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Les Machines
Les Machines

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Les Machines is here in full — 475 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Joe Love • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Les Machines
Context Illustration Reading 1/95 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".
So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.
On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.
And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.
"Not Isobel," said her friends.
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

Les Machines

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Les Machines is here in full — 475 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/95 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".
/ðer ɑːr ˈhjuːmən ˈbiːɪŋz huː ˈfʌŋkʃən laɪk məˈʃiːnz ənd ðer ɑːr məˈʃiːnz wɪtʃ siːm tuː biː ˈɔːlmoʊst ˈhjuːmən/
Line 2
So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.
Line 3
On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.
Line 4
And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.
Line 5
"Not Isobel," said her friends.

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.

beings noun US /ˈbiːɪŋz/

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading “_There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
function noun US /ˈfʌŋkʃən/

(mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)

From this reading “_There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
January noun US /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading “So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
machines noun US /məˈʃiːnz/

plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading “_There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
November noun US /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading “On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
premeditated adjective US /priˈmedəteɪtɪd/

characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning

From this reading “And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
problem noun US /ˈprɑːbləm/

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading “So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
willful adjective US /ˈwɪlfəl/

done by design

From this reading “And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

gave birth verb + noun counted as “give birth”

cause to be born

In this reading “On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.”

1,726 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 58

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.

13

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

From this reading On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.

Pending verification
1997

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

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Pending verification
1998

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

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

Pending verification
20

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

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

Pending verification
5

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

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Arnaud

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

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

Pending verification
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
birthnounUS /bɜːrθ/

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
boy-child

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

From this reading On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.

Pending verification
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
committedadjectiveUS /kəˈmɪtɪd/

bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
d'Larte

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

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Pending verification
diedverbUS /daɪd/

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
friendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading "Not Isobel," said her friends.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
functionnounUS /ˈfʌŋkʃən/

(mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Isobel

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

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Pending verification
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
machinenounUS /məˈʃiːn/

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
machinesnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/

plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MarchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/

march in a procession

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
murderverbUS /ˈmɜːrdər/

kill intentionally and with premeditation

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading On November 13, 1997 Isobel Smith d'Larte gave birth to a boy-child who died.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
premeditatedadjectiveUS /priˈmedəteɪtɪd/

characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Not Isobel," said her friends.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SmithnounUS /smɪθ/

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
trialnounUS /ˈtraɪəl/

the act of testing something

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading So--the problem in this case was not murder, or who committed it but who was the "machine" and who was the "human being"._ On January 5, 1997 Isobel Smith became Isobel Smith d'Larte.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading _There are human beings who function "like machines" and there are machines which seem to be "almost human".

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
willfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɪlfəl/

done by design

From this reading And on March 20, 1998 Isobel Smith d'Larte was placed on trial for the willful and premeditated murder of her husband Arnaud d'Larte.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of Les Machines by Joe Love holds 475 sentences, grouped into 95 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 1 of Les Machines contain?

Chapter 1 holds 475 sentences of Les Machines, unabridged, divided into 95 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Les Machines by Joe Love exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 475 sentences, grouped into 95 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 1 of Les Machines?

Work through the 95 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 95 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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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Vocabulary met early in Les Machines

Words and structures a reader meets early in Les Machines, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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