Chapter II
That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this. That and the rocket pilot. For some reason he wasn't available. The damned place was under-manned. Always had been.
Accidental Flight
Chapter II
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
That
was
all,
except
the
robots,
who
weren't
much
help
in
a
case
like
this.
That
and
the
rocket
pilot.
For
some
reason
he
wasn't
available.
The
damned
place
was
under-manned.
Always
had
been.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
That
was
all,
except
the
robots,
who
weren't
much
help
in
a
case
like
this.
Line 2
That
and
the
rocket
pilot.
Line 3
For
some
reason
he
wasn't
available.
Line 4
The
damned
place
was
under-manned.
Line 5
Always
had
been.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Been
auxiliary verb
US /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Always had been.”
Except
preposition
US /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading “That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.”
Help
noun
US /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.”
All words in this reading · 30
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
Always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Always had been.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That and the rocket pilot.
available
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some reason he wasn't available.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Always had been.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
damned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The damned place was under-manned.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For some reason he wasn't available.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Always had been.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For some reason he wasn't available.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
pilot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That and the rocket pilot.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The damned place was under-manned.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some reason he wasn't available.
robots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
rocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That and the rocket pilot.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some reason he wasn't available.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
under-manned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The damned place was under-manned.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For some reason he wasn't available.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading That was all, except the robots, who weren't much help in a case like this.