Every word is available to listen to. 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 One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
advanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Seeing a paper on the table, he picked it up, and great was his surprise as he read:
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
curtain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
finding
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From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
flew
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From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
fond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
gather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Seeing a paper on the table, he picked it up, and great was his surprise as he read:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Seeing a paper on the table, he picked it up, and great was his surprise as he read:
hopped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
letting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
parrot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
pencil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
picked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing a paper on the table, he picked it up, and great was his surprise as he read:
picking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing a paper on the table, he picked it up, and great was his surprise as he read:
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
saying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
Seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing a paper on the table, he picked it up, and great was his surprise as he read:
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing a paper on the table, he picked it up, and great was his surprise as he read:
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
verses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just finished when he was startled by a noise, and letting fall the pencil, he flew out of the window.
wizard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now hardly had he dropped the pencil when the wizard lifted a corner of the curtain which hung over the doorway, and advanced into the room.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, however, she left the room to gather some flowers, and the parrot, finding himself alone, hopped to the table, and, picking up a pencil, wrote some verses on a piece of paper.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'If you only knew how happy it would make me, I'm sure you would try,' she was fond of saying; but the parrot did not seem to hear her.
