“Roxanne” ​is a song by English rock band The

Police. As a single from the band’s debut

album Outlandos d'Amour, the song was
written by lead singer and bassist Sting in
April 1978. The song took the viewpoint of a
man who falls in love with a prostitute. The

a
idea came to Sting after he saw prostitutes for

ic
the first time in the red-light district of Paris.

LISTENING COMPREHENSION
ú s
ACTIVITY 1​
PART 1

n M
c o
Listen to Part 1 of the song and tick the things that the singer
told Roxanne to stop doing.

lé s
sell your body to the night

g
walk through the night

In
put on the red light

A
wear that dress tonight

I
tell right from wrong

A
ACTIVITY 2
​
walk the streets for money

Listen to Part 1 again and fill in the blanks with the given
Spanish phrases. Use the English version to help you out.

terminado caminar por las calles encender

bien no tienes que mal

 English Version Spanish Version

Roxanne Roxanne.
You​ ​don't have to​ ​put on​ ​the red (1) ​_____________​ (2) ​_____________​ ​la
light luz roja.
Those days are​ ​over Esos días han ​(3)​ _______
You don't have t​o​ ​sell your body to (4)​ _____________​ ​vender tu cuerpo a
the night la noche.

a
Roxanne Roxanne.

ic
You don't have to​ ​wear that dress (5)​ _____________​ ​ponerte ese vestido
tonight esta noche

s
Walk the streets​ for money (6)​_____________​ ​por dinero

ú
You don't care if it's​ ​wrong​ ​or if it's No te importa si está ​(7)​ _______​ ​o si
right está ​(8)​ _______

PART 2
n M
ACTIVITY 3
​

c o
s
Listen to Part 2 of the song and match phrases from column A

lé
with phrases from column B to complete the singer’s lines.

g
Column A Column B

In
1. I loved you 1-G A. talk down to ya

A
2. I wouldn’t B. mind is made up

A I 3. I have to

4. I won’t

5. I know my
C. tell you again

D. tell you just how I feel

E. bad way

6. So put away F. your makeup

7. Told you once I won't G. since I knew ya.

H. share you with another

8. it's a
boy
ACTIVITY 4

Listen again to P
​ art 2​ and circle the correct answer.
1. What does the singer mean by “I wouldn’t talk down to you”?
A. He wouldn’t keep talking to her if she continued working as a
prostitute.
B. He would always speak to her with respect
C. He wouldn’t make her kneel down to talk to her.

2. What does the singer mean by “​my mind is made up​”?

ic a
s
A. He’s crazy.

ú
B. She gives him headaches.
C. He’s already made his decision.

KEY PHRASES
n M
● put on

c o
Ponerse

s
● put on the red light
Encienda la luz roja
(idiomatic) to advertise oneself as

lé
(idiomático) anunciarse como prostituta
a prostitute

g
● talk down to someone Menospreciar a alguien

In
● to make up + possessive adjective
+ mind
Mi decisión está tomada
Possessive adjective + mind is

IA
made up.
*Possessive adjective: my, your, his, her, their.

A
● put away Guardar

Example sentences:
● Put on your jacket! It’s cold outside.
● Are they still going to ​put on ​a big Christmas party this year?
● He always ​talks down to​ his employees to show that he’s the boss.
● You can’t convince me now. ​I’ve​ already ​made up my mind​.
● Put away your phones. The meeting is about to start.
ACTIVITY 5

Complete the dialogue by filling in the blanks with some of the

new key phrases. Remember to conjugate the verbs.

Andy: Hey John, what’s gotten into you these days? You don’t seem
as motivated as you used to.

John: I know. I’m thinking of quitting this job today. My manager

always ​(1)​ _________ _________ _________ _________.

Andy: Oh, come on. You know he ​(2) ​_________ _________ _________
everyone else.

ic a
John:

ú s
No, I have (​ 3) _​ ________ _________ _________ _________. I even
have the resignation letter here.

Andy:

M
Hey, (4) _________ that _________. You don’t want to do
something you’ll regret.

n
ACTIVITY 6

c o
s
Choose 3 of the new phrases and write your own sentences.

lé
1. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

g
2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

In
3. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A IA KEY STRUCTURES
You don’t have to + v
​ erb
sell something to someone
(base form) venderle algo a alguien
No tienes que + verbo (forma base)

You don’t have to​ be sorry. I​ sold​ my car​ to​ a friend.

You don’t have to​ talk to them. They ​sold​ their house​ to​ me.
You don’t have to do this. I’ll sell it to you.

Share … with ... It's a/an + a

​ djective​ + n
​ oun​.
Compartir con ... Es un an + adjetivo + sustantivo.
 They​ shared​ their apartment ​with It's a ​bad​ ​way​.
me. It’s an amazing day.
He​ shared​ his food ​with​ them. It’s a ​nice​ ​house​.
She​ shares​ her secrets ​with​ him.

I will/won't + v ​ erb (base I would/wouldn’t + v​ erb (base

form)​ + o
​ bject​. form)​ + o
​ bject​.
Lo haré / no lo haré + verbo (forma Yo / no haría + verbo (forma base) +
base) + objeto. objeto.

I won't share​ you with another boy. I wouldn't talk​ down to you.

a
I won't tell you again. I would never hurt her.

ic
I will call​ her. I would call​ you then.

ACTIVITY 7

Write your own sentences using the structures given.

ú s
You don’t have to:

n M
➡ .………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

o
Sell something to someone:

Share … with …:

s c
➡ .………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

lé
➡ .………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Ing
KEY PRONUNCIATION

A
So far in this course, we have learned about two aspects of linking sounds in

A I
English: linking vowel-vowel and linking consonant-vowel. In today’s lesson,
I want to focus on another aspect of spoken English - Weak form and Strong
forms of function words.
We’re not going to go over all the function words because there are so many
of them. Today, we’re just going over the ones that appear in this song.
First, what is a ‘​weak form​’ and a ‘​strong form​’?
As we know, in English, we break words into syllables, with words that have
two or more syllables, we pronounce one syllable clearer, louder and higher
in pitch than others. And we call this ‘​word stress​’.
For example:

Teacher ⇒ ​TEA​-cher

Roxanne ⇒ ​RO​-xanne
Within a word, we have stressed and unstressed syllables. The stressed
syllables are pronounced louder, clearer, higher in pitch.
In our song today, we have several stressed and unstressed words.
For example in this sentence:

a
You ​DON’T CARE i​ f it's ​WRONG​ or if it's ​RIGHT

ic
The stressed words in this line are: don’t, care, wrong, right.

s
And the rest: you, if, it’s, are unstressed. We call them ​FUNCTION WORDS​.

ú
They perform a ‘grammatical function’ and basically make the sentence

M
'grammatically correct’. They have no significant role in the sentence and
without them the main message of the sentence can still be understood.

How do we pronounce function words?

o n
c
Function words can be pronounced in two ways:
● Strong form: when they’re stressed for emphasizing purpose.

lé s
● Weak form: when they are unstressed which happens most of the
time.

g
When they’re in their weak form, their vowel sound is ​reduced ​which

In
makes the word ‘shorter’ and allows us to say it a bit faster.
For example:

IA
The word ‘​a​’

A
Strong form: /ei/
Weak form: /uh/
Let’s look at how to pronounce the three most common function words in
English.

1. How to pronounce ‘YOU’

YOU don't have to put on the red light
YOU​ don’t have to wear that dress tonight
In these first two sentences, ‘​YOU​’ is pronounced in it’s strong form /​ju:​/
 I loved you since I knew you

I wouldn't talk down to ​you

In the last two lines, ‘​YOU​’ is pronounced in its weak form /​yuh​/, we reduce
the vowel from an /u:/ sound to the schwa sound /uh/ - /ə/.
The schwa sound doesn’t exist in Spanish so it could be a little hard at first
but it’s really simple when you know how to pronounce it.
To pronounce the schwa, your tongue and lips must be completely relaxed.

a
For more specifics on how to pronounce the schwa, please check out our

ic
Video 2 - Pronunciation.

s
Can you think of any other cases where ‘YOU’ is reduced?

ú
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

M
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. How to pronounce ‘TO’

o n
c
The same thing happens with the word ‘​to​’.

s
Strong form: /tu:/

lé
Weak form: /tuh/

g
In the song, there are some spots where the singer pronounced ‘to’ in strong

In
form. This happens quite often with songs where a function word is
stressed.

A
You don't have TO put-on the red light

A I You don't have ​TO​ sell your body ​TO the night

You don't have TO wear that dress tonight

However, we don’t want to do that in spoken English. Most of the time, we
pronounce function words in their weak form.
Can you think of any other cases where ‘​TO​’ is reduced in this song?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
 3. How to pronounce ‘I’
What about the word ‘I’?
The strong form of this word is /a​ /​. However, unlike the other two function
words, the weak form of ‘​I​’ is not /uh/ but it’s ​/ah/​, not a long /ahhhhhhh/ but
a really short /ah/.
Strong form: /a /
Weak form: /ah/

a
Can you think of any other cases where ‘​I​’ is reduced?

ic
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

s
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

ú
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

n M
​ atch Video 2 - Key Pronunciation to learn how to pronounce the
three common function words: You, To, I​.

ACTIVITY 8

c o
lé s
Practice reading the following phrases. Decide on your own
whether to stress or not to stress the function words.

g
Found ​you​! He​ wants ​you​! Can ​I​ take​ it to work?

In
Go ​to​ ​bed! They want​ to​ go. What can ​I​ ​get ​you​?

I A THE FUTURE SIMPLE TENSE

A WHEN TO USE THE FUTURE SIMPLE TENSE?

We use the Future Simple tense to talk about the future. This tense can have
different meanings depending on different contexts. In today’s song, the
Future Simple is used to talk about promises, wanting to do something or
not wanting to do something in the future.
Here, Sting is making a promise that he will not share Roxanne with any
other men in the future.
 Iw
​ on't​ share you with another boy.
I won't tell you again.

FORM THE FUTURE SIMPLE TENSE

ic a
s
To form the Future Simple, we use the modal verb ‘​WILL​’ plus the verb in its

ú
base form.

M
Modal verb Verb (base form) Example sentences

call I ​will call​ you.

n
WILL

o
ask He ​will ask​ her out.

s c
Note that the modal verb and the verb will not change their form even when
the subjects are in the third person singular.

lé
Another thing to keep in mind is that for the negative form of the Future

g
Simple, we add ‘​NOT​’ after the modal verb ‘WILL’.

In
I ​will ​NOT​ call ​you.
He will NOT ask her.

IA
The contraction form of ‘Will’ and ‘Will Not’:

A
Full form Contracted form

I ​will call​ you I​’ll call​ you.

I ​will not call​ you. I ​won’t call​ you.

ACTIVITY 9

Fill in the blanks using the F

​ uture Simple​. Decide whether the
sentences should be in the positive or the negative form.
1. They (visit) _____________ Paris next month.
2. You (have) _____________ any problems at your new job.
3. There (be) _____________ a big festival here next year.
4. The store (open) _____________ on New Year’s Eve.
5. She (throw) _____________ a party, as the virus is getting worse.

​ LYRICS
(ENGLISH AND SPANISH)
[Verse 1]
Roxanne.
[Verso 1]
Roxanne​.

ic a
You don't have to put-on the red
light
s
No tienes que encender la luz roja.

ú
M
Those days-are over Esos días han terminado

n
You don't have to sell your body to No tienes que vender tu cuerpo a la

o
the night noche.

c
Roxanne Roxanne

s
You don't have to wear that dress No tienes que ponerte ese vestido esta

lé
tonight noche
Walk the streets for money Caminar por las calles por dinero

right

Ing
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's No te importa si está mal o si está bien

IA
[Pre-Chorus] [Pre coro]

A
Roxanne Roxanne.
You don't have to put on the red No tienes que encender la luz roja
light
Roxanne Roxanne.
You don't have to put on the red No tienes que encender la luz roja
light

[Chorus] [Coro]
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
Oh
[Verse 2]
I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
Told you once I won't tell you again,
it's a bad way.
s c
[Pre-Chorus]
g lé
In
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red
A
light
A I
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red
light
[Chorus]
(Roxanne) You don't have to put on
the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
Oh
a
[Verso 2]
ic
Te amé desde que te conocí
s
No te menospreciaría
ú
Sólo tengo que decirte cómo me
siento.
n M
No te compartiré con otro chico
Sé que mi decisión está tomada
o
Así que guarda tu maquillaje
Te lo dije una vez, no te lo diré de
nuevo, es un mal camino.
[Pre coro]
Roxanne.
No tienes que encender la luz roja
Roxanne.
No tienes que encender la luz roja
[Coro]
(Roxanne) No tienes que encender la
luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja

a
(Roxanne) You don't have to put on (Roxanne) No tienes que encender la

ic
the red light luz roja

s
(Roxanne) Put on the red light (Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja

ú
(Roxanne) Put on the red light (Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Put on the red light (Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja
(Roxanne) Put on the red light

M
(Roxanne) Enciende la luz roja

n
VOCABULARY
c o
s
LEVEL A2

lé
another otro

g
if si

In
just sólo
once una vez
over terminado

I A
sell vender
share compartir

A
since ya que
so entonces
way camino
win ganar
would haría

LEVEL B1
care cuidado
mind mente
 ANSWER KEYS
ACTIVITY 1.

sell your body to the night

walk through the night

put on the red light

a
wear that dress tonight

ic
tell right from wrong

s
walk the streets for money

ACTIVITY 2.

M ú
n
English Version Spanish Version

o
Roxanne Roxanne.

c
You​ ​don't have to​ ​put on​ ​the red (1) ​No tienes que ​(2) ​encender​ la luz
light roja.

s
Those days are​ ​over Esos días han ​(3)​ ​terminado

lé
You don't have to​ ​sell your body to (4)​ ​No tienes que​ ​vender tu cuerpo
the night a la noche.

Roxanne

Ing
You don't have to​ ​wear that dress
Roxanne.
(5)​ N
​ o tienes que​ ​ponerte ese

A
tonight vestido esta noche

I
Walk the streets​ for money (6)​ C​ aminar por las calles​ ​por dinero
You don't care if it's​ ​wrong​ ​or if it's No te importa si está ​(7)​ ​mal​ ​o si

A
right está ​(8)​ ​bien

ACTIVITY 3.

Column A Column B

1. I love you 1-G A. talk down to ya

2. I wouldn’t 2-A B. mind is made up

3. I have to 3-D C. tell you again

 4. I won’t 4-H D. tell you just how I feel

5. I know my 5-B E. bad way

6. So put away 6-F F. your makeup

7. Told you once I won't 7-D G. since I knew ya.

H. share you with another

8. it's a 8-E
boy

a
ACTIVITY 4.

ic
1. B

s
2. C

ACTIVITY 5.

Andy:

M ú
Hey John, what’s got into you these days? You don’t seem

n
eager as you used to.

John:

o
I know. I’m thinking of quitting this job today. My manager

c
always ​(1)​ ​talks down on me​.

s
Andy: Oh, come on. You know he ​(2)​ ​talks down on ​everyone else.

lé
John: No, I have (3) made up my mind. I even have the resignation

g
letter here.

In
Andy: Hey, (​ 4) ​put that a
​ way​. You don’t want to do something you’ll
regret.

I A
ACTIVITY 9.

A
1. They (visit) ​will visit​ Paris next month.
2. You (have) ​won’t have​ any problems at your new job.
3. There (be) ​will be​ a festival next year.
4. The store (open) won’t open on New Year’s Eve.
5. She (throw) ​won’t throw​ a party, as the pandemic is getting worse.

PRACTICE 1 - Video de pronunciación clave.

1. I don’t think I want ​YOU​ ​looking at that. - ​stressed
2. I want ​you to​ come back ​to​ me. - ​unstressed
3. And ​YOU​ will leave my employment when I allow you ​TO​. - ​stressed
4. Only she can lead YOU TO​ it. - ​stressed
5. What can I get ​you​? - ​unstressed
------------------------------

If you want even more help with your listening and pronunciation, check
out my most comprehensive course here:

Pronunciation and Listening Course

a
www.aiacomunidad.com/quieroentender

s ic
M ú
o n
s c
g lé
In
I A
A