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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 No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
big
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From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
buckets
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From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
commotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
distinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
dusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
fault
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
herspronounUS /hərz/
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
laughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
liked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
Mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
Nature's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
noisy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
rivers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
shouting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
spruce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But, of course, one could tell that everything liked it.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
untidy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not their fault that all that piece of the earth had grown so dusty and untidy; it was Mother Nature's own fault for being so long coming with those big buckets of hers.
vigorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
willing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could any land, however willing, look spruce and green and clean with no rain for four months?
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The laughter in the trees and the wind was quite distinct, and the little rivers were fairly shouting with joy.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No wonder there was such a commotion, and it was such a noisy, vigorous business, when at last the rain did come!
