Chapter XXXIII
"Yes, on the Somme. We had rotten luck. We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't. We didn't even get to the wire. The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
One of Ours
Chapter XXXIII
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
"Yes,
on
the
Somme.
We
had
rotten
luck.
We
were
sent
over
to
take
a
trench
and
couldn't.
We
didn't
even
get
to
the
wire.
The
Hun
was
so
well
prepared
that
time,
we
couldn't
manage
it.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
"Yes,
on
the
Somme.
Line 2
We
had
rotten
luck.
Line 3
We
were
sent
over
to
take
a
trench
and
couldn't.
Line 4
We
didn't
even
get
to
the
wire.
Line 5
The
Hun
was
so
well
prepared
that
time,
we
couldn't
manage
it.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Even
noun
US /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “We didn't even get to the wire.”
Over
preposition
US /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.”
Take
noun
US /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.”
Time
noun
US /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.”
Well
noun
US /well/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.”
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 We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We didn't even get to the wire.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We didn't even get to the wire.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We didn't even get to the wire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had rotten luck.
Hun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
luck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had rotten luck.
manage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Yes, on the Somme.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.
prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
rotten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had rotten luck.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
Somme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, on the Somme.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Yes, on the Somme.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.
trench
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had rotten luck.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Hun was so well prepared that time, we couldn't manage it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were sent over to take a trench and couldn't.
wire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We didn't even get to the wire.
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, on the Somme.