Chapter 2 of Shallow Soil is here in full — 394 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Shallow Soil is here in full — 394 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Ole Henriksen sat with open mouth. He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand? I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad." "Why not? Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?
Chapter 2 of Shallow Soil is here in full — 394 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."”
an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
From this reading “Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."”
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?”
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading “Ole Henriksen sat with open mouth.”
third-person singular of “prefer” — like better; value more highly
From this reading “Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?”
be standing; be upright
From this reading “He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?”
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading “He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?”
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.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
From this reading Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ole Henriksen sat with open mouth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Ole Henriksen sat with open mouth.
not any; not one
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Why not?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ole Henriksen sat with open mouth.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Ole Henriksen sat with open mouth.
third-person singular of “prefer” — like better; value more highly
From this reading Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Ole Henriksen sat with open mouth.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?
be standing; be upright
From this reading He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He said in surprise: "Is that how matters stand?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Do you find it strange that she prefers the clique?
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why not?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Ole Henriksen sat with open mouth.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I had no idea it was that way with you two-- that it was that bad."
Chapter 2 of Shallow Soil by Knut Hamsun holds 394 sentences, grouped into 79 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.
Chapter 2 holds 394 sentences of Shallow Soil, unabridged, divided into 79 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Shallow Soil by Knut Hamsun exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 394 sentences, grouped into 79 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.
Work through the 79 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 79 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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.
Common questions about reading Shallow Soil by Knut Hamsun on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5660 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7537 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #7537, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 471 minutes of reading across 1132 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Shallow Soil section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 14 chapters of Shallow Soil to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Shallow Soil, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
