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Problematic Characters: A Novel
Problematic Characters: A Novel

Chapter XL

Chapter 40 of Problematic Characters: A Novel is here in full — 477 sentences across 96 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Friedrich Spielhagen • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Problematic Characters: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/95 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.
"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.
Who is there?"
"I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."
"Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.
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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.

Problematic Characters: A Novel

Chapter XL

Chapter 40 of Problematic Characters: A Novel is here in full — 477 sentences across 96 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.
/ɪn ðə hɔːl daʊn sterz ˈɔːzwɔːld met ˈoʊldənbərɡ/
Line 2
"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.
/aɪ hæv ə ɡreɪt maɪnd tuː tɜːrn bæk əˈɡen sed ˈoʊldənbərɡ ˈæftər ə ˈræðər ˈfɔːrməl ˈɡriːtɪŋ aɪ dɪd nɑːt ɪkˈspekt tuː faɪnd soʊ lɑːrdʒ ə ˈpɑːrti ənd keɪm ɑːn ˈhɔːrsbæk soʊ ðæt aɪ æm nɑːt ɪɡˈzæktli fɪt fɔːr ə bɔːl æz juː siː/
Line 3
Who is there?"
/huː ɪz ðer/
Line 4
"I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."
/aɪ æm bʌt dʒʌst ˈkʌmɪŋ daʊn rɪˈplaɪd ˈɔːzwɔːld ˈbruːnoʊ hæz bɪn kwaɪt sɪk sɪns deɪ bɪˈfɔːr ˈjestərdeɪ naʊ hiː hæz sent miː əˈweɪ bɪˈkɔːz hiː ˈwɔːntɪd tuː sliːp/
Line 5
"Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.
/oʊ aɪ æm ˈsɑːri tuː hiːr ðæt sed ˈoʊldənbərɡ aɪ hoʊp ðə bɔɪ ɪz nɑːt ˈɡoʊɪŋ tuː biː ˈrɪli sɪk/

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.

ball noun US /bɔːl/

round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading “"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Bruno noun US /ˈbruːnoʊ/

German pope from 1049 to 1054 whose papacy was the beginning of papal reforms in the 11th century (1002-1054)

From this reading “"I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
formal adjective US /ˈfɔːrməl/

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

From this reading “"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greeting noun US /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/

(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)

From this reading “"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
horseback noun US /ˈhɔːrsbæk/

the back of a horse

From this reading “"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Oldenburg noun US /ˈoʊldənbərɡ/

United States sculptor (born in Sweden); a leader of the pop art movement who was noted for giant sculptures of common objects (born in 1929)

From this reading “In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Oswald noun US /ˈɔːzwɔːld/

United States assassin of President John F. Kennedy (1939-1963)

From this reading “In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yesterday noun US /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

From this reading “"I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."”

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.

on horseback preposition + noun

In this reading “"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.”

11,666 times in 225,867 chapters
down stairs adjective + noun

In this reading “In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.”

4,814 times in 225,867 chapters
before yesterday preposition + noun

In this reading “"I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."”

2,772 times in 225,867 chapters
turn back verb + particle

retrace one's course

In this reading “"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.”

6,261 times in 225,867 chapters
fit for verb + particle

In this reading “"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.”

12,273 times in 225,867 chapters
In the hall preposition + article + noun counted as “in … hall”

In this reading “In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.”

19,191 times in 225,867 chapters
came on verb + particle counted as “come on”

appear or become visible; make a showing

In this reading “"I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.”

59,812 times in 225,867 chapters

All words in this reading · 74

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 "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ballnounUS /bɔːl/

round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading "Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BrunonounUS /ˈbruːnoʊ/

German pope from 1049 to 1054 whose papacy was the beginning of papal reforms in the 11th century (1002-1054)

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
exactlyadverbUS /ɪɡˈzæktli/

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/

regard something as probable or likely

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fitverbUS /fɪt/

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading "Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/

(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hearverbUS /hiːr/

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading "Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading "Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
horsebacknounUS /ˈhɔːrsbæk/

the back of a horse

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Who is there?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
metverbUS /met/

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora curated lexicon
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading "Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OldenburgnounUS /ˈoʊldənbərɡ/

United States sculptor (born in Sweden); a leader of the pop art movement who was noted for giant sculptures of common objects (born in 1929)

From this reading In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OswaldnounUS /ˈɔːzwɔːld/

United States assassin of President John F. Kennedy (1939-1963)

From this reading In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading "Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sickadjectiveUS /sɪk/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
sleepnounUS /sliːp/

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/

feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone

From this reading "Oh, I am sorry to hear that," said Oldenburg; "I hope the boy is not going to be really sick.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stairsnounUS /sterz/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

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 In the hall down stairs Oswald met Oldenburg.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Who is there?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Who is there?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yesterdaynounUS /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

From this reading "I am but just coming down," replied Oswald; "Bruno has been quite sick since day before yesterday; now he has sent me away because he wanted to sleep."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I have a great mind to turn back again," said Oldenburg, after a rather formal greeting, "I did not expect to find so large a party, and came on horseback, so that I am not exactly fit for a ball, as you see.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 40 of Problematic Characters: A Novel by Friedrich Spielhagen holds 477 sentences, grouped into 96 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 40 of Problematic Characters: A Novel contain?

Chapter 40 holds 477 sentences of Problematic Characters: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 96 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 40 of Problematic Characters: A Novel by Friedrich Spielhagen exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 477 sentences, grouped into 96 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 40 of Problematic Characters: A Novel?

Work through the 96 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 96 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 40 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 40 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.

Questions about reading Problematic Characters: A Novel

Common questions about reading Problematic Characters: A Novel by Friedrich Spielhagen on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Problematic Characters: A Novel?

Yes. All 9955 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34748 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Problematic Characters: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34748, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Problematic Characters: A Novel take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1991 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Problematic Characters: A Novel section by section

How to work through Problematic Characters: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Problematic Characters: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in Problematic Characters: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Diphthong
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Problematic Characters: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Represented
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Problematic Characters: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spielhagen's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Problematic Characters: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Complete
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Problematic Characters: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.