A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle- page 12

“He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms.

• He: Third-person singular pronoun, referring to the man from the previous sentence [hi]
• was: Past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
• in the house: Prepositional phrase indicating the location of the man [ɪn ðə haʊs]
• about half an hour: Phrase indicating the approximate duration of time the man spent in the house [əˈbaʊt hæf ən aʊər]
• and: Conjunction connecting two independent clauses [ ənd]
• I: First-person singular pronoun, indicating the speaker [aɪ]
• could catch glimpses: Phrase meaning 'could see brief or partial views' [kʊd kæʧ ˈglɪmpsɪz]
• of him: Prepositional phrase referring to the man [əv ɪm]
• in the windows: Prepositional phrase indicating the location where the man was seen [ɪn ðə ˈwɪndoʊz]
• of the sitting-room: Prepositional phrase specifying which windows; 'sitting-room' refers to a room for relaxing and socializing [əv ðə sitting-room]
• pacing up and down: Phrase describing the man's movement; 'pacing' means walking back and forth restlessly [ ˈpeɪsɪŋ əp ənd daʊn]
• talking excitedly: Phrase describing the man's manner of speaking; 'excitedly' means in an agitated or enthusiastic way [ ˈtɔkɪŋ ɪkˈsaɪtədli]
• and: Conjunction connecting two actions [ ənd]
• waving his arms: Phrase describing the man's gestures; 'waving' means moving his arms back and forth [ˈweɪvɪŋ hɪz ɑrmz]

Of her I could see nothing.

• Of her: Prepositional phrase referring to a woman, likely the occupant of the house [əv hər]
• I: First-person singular pronoun, indicating the speaker [aɪ]
• could see: Past tense of the verb 'to see', indicating the ability to observe [kʊd si]
• nothing: Pronoun meaning 'not anything' or 'no part' [ˈnəθɪŋ]

Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than before.

• Presently: Adverb meaning 'soon' or 'after a short time' [ˈprɛzəntli]
• he: Third-person singular pronoun, referring to the man [hi]
• emerged: Past tense of the verb 'to emerge', meaning 'came out' or 'appeared' [ˈimərʤd]
• looking: Participle phrase describing the man's appearance [ ˈlʊkɪŋ]
• even more flurried: Phrase indicating that the man appeared more agitated or hurried than before; 'flurried' means agitated or confused [ˈivɪn mɔr ˈflərid]
• than before: Phrase indicating a comparison to a previous state [ðən ˌbiˈfɔr]

As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from his pocket and looked at it earnestly, ‘Drive like the devil,’ he shouted, ‘first to Gross & Hankey’s in Regent Street, and then to the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road.

• As: Conjunction introducing a subordinate clause indicating the time when something happened [ɛz]
• he: Third-person singular pronoun, referring to the man [hi]
• stepped up: Phrasal verb meaning 'moved towards' [stɛpt əp]
• to the cab: Prepositional phrase indicating the destination of the man's movement [tɪ ðə kæb]
• he: Pronoun referring to the man [ hi]
• pulled: Past tense of the verb 'to pull', indicating the action of taking something out [pʊld]
• a gold watch: Noun phrase referring to a watch made of gold [ə goʊld wɔʧ]
• from his pocket: Prepositional phrase indicating the location from which the watch was taken [frəm hɪz ˈpɑkət]
• and: Conjunction connecting two actions [ənd]
• looked at it: Phrase indicating the action of examining the watch [lʊkt æt ɪt]
• earnestly: Adverb meaning 'seriously' or 'attentively' [ˈərnəstli]
• Drive: Quotation mark and verb in imperative mood, instructing the cab driver [‘‘drive]
• like the devil: Idiomatic expression meaning 'very fast' or 'recklessly' [laɪk ðə ˈdɛvəl]
• he: Third-person singular pronoun, referring to the man [hi]
• shouted: Past tense of the verb 'to shout', indicating a loud vocalization [ˈʃaʊtɪd]
• first: Quotation mark and adverb indicating the first destination [‘‘first]
• in Regent Street: Prepositional phrase specifying the location of Gross & Hankey's; 'Regent Street' is a street name [ɪn ˈriʤənt strit]
• and: Conjunction connecting two destinations [ ənd]
• then: Adverb indicating the second destination [ðɛn]
• to the Church of St. Monica: Prepositional phrase indicating the second destination; 'Church of St. Monica' is a specific church [tɪ ðə ʧərʧ əv st ˈmɑnɪkə]
• in the Edgeware Road: Prepositional phrase specifying the location of the church; 'Edgeware Road' is a street name [ɪn ðə edgeware roʊd]

“Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the buckles.

• Away they went: They departed or left quickly [əˈweɪ ðeɪ wɛnt]
• and: conjunction used to connect two independent clauses [ənd]
• I was just wondering: expressing a state of contemplation or curiosity [aɪ wɑz ʤɪst ˈwəndərɪŋ]
• whether: expressing doubt or choice between alternatives [ˈwɛðər]
• I should not do well: expressing uncertainty about making a good decision or acting appropriately [aɪ ʃʊd nɑt du wɛl]
• to follow them: to go after them; to pursue them [tɪ ˈfɑloʊ ðɛm]
• when: at the moment that; just as [wɪn]
• up the lane came: a vehicle approached from the direction of the lane; note the inversion of subject and verb for emphasis [əp ðə leɪn keɪm]
• a neat little landau: a stylish, small, four-wheeled carriage with a convertible top [ə nit ˈlɪtəl ˈlænˌdaʊ]
• the coachman: the driver of the landau [ðə ˈkoʊʧmən]
• with his coat only half-buttoned: indicating haste or informality in the coachman's appearance [wɪθ hɪz koʊt ˈoʊnli half-buttoned]
• and: connecting the description of the coat and the tie [ənd]
• his tie under his ear: the tie was askew, suggesting a lack of attention to detail or hurriedness [hɪz taɪ ˈəndər hɪz ɪr]
• while: used to introduce a contrasting or simultaneous action or state [waɪl]
• all the tags of his harness: the loose ends or straps of the harness used to control the horses [ɔl ðə tægz əv hɪz ˈhɑrnɪs]
• were sticking out of the buckles: the tags were not properly fastened, adding to the impression of disarray [wər ˈstɪkɪŋ aʊt əv ðə ˈbəkəlz]

It hadn’t pulled up before she shot out of the hall door and into it.

• It hadn’t pulled up: The landau had not come to a complete stop [ɪt ˈhædənt pʊld əp]
• before: sooner than; prior to [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• she shot out of the hall door: she exited the house very quickly [ʃi ʃɑt aʊt əv ðə hɔl dɔr]
• and into it: and entered the landau [ənd ˈɪntu ɪt]

I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for.

• I only caught a glimpse of her: I only saw her briefly [aɪ ˈoʊnli kɔt ə glɪmps əv hər]
• at the moment: at that specific time [æt ðə ˈmoʊmənt]
• but: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• she was a lovely woman: she was a beautiful and charming woman [ʃi wɑz ə ˈləvli ˈwʊmən]
• with a face: referring to her facial features [wɪθ ə feɪs]
• that a man might die for: her face was so beautiful that a man would be willing to sacrifice his life for her [ðət ə mæn maɪt daɪ fər]

“ ‘The Church of St. Monica, John,’ she cried, ‘and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.’

• The Church of St. Monica: A specific church named after St. Monica [‘‘the ʧərʧ əv st ˈmɑnɪkə]
• John: Addressing the person named John [john’*’]
• she cried: she exclaimed loudly [ʃi kraɪd]
• and half a sovereign: offering half a sovereign coin as a reward [‘‘and hæf ə ˈsɑvrən]
• if you reach it: conditional statement, if John reaches the church [ɪf ju riʧ ɪt]
• in twenty minutes: specifying the time limit to reach the church [ɪn tˈwɛnti minutes’*’]

“This was quite too good to lose, Watson.

• This: Refers to something previously mentioned or understood in the context. [ðɪs]
• was: Past tense of the verb 'to be', indicating a state or condition in the past. [wɑz]
• quite: Means 'completely' or 'entirely' in this context, intensifying the adjective that follows. [kwaɪt]
• too: Means 'excessively' or 'more than enough'. It suggests that something is so good that it's almost unbelievable or risky to lose. [tu]
• good: Means 'desirable', 'valuable', or 'of high quality'. [gʊd]
• to lose: Means 'to be deprived of' or 'to no longer have'. The infinitive 'to lose' indicates the potential for something desirable to be taken away. [tɪ luz]
• Watson: The person being addressed, likely a companion or friend. [ˈwɑtsən]

I was just balancing whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her landau when a cab came through the street.

• I: The speaker, the one narrating the events. [aɪ]
• was: Past tense of the verb 'to be', indicating a state or condition in the past. [wɑz]
• just: Means 'exactly' or 'at that precise moment'. It emphasizes the timing of the action. [ʤɪst]
• balancing: Means 'considering' or 'weighing options'. It suggests a mental process of evaluating different possibilities. [ˈbælənsɪŋ]
• whether: Introduces the first of two alternatives being considered. [ˈwɛðər]
• I: The speaker, the one narrating the events. [aɪ]
• should: Expresses a suggestion, advisability, or possibility. [ʃʊd]
• run: Means 'to move quickly on foot'. [rən]
• for it: Refers to running to secure or obtain something, in this case, likely to secure the 'good' thing mentioned earlier. [fər ɪt]
• or: Introduces the second alternative being considered. [ər]
• whether: Introduces the second of two alternatives being considered. [ˈwɛðər]
• I: The speaker, the one narrating the events. [aɪ]
• should: Expresses a suggestion, advisability, or possibility. [ʃʊd]
• perch: Means 'to settle or rest in an elevated position'. It suggests hiding or waiting in a discreet location. [pərʧ]
• behind: Indicates a position at the back or to the rear of something. [bɪˈhaɪnd]
• her: Possessive pronoun referring to a female person. [hər]
• landau: A type of four-wheeled carriage with a convertible top. [ˈlænˌdaʊ]
• when: Introduces a clause indicating the time at which something happened. [wɪn]
• a cab: A horse-drawn carriage for public hire. [ə kæb]
• came: Past tense of the verb 'to come', indicating movement towards the speaker or a specific location. [keɪm]
• through: Indicates movement or passage within a space. [θru]
• the street: A public road in a city or town. [ðə strit]

The driver looked twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could object. ‘The Church of St. Monica,’ said I, ‘and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.’ It was twenty-five minutes to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind.

• The driver: The person who operates the cab. [ðə ˈdraɪvər]
• looked: Past tense of the verb 'to look', indicating the act of directing one's gaze. [lʊkt]
• twice: Means 'two times' or 'on two occasions'. It suggests a careful or surprised observation. [twaɪs]
• at: Indicates the object of the driver's gaze. [æt]
• such: Means 'of this kind' or 'to this degree'. It emphasizes the unusual nature of the fare. [səʧ]
• a shabby fare: A passenger who is poorly dressed or appears to be of low social status. [ə ˈʃæbi fɛr]
• but: Introduces a contrasting statement. [bət]
• I: The speaker, the one narrating the events. [aɪ]
• jumped: Past tense of the verb 'to jump', indicating a sudden or quick movement. [ʤəmpt]
• in: Indicates movement into the cab. [ɪn]
• before: Indicates that something happened sooner than something else. [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• he: Refers to the driver. [hi]
• could: Indicates the potential or possibility of doing something. [kʊd]
• object: Means 'to express disapproval or opposition'. [ˈɑbʤɛkt]
• The Church of St. Monica: The destination the speaker wants to reach. [‘‘the ʧərʧ əv st ˈmɑnɪkə]
• said: Past tense of the verb 'to say', indicating the act of speaking. [sɛd]
• I: The speaker, the one narrating the events. [aɪ]
• and: Connects two clauses or phrases. [‘‘and]
• half a sovereign: A British gold coin worth half of a pound sterling. It's offered as a fare. [hæf ə ˈsɑvrən]
• if: Introduces a condition. [ɪf]
• you: Refers to the driver. [ju]
• reach: Means 'to arrive at' or 'to get to'. [riʧ]
• it: Refers to the Church of St. Monica. [ɪt]
• in: Indicates a time limit. [ɪn]
• twenty minutes: A specific amount of time. [tˈwɛnti ˈmɪnəts]
• It: Refers to the current time or situation. [ɪt]
• was: Past tense of the verb 'to be', indicating a state or condition in the past. [wɑz]
• twenty-five minutes: A specific amount of time. [tˈwɛntiˌfaɪv ˈmɪnəts]
• to: Indicates the time remaining before a specific hour. [tɪ]
• twelve: The hour of the day. [twɛlv]
• and: Connects two clauses or phrases. [ənd]
• of course: Means 'obviously' or 'as expected'. [əv kɔrs]
• it: Refers to the situation or plan. [ɪt]
• was: Past tense of the verb 'to be', indicating a state or condition in the past. [wɑz]
• clear: Means 'obvious' or 'easy to understand'. [klɪr]
• enough: Means 'sufficiently' or 'to a satisfactory degree'. [ɪˈnəf]
• what: Refers to the plan or intention. [wət]
• was: Past tense of the verb 'to be', indicating a state or condition in the past. [wɑz]
• in the wind: An idiom meaning 'about to happen' or 'being planned'. [ɪn ðə wɪnd]

“My cabby drove fast.

• My: Belonging to the speaker. [maɪ]
• cabby: Informal term for a cab driver. [ˈkæbi]
• drove: Past tense of 'drive', meaning to operate a vehicle. [droʊv]
• fast: Quickly. [fæst]

I don’t think I ever drove faster, but the others were there before us.

• I: The speaker. [aɪ]
• don’t: Contraction of 'do not'. [doʊnt]
• think: Believe. [θɪŋk]
• I: The speaker. [aɪ]
• ever: At any time. [ˈɛvər]
• drove: Past tense of 'drive'. [droʊv]
• faster: More quickly. [ˈfæstər]
• but: However. [bət]
• the others: Other people. [ðə ˈəðərz]
• were: Past tense of 'to be'. [wər]
• there: At that place. [ðɛr]
• before: Earlier than. [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• us: The speaker and someone else. [ˈjuˈɛs]

The cab and the landau with their steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived.

• The cab: A taxi. [ðə kæb]
• and: Connects two things. [ənd]
• the landau: A type of carriage. [ðə ˈlænˌdaʊ]
• with: Having. [wɪθ]
• their: Belonging to them. [ðɛr]
• steaming: Emitting steam. [ˈstimɪŋ]
• horses: Animals pulling the carriages. [ˈhɔrsɪz]
• were: Past tense of 'to be'. [wər]
• in front of: Ahead of. [ɪn frənt əv]
• the door: Entrance to the church. [ðə dɔr]
• when: At the time that. [wɪn]
• I: The speaker. [aɪ]
• arrived: Got there. [əraɪvd]

I paid the man and hurried into the church.

• I: The speaker. [aɪ]
• paid: Gave money to. [peɪd]
• the man: The cab driver. [ðə mæn]
• and: Connects two actions. [ənd]
• hurried: Moved quickly. [ˈhərid]
• into: Inside. [ˈɪntu]
• the church: The building. [ðə ʧərʧ]

There was not a soul there save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who seemed to be expostulating with them.

• There: Used to indicate existence. [ðɛr]
• was: Past tense of 'to be'. [wɑz]
• not: Negative. [nɑt]
• a soul: A person. [ə soʊl]
• there: In that place. [ðɛr]
• save: Except. [seɪv]
• the two: Two people. [ðə tu]
• whom: Who. [hum]
• I: The speaker. [aɪ]
• had followed: Had been tracking. [hæd ˈfɑloʊd]
• and: Connects two people. [ənd]
• a surpliced clergyman: A priest wearing a surplice (a white robe). [ə surpliced ˈklərʤiˌmæn]
• who: Who. [hu]
• seemed: Appeared. [simd]
• to be expostulating: To be reasoning earnestly. [tɪ bi expostulating]
• with: With. [wɪθ]
• them: The two people. [ðɛm]

They were all three standing in a knot in front of the altar.

• They: The two people and the clergyman. [ðeɪ]
• were: Past tense of 'to be'. [wər]
• all three: All three of them. [ɔl θri]
• standing: In a standing position. [ˈstændɪŋ]
• in a knot: Close together. [ɪn ə nɑt]
• in front of: Ahead of. [ɪn frənt əv]
• the altar: A sacred table in a church. [ðə ˈɔltər]

I lounged up the side aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church.

• I: The speaker. [aɪ]
• lounged: Walked casually. [lounged]
• up: Towards. [əp]
• the side aisle: A passage in the church. [ðə saɪd aɪəl]
• like: As if. [laɪk]
• any other: Any other. [ˈɛni ˈəðər]
• idler: A person who is lazy. [ˈaɪdələr]
• who: Who. [hu]
• has dropped: Has come. [həz drɑpt]
• into: Inside. [ˈɪntu]
• a church: The building. [ə ʧərʧ]

Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards me.

• Suddenly: Unexpectedly. [ˈsədənli]
• to my surprise: Unexpectedly. [tɪ maɪ səˈpraɪz]
• the three: The two people and the clergyman. [ðə θri]
• at: Near. [æt]
• the altar: A sacred table in a church. [ðə ˈɔltər]
• faced round: Turned around. [feɪst raʊnd]
• to: Towards. [tɪ]
• me: The speaker. [mi]
• and: Connects two actions. [ənd]
• Godfrey Norton: A person's name. [ˈgɑdfri ˈnɔrtən]
• came running: Came quickly. [keɪm ˈrənɪŋ]
• as hard as: As quickly as. [ɛz hɑrd ɛz]
• he: Godfrey Norton. [hi]
• could: Was able to. [kʊd]
• towards: In the direction of. [təˈwɔrdz]
• me: The speaker. [mi]