First Love, and Other Stories

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of First Love, and Other Stories is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev • Curated US English Learning Edition

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English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter V Reading 1/79

First Love, and Other Stories Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of First Love, and Other Stories is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

I have received your letter, Alexyéi Petróvitch, and do you know what feeling it aroused in me?--Indignation ... yes, indignation ... and I will immediately explain to you why it aroused precisely that feeling in me. One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write. I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid. You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you. Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

First Love, and Other Stories

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of First Love, and Other Stories is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Line 2

One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

Line 3

I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

Line 4

You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

/juː jərˈself wɪl traɪ tuː ˌʌndərˈstænd miː ɪf ˈoʊnli fɔːr ðə seɪk ʌv ˈnoʊɪŋ waɪ aɪ æm ˈæŋɡri wɪð juː/

Line 5

Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

accurately adverb US /ˈækjərətli/

with few mistakes

From this reading “I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.”

aroused adjective US /ərˈaʊzd/

aroused to action

From this reading “I have received your letter, Alexyéi Petróvitch, and do you know what feeling it aroused in me?--Indignation ... yes, indignation ... and I will immediately explain to you why it aroused precisely that feeling in me.”

express verb US /ɪkˈspres/

give expression to

From this reading “I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.”

indignation noun US /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/

a feeling of righteous anger

pen noun US /pen/

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading “One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.”

precisely adverb US /prɪˈsaɪsli/

indicating exactness or preciseness

rarely adverb US /ˈrerli/

not often

From this reading “One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.”

Russian noun US /ˈrʌʃən/

a native or inhabitant of Russia

From this reading “Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

few words adjective + noun

In this reading “I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.”

for the sake preposition + article + noun counted as “for … sake”

In this reading “You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.”

knowing why adjective + noun

In this reading “You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.”

All words in this reading · 70

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

accuratelyadverbUS /ˈækjərətli/

with few mistakes

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

aidnounUS /eɪd/

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

Alexyéi

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I have received your letter, Alexyéi Petróvitch, and do you know what feeling it aroused in me?--Indignation ... yes, indignation ... and I will immediately explain to you why it aroused precisely that feeling in me.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/

feeling or showing anger

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/

aroused to action

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

cleveradjectiveUS /ˈklevər/

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

creaturenounUS /ˈkriːtʃər/

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/

make plain and comprehensible

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

give expression to

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

how

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

immediatelyadverbUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːətli/

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

IndignationnounUS /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/

a feeling of righteous anger

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

knowingadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊɪŋ/

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

mistressnounUS /ˈmɪstrəs/

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

pennounUS /pen/

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

Petróvitch

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

pitynounUS /ˈpɪti/

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/

indicating exactness or preciseness

rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/

not often

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/

a native or inhabitant of Russia

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

sakenounUS /seɪk/

a reason for wanting something done

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

TellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

tryverbUS /traɪ/

make an effort or attempt

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Tell me--you are a clever man--have you ever asked yourself what sort of a creature a Russian woman is?

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading I do not know how to express my thoughts accurately and in a few words; but you will, I hope, come to my aid.

writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading One thing is a pity: I am not a mistress of the pen--I rarely write.

yesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading You yourself will try to understand me: if only for the sake of knowing why I am angry with you.

Chapter 5 of First Love, and Other Stories by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev holds 397 sentences, grouped into 80 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 5 of First Love, and Other Stories contain?

Chapter 5 holds 397 sentences of First Love, and Other Stories, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of First Love, and Other Stories by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 397 sentences, grouped into 80 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 5 of First Love, and Other Stories?

Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 80 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

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Is this the complete text of First Love, and Other Stories?

Yes. All 4409 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #56878 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of First Love, and Other Stories is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #56878, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does First Love, and Other Stories take to read?

About 367 minutes of reading across 882 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in First Love, and Other Stories

Words and structures a reader meets early in First Love, and Other Stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Novel: A word that appears in the opening chapter of First Love, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First: A word that appears in the opening chapter of First Love, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nieff: A word that appears in the opening chapter of First Love, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Chapter V

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