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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
breaking
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From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
china
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
cleaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
dirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
dust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
fast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
folk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
fond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
Griffin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
looks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
Maggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
mamma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
Maud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maud Platten visits the Shop.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
Platten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maud Platten visits the Shop.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
risk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
Shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maud Platten visits the Shop.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
suggested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
thank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Maud Platten visits the Shop.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
tidy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can dust them for you, if you like," suggested the child; "I know how to dust, for I used to help mamma put the room tidy."
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
visits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maud Platten visits the Shop.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've no time to dust the things," said the old man, with a smile; "they come and go too fast to make it worth while to clean them, let alone the risk of breaking them."
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, no, thank you, my dear; they're best left as they are," replied old Griffin; "you're like all good women folk, fond of cleaning and putting things straight.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "How very dirty your china looks, Mr. Griffin," said Maggie, coming into the shop the next morning, "why don't you dust it?"
