Phrasal verbs · Free lesson
Sing along: join the music
A familiar song starts playing in the car. You recognize it and start singing too. You are singing along—even if you are the only person in the car.
Professor Scott MendozaMeaning in this lesson
sing along
Sing while following music or another person’s singing.
Example
“We sang along to the music.”
We joined in by singing while the music played.
The short answer
Sing along means to join music or another singer by singing. Say “sing along to the song” when you name the music. The simple past is sang along.
Keep sing along together; use to to introduce the music.
You can say “Everyone sang along” when the music is already clear. To name it, add to: “Everyone sang along to the chorus.” If it replaces the song, keep to before it: “I sang along to it.” The verb changes for the past—sing becomes sang—but along stays the same.
Compare the examples
The chorus started, and everyone sang along.
I often sing along to the radio.
I know this song. I can sing along to it.
It goes after to. “Sing it along” is not the pattern for singing with a song.
Build the meaning step by step
Choose the past subject and verb
We sang
Add the joining meaning
along
Name the music
to the music.
Try it now
Choose the singing pattern
Read all answers and explanations
Music is playing, and Maya joins by singing the same song. Which sentence fits?
Maya is singing along.Singing along describes joining the music with your voice. It does not mean turning it off or singing without anything to follow.
You know the song and want to join it. Which sentence uses it correctly?
I can sing along to it.Keep to before the music or its pronoun: to the song, to it.
Which sentence describes yesterday with the correct past form?
We sang along yesterday.The simple past of sing is sang. Along stays unchanged.
Build it yourself
Build a past-tense sentence
The children joined the song yesterday. Use every piece to describe what they did.
Choose the pieces in sentence order. Select a piece again to move it back.
Your sentence
0 of 5 piecesYour chosen pieces will appear here.
See a model answer
The children sang along to the song.
Sang marks the past. Along adds the idea of joining, and to introduces the song.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Can I just say sing along?
Yes, when the music or singer is clear from context. Add to the song when you want to identify the music.
You know the chorus. Sing along!
Can I sing along when I am alone?
Yes. You can follow a recording while no one else is in the room. Along refers to joining the music, not necessarily being physically beside another person.
I was alone at home, singing along to the radio.
Take it into your day
Sing along. Sing along to the music. Yesterday, we sang along.
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