Chapter VI

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

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

used to show sadness, pity, or regret

From this reading “Alas, my little dog and cat, what will become of us now?” he cried.

possessing life

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading One day the old man found that all he had was one scant handful of rice.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

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

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

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

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

for the reason that

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading “Alas, my little dog and cat, what will become of us now?” he cried.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading “Alas, my little dog and cat, what will become of us now?” he cried.

a female human offspring

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading One day the old man found that all he had was one scant handful of rice.

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

take in solid food

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

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

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

set up or found

From this reading One day the old man found that all he had was one scant handful of rice.

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

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

a small number or amount

From this reading One day the old man found that all he had was one scant handful of rice.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

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

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

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

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

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

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

held dear

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

joined in matrimony

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Alas, my little dog and cat, what will become of us now?” he cried.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

not any; not one

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading “Alas, my little dog and cat, what will become of us now?” he cried.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One day the old man found that all he had was one scant handful of rice.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

on one occasion

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One day the old man found that all he had was one scant handful of rice.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

grains used as food either unpolished or more often polished

From this reading One day the old man found that all he had was one scant handful of rice.

less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so

From this reading One day the old man found that all he had was one scant handful of rice.

only a very short time before

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

have in common; held or experienced in common

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

a male human offspring

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

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

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

in or at that place or location

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

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

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

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

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

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

From this reading “Alas, my little dog and cat, what will become of us now?” he cried.

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

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

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

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What little he had was shared with them, and if they were sometimes hungry, it was because he had nothing in the house to eat.

which person or people

From this reading THERE was once an old man who was so poor he was scarcely able to buy food enough to keep him alive.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “Alas, my little dog and cat, what will become of us now?” he cried.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had never married, and so he had no children, but he had a little dog and cat that lived with him, and these two he loved as though they were his own son and daughter.