Every word is available to listen to. 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 The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
consequences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
desirousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪərəs/
having a strong wish to do or obtain something
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
discovery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
English
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
enrolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
fast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
Jurgis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
learning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
loaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
meetings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
Ona
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
pick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
sorry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
teach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
union
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of the first consequences of the discovery of the union was that Jurgis became desirous of learning English.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Jurgis became sorry that he could not read himself; and later on in the winter, when some one told him that there was a night school that was free, he went and enrolled.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wanted to know what was going on at the meetings, and to be able to take part in them, and so he began to look about him, and to try to pick up words.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The children, who were at school, and learning fast, would teach him a few; and a friend loaned him a little book that had some in it, and Ona would read them to him.
yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that, every evening that he got home from the yards in time, he would go to the school; he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour.
