used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Tonio didn't have to say a word.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He went very slowly and came back with the willow switch more slowly still.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
have
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He went very slowly and came back with the willow switch more slowly still.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tonio didn't have to say a word.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Tonio didn't have to say a word.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
MaestronounUS /ˈmaɪstroʊ/
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He went very slowly and came back with the willow switch more slowly still.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
having a point
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
express in words
From this reading Tonio didn't have to say a word.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He went very slowly and came back with the willow switch more slowly still.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/
with sternness; in a severe manner
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
not in physical motion
From this reading He went very slowly and came back with the willow switch more slowly still.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
express in words
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I don't know how they could be so sure of it, but all the children pointed their fingers at Tonio and said, "He did."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tonio didn't have to say a word.
Tonio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tonio didn't have to say a word.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
willownounUS /ˈwɪloʊ/
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading The Maestro said very sternly to Tonio, "Go out to the willow tree and bring me a strong switch," Tonio went.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He went very slowly and came back with the willow switch more slowly still.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Tonio didn't have to say a word.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I think you can guess what happened next--I hope you can, for I really cannot bear to tell you about it.
