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The Problem Club
The Problem Club

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Problem Club is here in full — 441 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Problem Club
Context Illustration Reading 1/88 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.
The five quotations were as follows:— I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.
And I will wait for you,’ _Julius Cæsar_, Act 1, Scene ii.
I had a thing to saybut let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.
I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.
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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 Problem Club

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Problem Club is here in full — 441 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.
Line 2
The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.
Line 3
And I will wait for you,’ _Julius Cæsar_, Act 1, Scene ii.
Line 4
I had a thing to saybut let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.
Line 5
I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

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.

correct verb US /kərˈekt/

make right or correct

From this reading “But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.”

follows verb US /ˈfɑːloʊz/

third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading “The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.”

Henry noun US /ˈhenri/

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading “The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.”

list verb US /lɪst/

give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

From this reading “But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.”

quotations noun US /kwoʊˈteɪʃənz/

plural of “quotation” — a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage

From this reading “The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.”

Scene noun US /siːn/

the place where some action occurs

From this reading “The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.”

Tale noun US /teɪl/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

Winter's noun US /ˈwɪntərz/

possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

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.

wait for verb + particle

In this reading “‘And I will wait for you,’ _Julius Cæsar_, Act 1, Scene ii.”

All words in this reading · 56

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.

1

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

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

3

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

From this reading ‘I had a thing to say—but let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.

4

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

From this reading ‘I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading ‘I had a thing to say—but let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.

ActverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading ‘I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

correctverbUS /kərˈekt/

make right or correct

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

Cæsar

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

From this reading ‘And I will wait for you,’ _Julius Cæsar_, Act 1, Scene ii.

fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

followsverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊz/

third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading ‘And I will wait for you,’ _Julius Cæsar_, Act 1, Scene ii.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading ‘I had a thing to say—but let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading ‘I had a thing to say—but let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.

HenrynounUS /ˈhenri/

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

iinoun

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

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

iiinoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading ‘I had a thing to say—but let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading ‘I had a thing to say—but let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.

Julius

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

From this reading ‘And I will wait for you,’ _Julius Cæsar_, Act 1, Scene ii.

KingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading ‘I had a thing to say—but let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.

listverbUS /lɪst/

give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ‘I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

Pusely-Smythe

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

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

quotationsnounUS /kwoʊˈteɪʃənz/

plural of “quotation” — a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading ‘I had a thing to say—but let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.

ScenenounUS /siːn/

the place where some action occurs

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

TalenounUS /teɪl/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading ‘I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading ‘I had a thing to say—but let it go,’ _King John_, Act 3, Scene iii.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading ‘I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading ‘I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

venturousadjective

disposed to venture or take risks

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

VIIInoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of seven and one

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

waitverbUS /weɪt/

stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading ‘And I will wait for you,’ _Julius Cæsar_, Act 1, Scene ii.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But Pusely-Smythe made out his list and it was found to be quite correct.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The five quotations were as follows:— ‘I am much too venturous,’ _King Henry VIII._, Act 1, Scene ii.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading ‘I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading ‘And I will wait for you,’ _Julius Cæsar_, Act 1, Scene ii.

Winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/

possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading ‘I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading ‘I told you what would come of this,’ _The Winter’s Tale_, Act 4, Scene iii.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading ‘And I will wait for you,’ _Julius Cæsar_, Act 1, Scene ii.

Chapter 4 of The Problem Club by Barry Pain holds 441 sentences, grouped into 89 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 4 of The Problem Club contain?

Chapter 4 holds 441 sentences of The Problem Club, unabridged, divided into 89 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Problem Club by Barry Pain exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 441 sentences, grouped into 89 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 4 of The Problem Club?

Work through the 89 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 89 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Problem Club

Common questions about reading The Problem Club by Barry Pain on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Problem Club?

Yes. All 2152 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #75598 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Problem Club is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #75598, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Problem Club take to read?

About 179 minutes of reading across 431 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Problem Club section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of The Problem Club 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 Problem Club

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

Frontispiece
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Problem Club; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bus-conductor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Problem Club; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Passengers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Problem Club; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Conductor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Problem Club; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.