used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Somebody mentioned being thankful there weren't any children.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Wouldn't be right to expose children to hardships they'd have to suffer helpless.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Somebody mentioned being thankful there weren't any children.
colonistnounUS /ˈkɑːlənɪst/
a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
easieradjectiveUS /ˈiːziər/
comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
experimentaladjectiveUS /ɪkˌsperɪˈmentəl/
relating to or based on experiment
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
exposeverbUS /ɪkˈspoʊz/
expose or make accessible to some action or influence
From this reading Wouldn't be right to expose children to hardships they'd have to suffer helpless.
your parents
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
hardshipsnounUS /ˈhɑːrdʃɪps/
plural of “hardship” — a state of misfortune or affliction
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading Wouldn't be right to expose children to hardships they'd have to suffer helpless.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
kidsnounUS /kɪdz/
plural of “kid” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading Somebody mentioned being thankful there weren't any children.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
and nothing more
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Wouldn't be right to expose children to hardships they'd have to suffer helpless.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
undergo or be subjected to
From this reading Wouldn't be right to expose children to hardships they'd have to suffer helpless.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading Somebody mentioned being thankful there weren't any children.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Somebody mentioned being thankful there weren't any children.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Somebody said, it being dark and all, they should get some sleep.
they'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wouldn't be right to expose children to hardships they'd have to suffer helpless.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Wouldn't be right to expose children to hardships they'd have to suffer helpless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somebody mentioned being thankful there weren't any children.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Only here, the way kids were, he wouldn't have been surprised if kids would have taken to it a lot easier than the grown folks.
Wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wouldn't be right to expose children to hardships they'd have to suffer helpless.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading That was one of the hardships of being an experimental colonist, you couldn't have children.
