The Red, White, and Green

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Red, White, and Green is here in full — 172 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Herbert Hayens • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Red, White, and Green

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

To us it was exceedingly wearisome and distressing.

We had very little food, and that the coarsest.

Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter VIII Reading 1/34

The Red, White, and Green Herbert Hayens

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Red, White, and Green is here in full — 172 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

_A DRAWN BATTLE._ The taking of the pass, described in the preceding chapter, was the first really stubborn affair we had been engaged in, but during the remainder of the journey the enemy attacked us many times. Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general. To us it was exceedingly wearisome and distressing. We had very little food, and that the coarsest. Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

The Red, White, and Green

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Red, White, and Green is here in full — 172 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

/ə drɔːn ˈbætəl ðə ˈteɪkɪŋ ʌv ðə pæs dɪˈskraɪbd ɪn ðə priˈsiːdɪŋ ˈtʃæptər wɑːz ðə fɜːrst ˈrɪli ˈstʌbərn əˈfer wiː hæd bɪn enˈɡeɪdʒd ɪn bʌt ˈdʊrɪŋ ðə rɪˈmeɪndər ʌv ðə ˈdʒɜːrni ðə ˈenəmi əˈtækt ʌs ˈmeni taɪmz/

Line 2

Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

/ˈsoʊldʒərz hæv toʊld miː ðæt frʌm ə ˈmɪləteri pɔɪnt ʌv vjuː ðə mɑːrtʃ wɑːz ə ˈbrɪljənt wʌn ənd ðæt ɪt stæmpt ˈaʊər ˈliːdər æz ə moʊst əˈkɑːmplɪʃt ˈdʒenərəl/

Line 3

To us it was exceedingly wearisome and distressing.

/tuː ʌs ɪt wɑːz ɪkˈsiːdɪŋli ˈwɪrisəm ənd dɪˈstresɪŋ/

Line 4

We had very little food, and that the coarsest.

Line 5

Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

/ˈaʊər buːts wɜːr ˈdrɑːpɪŋ tuː ˈpiːsəz ˈaʊər ˈjuːnəfɔːrmz wɜːr ɪn ræɡz ənd ˈtætərz/

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.

distressing adjective US /dɪˈstresɪŋ/

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading “To us it was exceedingly wearisome and distressing.”

preceding adjective US /priˈsiːdɪŋ/

existing or coming before

From this reading “_A DRAWN BATTLE._ The taking of the pass, described in the preceding chapter, was the first really stubborn affair we had been engaged in, but during the remainder of the journey the enemy attacked us many times.”

rags noun US /ræɡz/

plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading “Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.”

stamped verb US /stæmpt/

past form of “stamp” — walk heavily

From this reading “Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.”

stubborn adjective US /ˈstʌbərn/

tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield

tatters noun US /ˈtætərz/

plural of “tatter” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading “Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.”

uniforms noun US /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmz/

plural of “uniform” — clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification

From this reading “Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.”

wearisome adjective US /ˈwɪrisəm/

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading “To us it was exceedingly wearisome and distressing.”

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.

preceding chapter adjective + noun

In this reading “_A DRAWN BATTLE._ The taking of the pass, described in the preceding chapter, was the first really stubborn affair we had been engaged in, but during the remainder of the journey the enemy attacked us many times.”

during the remainder preposition + article + noun counted as “during … remainder”

many times adjective + noun

most accomplished adverb + adjective

In this reading “Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.”

in rags preposition + noun counted as “in rag”

In this reading “Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 _A DRAWN BATTLE._ The taking of the pass, described in the preceding chapter, was the first really stubborn affair we had been engaged in, but during the remainder of the journey the enemy attacked us many times.

accomplishedadjectiveUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃt/

highly skilled

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

affairnounUS /əˈfer/

a vaguely specified concern

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/

past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

BATTLEnounUS /ˈbætəl/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

bootsnounUS /buːts/

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

brilliantadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪljənt/

of surpassing excellence

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

chapternounUS /ˈtʃæptər/

a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

coarsest

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

From this reading We had very little food, and that the coarsest.

describedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskraɪbd/

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

distressingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstresɪŋ/

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading To us it was exceedingly wearisome and distressing.

DRAWNadjectiveUS /drɔːn/

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/

coming down freely under the influence of gravity

From this reading Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

enemynounUS /ˈenəmi/

an opposing military force

engagedadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒd/

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

exceedinglyadverbUS /ɪkˈsiːdɪŋli/

to an extreme degree

From this reading To us it was exceedingly wearisome and distressing.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

foodnounUS /fuːd/

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading We had very little food, and that the coarsest.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

journeyverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrni/

undertake a journey or trip

leadernounUS /ˈliːdər/

a person who rules or guides or inspires others

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading We had very little food, and that the coarsest.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

marchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/

march in a procession

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

militaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɪləteri/

of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

piecesnounUS /ˈpiːsəz/

plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole

From this reading Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/

existing or coming before

ragsnounUS /ræɡz/

plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

remaindernounUS /rɪˈmeɪndər/

something left after other parts have been taken away

SoldiersnounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

stampedverbUS /stæmpt/

past form of “stamp” — walk heavily

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

stubbornadjectiveUS /ˈstʌbərn/

tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

tattersnounUS /ˈtætərz/

plural of “tatter” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To us it was exceedingly wearisome and distressing.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

uniformsnounUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmz/

plural of “uniform” — clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification

From this reading Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading We had very little food, and that the coarsest.

viewnounUS /vjuː/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading Soldiers have told me that, from a military point of view, the march was a brilliant one, and that it stamped our leader as a most accomplished general.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

wearisomeadjectiveUS /ˈwɪrisəm/

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading To us it was exceedingly wearisome and distressing.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Our boots were dropping to pieces, our uniforms were in rags and tatters.

Chapter 8 of The Red, White, and Green by Herbert Hayens holds 172 sentences, grouped into 35 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 8 of The Red, White, and Green contain?

Chapter 8 holds 172 sentences of The Red, White, and Green, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Red, White, and Green by Herbert Hayens exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 172 sentences, grouped into 35 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 8 of The Red, White, and Green?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Red, White, and Green

Common questions about reading The Red, White, and Green by Herbert Hayens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Red, White, and Green?

Yes. All 5410 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40137 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Red, White, and Green is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #40137, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Red, White, and Green take to read?

About 450 minutes of reading across 1082 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Red, White, and Green section by section

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

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Vocabulary met early in The Red, White, and Green

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

Author: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red, White, and Green; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Captain: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red, White, and Green; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Irregulars: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red, White, and Green; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Vanished: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red, White, and Green; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter VIII

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Vocabulary met early in The Red, White, and Green