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First Plays
First Plays

Chapter XIX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MOTHER.
Poor child, she is not happy here.
We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.
I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.
If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

First Plays

Chapter XIX

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MOTHER.
Line 2
Poor child, she is not happy here.
Line 3
We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.
Line 4
I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.
Line 5
If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Poor child, she is not happy here.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Poor child, she is not happy here.”

Running noun US /ˈrunning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?”

Wondered noun US /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.”

All words in this reading · 58

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

back

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

bank

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

child

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

From this reading Poor child, she is not happy here.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

down

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

green

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

happy

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

From this reading Poor child, she is not happy here.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Poor child, she is not happy here.

house

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Poor child, she is not happy here.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

Johannes

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

lie

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

like

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

live

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

From this reading We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

Master

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

MOTHER

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

From this reading MOTHER.

neighbours

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

From this reading We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Poor child, she is not happy here.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

one's

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

only

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

opposite

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

PoornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Poor child, she is not happy here.

quietly

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

From this reading We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.

runningnounUS /ˈrunning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Poor child, she is not happy here.

sky

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.

stream

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

up

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

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We live so quietly; we have no neighbours.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?

wonderednounUS /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I have wondered what to do--it seemed that I could do so little.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading If only I could be sure--(Suddenly) Master Johannes, do you like the look of this house with its little stream opposite, and the green bank running down, on which one may lie on one's back and look up at the sky?