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The Green Beret
The Green Beret

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Green Beret is here in full — 489 sentences across 98 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Green Beret
Context Illustration Reading 1/97 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.
Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.
Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.
"We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said.
"I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."
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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.

The Green Beret

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Green Beret is here in full — 489 sentences across 98 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/97 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.
Line 2
Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.
Line 3
Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.
Line 4
"We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said.
Line 5
"I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

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.

arrest verb US /ərˈest/

take into custody

From this reading “"I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."”

Corps noun US /kɔːr/

an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support

From this reading “"We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said.”

decisions noun US /dɪˈsɪʒənz/

plural of “decision” — the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading “_It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.”

Illustrated verb US /ˈɪləstreɪtəd/

past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of

From this reading “Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.”

Inspector noun US /ˌɪnˈspektər/

a high ranking police officer

From this reading “"We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said.”

Premier noun US /preˈmɪr/

the person who holds the position of head of the government in the United Kingdom

From this reading “Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.”

refrains noun US /rɪˈfreɪnz/

plural of “refrain” — the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers

From this reading “_It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.”

warrant noun US /ˈwɔːrənt/

a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts

From this reading “Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.”

All words in this reading · 60

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 _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

arrestverbUS /ərˈest/

take into custody

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

CorpsnounUS /kɔːr/

an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support

From this reading "We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said.

CourtnounUS /kɔːrt/

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

decisionnounUS /dɪˈsɪʒən/

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

decisionsnounUS /dɪˈsɪʒənz/

plural of “decision” — the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

drewnounUS /druː/

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

handedadjectiveUS /ˈhændəd/

having or involving the use of hands

From this reading Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

I'm

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

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

I've

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

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

IllustratedverbUS /ˈɪləstreɪtəd/

past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/

a high ranking police officer

From this reading "We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said.

It's

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

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

LikeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

lockedverbUS /lɑːkt/

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

markverbUS /mɑːrk/

attach a tag or label to

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

onesnounUS /wʌnz/

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

pistolnounUS /ˈpɪstəl/

a firearm that is held and fired with one hand

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

PremiernounUS /preˈmɪr/

the person who holds the position of head of the government in the United Kingdom

From this reading Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.

Rashid

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

From this reading Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.

ReadverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

refrainsnounUS /rɪˈfreɪnz/

plural of “refrain” — the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said.

Schoenherr

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

From this reading Like the decision "I've had enough!"_ Illustrated by Schoenherr Read locked the door and drew his pistol.

SergeantnounUS /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/

any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal

From this reading Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/

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

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _It's not so much the decisions a man does make that mark him as a Man--but the ones he refrains from making.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

trialnounUS /ˈtraɪəl/

the act of testing something

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

Umluana

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

From this reading Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.

UNnounUS /ʌn/

an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security

From this reading "We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

warrantnounUS /ˈwɔːrənt/

a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts

From this reading Sergeant Rashid handed Premier Umluana the warrant.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

We're

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

From this reading "We're from the UN Inspector Corps," Sergeant Rashid said.

WorldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I'm very sorry, but we have to arrest you and bring you in for trial by the World Court."

Chapter 1 of The Green Beret by Tom Purdom holds 489 sentences, grouped into 98 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 1 of The Green Beret contain?

Chapter 1 holds 489 sentences of The Green Beret, unabridged, divided into 98 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Green Beret by Tom Purdom exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 489 sentences, grouped into 98 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 1 of The Green Beret?

Work through the 98 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 98 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Green Beret

Common questions about reading The Green Beret by Tom Purdom on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Green Beret?

Yes. All 489 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24278 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Green Beret is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #24278, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Green Beret take to read?

About 40 minutes of reading across 98 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Green Beret section by section

How to work through The Green Beret section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Green Beret to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The Green Beret

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

Decisions
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Green Beret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Man--but
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Green Beret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Refrains
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Green Beret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Making
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Green Beret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.