The Competitive Nephew

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of The Competitive Nephew is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Montague Glass • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Competitive Nephew

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

"Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

"Me and Max will fix it sure.

And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

Tell him you know lots of people would hire you right away at two dollars a week more, and I bet yer he would be crazy to make you stay; and if he wouldn't pay you the two dollars a week more I would, so sure I am he would give it to you."

It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

Narrator

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Chapter XI Reading 1/81

The Competitive Nephew Montague Glass

Chapter XI

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of The Competitive Nephew is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

"Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly. "Me and Max will fix it sure. And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't. Tell him you know lots of people would hire you right away at two dollars a week more, and I bet yer he would be crazy to make you stay; and if he wouldn't pay you the two dollars a week more I would, so sure I am he would give it to you." It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

The Competitive Nephew

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of The Competitive Nephew is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

"Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

/ˈʃʊrɪst θɪŋ juː noʊ ˈluːɪs ˈsaɪmən riˈdʒɔɪnd ˈsɔːləmli/

Line 2

"Me and Max will fix it sure.

/miː ənd mæks wɪl fɪks ɪt ʃʊr/

Line 3

And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

Line 4

Line 5

It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

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.

boss noun US /bɑːs/

a person who exercises control over workers

From this reading “And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.”

cashier's noun US /kæˈʃɪrz/

possessive form of “cashier” — an employee of a bank who receives and pays out money

From this reading “It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.”

hire verb US /ˈhaɪər/

engage or hire for work

From this reading “Tell him you know lots of people would hire you right away at two dollars a week more, and I bet yer he would be crazy to make you stay; and if he wouldn't pay you the two dollars a week more I would, so sure I am he would give it to you."”

Max noun US /mæks/

street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate

From this reading “"Me and Max will fix it sure.”

Simon noun US /ˈsaɪmən/

one of the twelve Apostles (first century)

From this reading “"Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.”

solemnly adverb US /ˈsɔːləmli/

in a grave and sedate manner

From this reading “"Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.”

Surest adjective US /ˈʃʊrɪst/

superlative of “sure” — having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading “"Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.”

telephone noun US /ˈteləfoʊn/

electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

From this reading “It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.”

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.

telephone bell noun + noun

electric bell that rings to signal a call

In this reading “It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.”

rang sharply verb + particle counted as “ring sharply”

In this reading “It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.”

two dollars noun + noun counted as “two dollar”

In this reading “Tell him you know lots of people would hire you right away at two dollars a week more, and I bet yer he would be crazy to make you stay; and if he wouldn't pay you the two dollars a week more I would, so sure I am he would give it to you."”

Surest thing adjective + noun counted as “sure thing”

something that is certain

In this reading “"Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 Tell him you know lots of people would hire you right away at two dollars a week more, and I bet yer he would be crazy to make you stay; and if he wouldn't pay you the two dollars a week more I would, so sure I am he would give it to you."

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Me and Max will fix it sure.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

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

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

bellnounUS /bel/

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

betverbUS /bet/

maintain with or as if with a bet

bossnounUS /bɑːs/

a person who exercises control over workers

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

cashier'snounUS /kæˈʃɪrz/

possessive form of “cashier” — an employee of a bank who receives and pays out money

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/

affected with madness or insanity

desknounUS /desk/

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

dollarsnounUS /ˈdɑːlərz/

plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents

fixverbUS /fɪks/

restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading "Me and Max will fix it sure.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

guessverbUS /ɡes/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

hireverbUS /ˈhaɪər/

engage or hire for work

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Me and Max will fix it sure.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

lotsnounUS /lɑːts/

a large number or amount

LouisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/

United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)

From this reading "Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

MaxnounUS /mæks/

street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate

From this reading "Me and Max will fix it sure.

MepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "Me and Max will fix it sure.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

payverbUS /peɪ/

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

rangverbUS /ræŋ/

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

rejoinedverbUS /riˈdʒɔɪnd/

past form of “rejoin” — join again

From this reading "Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

sharplyadverbUS /ˈʃɑːrpli/

in an aggressive manner

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

SimonnounUS /ˈsaɪmən/

one of the twelve Apostles (first century)

From this reading "Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/

in a grave and sedate manner

From this reading "Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

stayverbUS /steɪ/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading "Me and Max will fix it sure.

SurestadjectiveUS /ˈʃʊrɪst/

superlative of “sure” — having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading "Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/

electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading "Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

Trinkmann

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

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was then that Trinkmann returned to the cashier's desk, and Louis moved slowly away just as the telephone bell rang sharply.

weeknounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Me and Max will fix it sure.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

wouldn't

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

From this reading And after the boss says you should stay you tell him no, you guess you wouldn't.

yer

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

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Surest thing you know, Louis," Simon rejoined solemnly.

Chapter 11 of The Competitive Nephew by Montague Glass holds 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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 11 of The Competitive Nephew contain?

Chapter 11 holds 406 sentences of The Competitive Nephew, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of The Competitive Nephew by Montague Glass exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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 11 of The Competitive Nephew?

Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 82 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 The Competitive Nephew

Common questions about reading The Competitive Nephew by Montague Glass on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Competitive Nephew?

Yes. All 5023 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32960 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Competitive Nephew is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32960, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Competitive Nephew take to read?

About 418 minutes of reading across 1005 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Competitive Nephew

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Competitive Nephew, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Ain't: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Competitive Nephew; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Place: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Competitive Nephew; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Y'understand: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Competitive Nephew; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
To-night: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Competitive Nephew; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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