Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

later than; following

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

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

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

react verbally

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

only a very short time before

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

the act of closing something

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

the body of faculty and students of a college

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

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

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

plural of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

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

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

decrease in size, extent, or range

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

command with authority

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

plural of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

plural of “exercise” — the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

many times at short intervals

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

a reserve of money set aside for some purpose

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

marked with or divided into degrees

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

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

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

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

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

for more time

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

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

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

plural of “medicine” — the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

in such a manner that death ensues (also in reference to hatred, jealousy, fear, etc.)

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

not any; not one

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

a source of materials to nourish the body

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

and nothing more

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

with speed

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

an educational institution

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

not often

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

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

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

a person, without saying who

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

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

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

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

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

precisely as stated

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

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

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading For some time past she had heard from him only at irregular intervals; we never received an answer.

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

From this reading Many of her customers and some of the neighbors were very kind, and frequently brought her nourishment of one kind or another.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.

at the time that

From this reading My mother barely had strength to attend the closing exercises of the high school when I graduated, and after that day she was seldom out of bed.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading She could no longer direct her work, and under the expense of medicines, doctors, and someone to look after her our college fund began to diminish rapidly.

produce a literary work

From this reading My mother realized what I did not, that she was mortally ill, and she had me write a long letter to my father.