Chapter 1 of Tom Gerrard is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Tom Gerrard is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Caen, France. 1904. “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age. “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.” “And where do you get them?”
Chapter 1 of Tom Gerrard is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
how long something has existed
From this reading ““Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.”
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading ““Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.”
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading ““Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.”
to an extreme degree
From this reading ““Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.”
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading “Caen, France.”
possessive form of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading ““Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.”
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading ““Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.”
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading ““Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.””
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 1904.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
how long something has existed
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Caen, France.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “And where do you get them?”
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
to an extreme degree
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Caen, France.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
a young female
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
possessive form of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
in an inquiring manner
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
and nothing more
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
term of address for a man
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “And where do you get them?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading “Nothing, sir, I only came out for a walk, and to get some pippies.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
in or at the place that
From this reading “And where do you get them?”
a late time of life
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “Hallo! young lady, what on earth are you doing here?” and Gerrard bent down over his horse's shoulder, and looked inquiringly into the face of a small and exceedingly ill-clad girl of about ten years of age.
Chapter 1 of Tom Gerrard by Louis Becke holds 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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.
Chapter 1 holds 207 sentences of Tom Gerrard, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Tom Gerrard by Louis Becke exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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.
Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 42 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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.
Common questions about reading Tom Gerrard by Louis Becke on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3241 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #24270 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #24270, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 270 minutes of reading across 649 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Tom Gerrard section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 32 chapters of Tom Gerrard to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Tom Gerrard, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
