do you use the word as well there are so many ways to use this word and I promise to talk about this in a future lesson but for now let’s focus on the context of this sentence a common way to use the word as is to indicate someone’s title job role or function for example my Michel Jordan is known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time as your teacher I will always be here to support you okay our last vocabulary word today is a separable phrasal verb to round something out this means to make an experience Feel Complete or perfect usually by adding something final one final thing the coach is looking for one more player to round out the team the dessert rounded out the meal perfectly I think a great way to round out this lesson is to go back and read the entire article again this time at a more natural speed remember you can slow down the video if needed billboard names Beyonce the greatest pop star of the 21st century Beyonce has has been named the greatest pop star of the 21st century by billboard the music charting site announced on Tuesday as part of an ongoing series Beyonce tops our staff chosen editorial list based on her full 25 years of influence her commitment to Innovation Evolution and allaround Excellence has made her the bar against which all other pop stars this Century have long been measured over the past 25 years Beyond is the most Grammy winning artist with a record 32 wins and after earning 11 more nods for her 2024 album Cowboy Carter is expected to scoop up more trophies come January the Texas holdam singer has a deep history on Billboard’s charts as well she has nine number one songs and 24 top 10 songs on the Hot 100 eight of her albums have claimed the number one spot on the billboard 200 albums chart starting with her 2003 debut solo album Dangerously in Love after previously dominating the airwaves as part of girl group Destiny’s Child 11 of Beyonce’s solo albums have charted in Billboard’s top 10 since August billboard has been ranking their staff picks for the top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years Billboard’s picks are artists who they believe have most defined pop stardom and have exemplified pop greatness since the turn of the Millennium last week Taylor Swift was announced as Billboard’s number two pick with Rihanna claiming the third spot Adele Ariana Grande Justin Bieber Kanye West Britney Spears Lady Gaga and Drake round out the top 10 at number 25 is Katie Perry with other pop artists including Bad Bunny the weekend One Direction Miley Cyrus Eminem Usher and others ranking in between now it’s your turn to practice some of today’s vocabulary I have two homework questions for you one who would be your pick for the top pop star of the past 25 years my personal pick would be Britney Spears two do you think that music charts or Awards like the Grammys are a good way to measure the greatness of an artist why or why not write your answers in the comments all right I hope you enjoyed reading this article with me if this lesson was useful please like this video And subscribe to my channel a quick thank you to my channel members here on YouTube and on patreon for your support members can listen to exclusive podcast episodes and access the community chat group where you can ask me questions and practice your skills with other English Learners around the world click join below this video to become a member thank you so much for watching I’m Gina this is your world in English and I’ll see you in the next lesson bye

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

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