Céline Dion review – singer’s first live show in years marks a triumphant, emotional return
Listen to Course
0:00
0:00
EN: In news headlines, the Simple Present tense (e.g., 'Returns') is often used to describe recent past events to make the news feel fresh, active, and immediate.
The player returns to the team after a long injury.
EN: In Western entertainment and sports media, the word 'comeback' carries a strong emotional tone, celebrating an artist or athlete's return after serious adversity, illness, or prolonged absence.
EN: Use 'in + [time period]' with a negative meaning or after a long break to show how much time has passed since something last happened.
I haven't seen my best friend in three years.
EN: In English, the phrase 'give a concert' or 'put on a concert' is a very common and natural way to describe an artist performing a live music show.
EN: The phrase 'take place' means to happen or occur. In the past tense, it becomes 'took place'. We often follow it with prepositions like 'at' or 'in' to show where the event happened.
The concert took place in London last night.
EN: In English, when describing where an event happens, it is customary to mention the specific venue first ('at the Plenitude Arena') followed by the larger city or region ('in Paris'), moving from specific to general.
EN: Use 'will' + base verb to talk about future actions or plans. 'For' + a period of time shows how long something continues.
He will stay here for two days.
EN: In the entertainment industry, when a major artist performs in one venue for multiple consecutive weeks instead of touring from city to city, it is often referred to as a 'residency' or extended concert run.
EN: We use the pattern 'be + adjective + to + verb' to express how someone feels about an action or event (e.g., 'happy to see').
We are glad to meet you.
EN: The phrase 'on stage' is typically used without an article ('the' or 'a') when referring to an artist or performer actively performing in public.
EN: Use the pattern 'tell + someone + about + something' to share information or news about a topic with someone.
He told his friends about his new job.
EN: In English, the phrase 'tell the world' is a common idiom meaning to make a public announcement or share personal news openly with everyone, rather than literally speaking to every person.
EN: Use 'called + name' after a noun to mean 'named' or 'known as'. It helps identify something by giving its name without needing a full relative clause.
He read a book called 'The Little Prince'.
EN: Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is an extremely rare neurological disorder that affects about one in a million people. Dion's openness about her diagnosis in 2022 significantly increased global public awareness of this rare condition.
EN: Use the present simple verb 'causes' (cause + s) when talking about general facts or medical conditions with a singular subject ('This disease'). The pattern is: [Subject] + causes + [Noun phrase].
Stress causes headaches.
EN: The pattern 'make + object + adjective' means causing someone or something to become a certain way. Here, 'singing' is the object and 'difficult' is the adjective describing it.
The rain made driving dangerous.
EN: Use 'could not' (or 'couldn't') followed by a base verb to express the inability to do something in the past.
He could not sleep last night because of the noise.
EN: Use 'want + to + verb' to express a desire or wish to do an action. In the past tense, 'wanted to' is used. The word 'never' goes before 'wanted' to mean 'not at any time'.
He wanted to learn how to play the piano.
EN: Use 'if needed' as a short, natural phrase meaning 'if it is necessary'. It often comes at the end of a sentence.
I will help you tomorrow if needed.
EN: The expression 'crawl back' is used here figuratively to show extreme determination and passion for performing, emphasizing that no physical illness or obstacle would stop her.
EN: Use 'to + base verb' (infinitive) to show the purpose of an action, answering 'why' someone does something.
He studies every day to pass the test.
EN: In modern health and wellness contexts, the phrase 'manage an illness/condition' is often used instead of 'cure', highlighting active effort to live well and control symptoms when a full medical cure is not available.
EN: Use 'Noun + over + something' to express victory, control, or triumph over a difficulty or opponent.
Their victory over the other team was exciting.
EN: Use 'There is no + noun' to express that something does not exist or is not available. The conjunction 'but' connects two contrasting clauses.
There is no time to rest, but we must finish the work.
EN: Use the simple past tense verb 'wore' (past form of 'wear') to talk about clothing or accessories someone had on in the past. Adjectives can be placed before nouns to describe them (e.g., 'beautiful black dress').
She wore a red hat and white shoes yesterday.
EN: We use 'start to + base verb' (or 'start + -ing') to talk about the beginning of an action. In the past tense, 'start' becomes 'started'.
He started to laugh at the joke.
EN: Public figures and performers showing vulnerability—such as crying on stage—is often viewed warmly in Western concert culture, representing authentic emotional connection with the audience rather than weakness.
EN: When connecting two past actions done by the same person, use 'and' to link the past tense verbs ('smiled and sang'). The prepositional phrase 'with + noun' ('with great power') is used to describe how an action is done.
He stood up and spoke with great confidence.
EN: Use 'make a promise to + base verb' to express a commitment to do something.
He made a promise to call me every day.
EN: Singers often address their audience directly as 'the crowd' or 'you guys' to build an intimate bond during live concerts. Phrases like 'singing for life' emphasize personal resilience and deep passion for music despite health struggles.
EN: Use the simple past tense of the be-verb 'was' to describe what something was like in the past (Subject + was + noun phrase).
The concert was a great success.
EN: In entertainment and sports, a 'comeback' refers to returning to success or public life after an absence, illness, or setback. Fans often view comebacks as emotional and inspiring milestones.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
A return to success, popularity, or performance after an absence.
To happen or occur, especially after being planned.
A rare neurological disorder characterized by progressive muscle stiffness and spasms.
To tell someone that one will definitely do something in the future.