Build TOEFL iBT® Grammar Skills by Editing Song Lyrics

Many TOEFL learners struggle with grammar, especially under time pressure. Even with strong vocabulary and good ideas, small grammar mistakes can affect your Speaking and Writing scores. That is why mastering grammar is not just helpful but essential.

One fun and effective way to improve your grammar is by editing English song lyrics. Songs often use casual language, and correcting them helps you become more alert to grammar patterns. Let us explore how this simple activity can boost both your accuracy and confidence for the TOEFL exam.

Why Song Lyrics Help You Learn Grammar

Here’s why working with English song lyrics can be a powerful way to build grammar skills for the TOEFL exam:

1. Grammar in Context: Lyrics present grammar in everyday use. Spotting patterns in full sentences makes rules easier to understand and remember.

2. Correcting Mistakes Builds Awareness: Many songs use casual or incorrect grammar. Editing them trains your eye to catch mistakes—just like you need to do in TOEFL writing and speaking.

3. Fun Means Better Focus: Music naturally keeps you engaged. When you enjoy the process, you’re more likely to stay consistent and learn faster.

4. Listening + Grammar = Double Benefit: You hear how grammar sounds, not just how it looks. This improves both your understanding and your spoken accuracy.

5. Practice with Tenses and Structures: Songs include various grammar elements like verb tenses, conditionals, and prepositions. Editing them gives hands-on practice with all of these.

6. Confidence with Informal vs Formal Use: By comparing song lyrics with formal grammar, you learn how to shift tone—a valuable skill in TOEFL responses where formal English is expected.

How Editing Song Lyrics Builds Your TOEFL Grammar

Here are the ways this technique helps you improve your grammar for TOEFL:

1. Identifying Common Grammar Mistakes

Many song lyrics ignore subject-verb agreement, correct tense, or sentence structure. Fixing these helps you internalise grammar patterns.

2. Learning Formal vs Informal English

Songs are casual. TOEFL is formal. Editing lyrics teaches you to switch tone and correct informal constructions—skills needed in TOEFL Writing Task 2.

3. Practising Sentence Structure

You’ll learn how to transform run-on lyrics into grammatically correct, well-structured sentences.

4. Reviewing Verb Tenses in Context

Songs often jump between tenses. Correcting them sharpens your understanding of past, present, and perfect tenses—crucial for TOEFL.

5. Boosting Editing and Proofreading Skills

You build a habit of reviewing and fixing language—key for TOEFL Writing, where editing can improve your essay in the last few minutes.

How to Practise Editing Song Lyrics for TOEFL Grammar

Start with popular songs that are easy to follow and commonly use informal English. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Choose a Song in English

Pick a song that’s slow-paced and easy to hear. Genres like pop, indie, and acoustic often work best. Avoid songs that are already grammatically formal.

Examples:

• “Ain’t No Sunshine”

• “Let It Be”

• “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”

• “You Was Right”

Step 2: Copy the Lyrics Into a Document

Paste the full lyrics into Google Docs or a notebook. Leave space between lines for your corrections.

Step 3: Highlight Grammar Issues

Underline or highlight lines with grammar errors. Focus on:

• Subject-verb agreement

• Sentence fragments or run-ons

• Incorrect pronouns

• Wrong verb tenses

• Missing articles (a, an, the)

Step 4: Rewrite the Lines in TOEFL Style

Edit the lyrics into complete, grammatically correct sentences. Maintain the original meaning but remove slang, contractions, or grammatical errors.

Example:
Original: “She don’t know nothing”
Corrected: “She doesn’t know anything.”

Original: “I ain’t got time”
Corrected: “I do not have time.”

Step 5: Compare Your Version with a Tutor or App

Use grammar tools (like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor) to check your corrections. Or ask a tutor or study partner to review them.

Sample Exercise: Fixing Song Grammar

Here is a simple exercise to improve your TOEFL grammar skills using real song lyrics: 

Weekly Practice Plan with Song Editing

Here’s a simple weekly plan to build your grammar skills by editing English song lyrics: 

Which Grammar Topics Can You Master With This Method?

Here are the grammar topics you can master using this method, especially the ones that often confuse test-takers during TOEFL preparation: 

I hope this blog on building TOEFL grammar skills by editing song lyrics helped you see how creativity can strengthen accuracy. This approach not only makes grammar practice less boring but also improves memory, editing, and structure—all of which matter on test day. Try correcting one song a week and watch how your grammar confidence grows.

Also Read:

• Advanced English Vocabulary for TOEFL Preparation
• Word Games to Build Vocabulary: Scrabble, Crosswords, and More
• Influence of Pop Culture on Modern English Vocabulary
• Travelling Abroad? Essential English Phrases for Tourists