Everyday Grammar TV: Unbeknownst and ‘Til in a Taylor Swift Song, Part 1

John: Hi Faith! What are you listening to?
Faith: I’m listening to one of my favorite songs, “Snow on the Beach” by Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey.
John: Those two a quite a pair! What is the song about?
Faith: The song is about two people falling in love with each other at the same time.
Do you want to hear a little bit of the song?
John: Sure!
Faith (singing:)
I saw flecks of what could've been lights
But it might just have been you
Passing by unbeknownst to me…
And it's fine to fake it 'til you make it…
‘Til you do
‘Til it's true…
Do you what “unbeknownst” means, John?

John: I do! The word “unbeknownst” is an adjective meaning “not known or existing without knowledge of someone.” “Unbeknownst” sounds very old because of the suffix “st” but it is the newer form of the old adjective “unbeknown.”
“Unbeknownst to me” is an adjective phrase. Adjective phrases have an adjective that describes a noun that is close to the phrase. In the song, the adjective phrase is describing the direct object, “you.”
Faith: Like John said, “unbeknownst” means without someone’s knowledge. In the song, Swift says that the spots of light that she saw could have been the person that she is referring to, passing by her without her knowledge.
John: Now it’s time for a quiz!
Faith: Which is the newer form of the word: “unbeknown” or “unbeknownst?”
John: The newer form is “unbeknownst,” though it sounds older.
John: And that’s Everyday Grammar TV!

Видео Everyday Grammar TV: Unbeknownst and ‘Til in a Taylor Swift Song, Part 1 канала VOA Learning English