Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 10

'I won't indeed!' said Alice, in a great hurry to change the subject of conversation. 'Are you—are you fond—of—of dogs?' The Mouse did not answer, so Alice went on eagerly: 'There is such a nice little dog near our house I should like to show you!

• I won't indeed: Expressing agreement or compliance, possibly with a hint of reluctance or sarcasm. [aɪ woʊnt ˌɪnˈdid]
• said Alice: identifies the speaker as Alice [sɛd ˈælɪs]
• in a great hurry: acting quickly and hastily [ɪn ə greɪt ˈhəri]
• to change the subject of conversation: to shift the topic being discussed [tɪ ʧeɪnʤ ðə ˈsəbʤɪkt əv ˌkɑnvərˈseɪʃən]
• Are you—are you fond—of—of dogs: A question inquiring about someone's liking for dogs, phrased hesitantly. [ər you-are ju fond-of-of dɔgz]
• The Mouse: referring to the mouse character [ðə maʊs]
• did not answer: remained silent; gave no response [dɪd nɑt ˈænsər]
• so Alice went on eagerly: Alice continued speaking with enthusiasm [soʊ ˈælɪs wɛnt ɔn ˈigərli]
• There is such a nice little dog: introducing the topic of a pleasant small dog [ðɛr ɪz səʧ ə nis ˈlɪtəl dɔg]
• near our house: located close to Alice's home [nɪr ɑr haʊs]
• I should like to show you: expressing a desire to present the dog to the mouse [aɪ ʃʊd laɪk tɪ ʃoʊ ju]

A little bright-eyed terrier, you know, with oh, such long curly brown hair!

• A little bright-eyed terrier: describing the dog's breed and appearance [ə ˈlɪtəl bright-eyed ˈtɛriər]
• you know: a filler phrase used to engage the listener [ju noʊ]
• with oh, such long curly brown hair: emphasizing the dog's attractive fur [wɪθ oʊ səʧ lɔŋ ˈkərli braʊn hɛr]

And it'll fetch things when you throw them, and it'll sit up and beg for its dinner, and all sorts of things—I can't remember half of them—and it belongs to a farmer, you know, and he says it's so useful, it's worth a hundred pounds!

• And it'll fetch things: it will retrieve objects [ənd ˈɪtəl fɛʧ θɪŋz]
• when you throw them: after they are tossed [wɪn ju θroʊ ðɛm]
• and it'll sit up: it will position itself upright [ənd ˈɪtəl sɪt əp]
• and beg for its dinner: and plead for food [ənd bɛg fər ɪts ˈdɪnər]
• and all sorts of things: and various other actions [ənd ɔl sɔrts əv θɪŋz]
• I can't remember half of them: Alice is unable to recall all the dog's tricks [aɪ kænt rɪˈmɛmbər hæf əv ðɛm]
• and it belongs to a farmer: the dog is owned by a farmer [ənd ɪt bɪˈlɔŋz tɪ ə ˈfɑrmər]
• you know: a filler phrase used to engage the listener [ju noʊ]
• and he says it's so useful: the farmer considers the dog very helpful [ənd hi sɪz ɪts soʊ ˈjusfəl]
• it's worth a hundred pounds: the dog is valued at a significant amount of money [ɪts wərθ ə ˈhənərd paʊnz]

He says it kills all the rats and—oh dear!' cried Alice in a sorrowful tone, 'I'm afraid I've offended it again!' For the Mouse was swimming away from her as hard as it could go, and making quite a commotion in the pool as it went.

• He says it kills all the rats: the farmer claims the dog eliminates rats [hi sɪz ɪt kɪlz ɔl ðə ræts]
• and—oh dear: an expression of dismay or realization [and-oh dɪr]
• cried Alice: Alice exclaimed [kraɪd ˈælɪs]
• in a sorrowful tone: with a sad voice [ɪn ə ˈsɑroʊfəl toʊn]
• I'm afraid I've offended it again: Alice fears she has upset the mouse again [əm əˈfreɪd aɪv əˈfɛndɪd ɪt əˈgɛn]
• For the Mouse: referring to the mouse character [fər ðə maʊs]
• was swimming away from her: moving away from Alice in the water [wɑz sˈwɪmɪŋ əˈweɪ frəm hər]
• as hard as it could go: with maximum effort [ɛz hɑrd ɛz ɪt kʊd goʊ]
• and making quite a commotion: creating a disturbance [ənd ˈmeɪkɪŋ kwaɪt ə kəˈmoʊʃən]
• in the pool: in the body of water [ɪn ðə pul]
• as it went: while it moved. [ɛz ɪt wɛnt]

So she called softly after it, 'Mouse dear!

• So: Therefore; as a result [soʊ]
• she: referring to a female character, likely Alice in the context of Alice in Wonderland [ʃi]
• called: spoke loudly enough to be heard [kɔld]
• softly: in a quiet and gentle manner [ˈsɔftli]
• after it: following something or someone, in this case, the Mouse [ˈæftər ɪt]
• Mouse dear: an affectionate term used to address the Mouse [maʊs dɪr]

It was high time to go, for the pool was getting quite crowded with the birds and animals that had fallen into it: there were a Duck and a Dodo, a Lory and an Eaglet, and several other curious creatures.

• It: referring to a situation or event [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'is' [wɑz]
• high time: the appropriate or latest possible time [haɪ taɪm]
• to go: to leave or depart [tɪ goʊ]
• for: because; since [fər]
• the pool: a small body of standing water [ðə pul]
• was getting: becoming [wɑz ˈgɪtɪŋ]
• quite: completely; entirely [kwaɪt]
• crowded: full of people or things; congested [ˈkraʊdɪd]
• with: containing; having [wɪθ]
• the birds and animals: referring to various species of birds and animals [ðə bərdz ənd ˈænəməlz]
• that: introducing a relative clause [ðət]
• had fallen: past perfect tense of 'fall', indicating a past action completed before another past action [hæd ˈfɑlən]
• into it: into the pool [ˈɪntu ɪt]
• there: used to indicate existence or presence [ðɛr]
• were: past tense plural of 'be' [wər]
• a Duck: referring to a duck [ə dək]
• and: connecting two items [ənd]
• a Dodo: referring to a dodo bird [ə ˈdoʊdoʊ]
• a Lory: referring to a lory bird [ə ˈlɔri]
• and: connecting two items [ənd]
• an Eaglet: referring to a young eagle [ən eaglet]
• and: connecting two items [ənd]
• several: more than two but not many [ˈsɛvərəl]
• other: additional; different [ˈəðər]
• curious: strange; unusual [ˈkjʊriəs]
• creatures: animals or beings [ˈkriʧərz]

Alice led the way, and the whole party swam to the shore.

• Alice: referring to the character Alice [ˈælɪs]
• led: past tense of 'lead', meaning to guide or direct [lɛd]
• the way: the path or direction [ðə weɪ]
• and: connecting two clauses [ənd]
• the whole party: the entire group of people or animals [ðə hoʊl ˈpɑrti]
• swam: moved through water [swæm]
• to: indicating direction [tɪ]
• the shore: the land along the edge of a body of water [ðə ʃɔr]

CHAPTER III.

• CHAPTER: a main division of a book [ˈʧæptər]
• III: Roman numeral for 3 [iii]

They were indeed a queer-looking party that assembled on the bank—the birds with draggled feathers, the animals with their fur clinging close to them, and all dripping wet, cross, and uncomfortable.

• They: refers to a group of people or animals previously mentioned [ðeɪ]
• were: past tense of 'to be', indicating a state or condition [wər]
• indeed: in truth; in fact; really [ˌɪnˈdid]
• a queer-looking party: an odd or strange-appearing group of people or animals [ə queer-looking ˈpɑrti]
• that: introduces a relative clause [ðət]
• assembled: gathered together in one place [əˈsɛmbəld]
• on the bank: the edge of a river or stream [ɔn ðə bæŋk]
• the birds: plural of bird, a warm-blooded vertebrate animal of a class distinguished by having feathers [ðə bərdz]
• with draggled feathers: with feathers that are wet, dirty, and hanging limply [wɪθ draggled ˈfɛðərz]
• the animals: plural of animal, a living organism that feeds on organic matter [ðə ˈænəməlz]
• with their fur clinging close to them: with their hair pressed tightly against their bodies, likely due to being wet [wɪθ ðɛr fər ˈklɪŋɪŋ kloʊz tɪ ðɛm]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• all: every one of a group or number [ɔl]
• dripping wet: extremely wet; soaked [ˈdrɪpɪŋ wɛt]
• cross: annoyed or angry [krɔs]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• uncomfortable: not comfortable; uneasy [ənˈkəmfərtəbəl]

The first question of course was, how to get dry again: they had a consultation about this, and after a few minutes it seemed quite natural to Alice to find herself talking familiarly with them, as if she had known them all her life.

• The first question: the initial inquiry or issue [ðə fərst kˈwɛʃən]
• of course: as a natural or logical consequence [əv kɔrs]
• was: past tense of 'to be', linking the subject to the predicate [wɑz]
• how to get dry again: the method or way to become free from moisture once more [haʊ tɪ gɪt draɪ əˈgɛn]
• they: refers to a group of people or animals previously mentioned [ðeɪ]
• had: past tense of 'to have', indicating possession or experience [hæd]
• a consultation: a meeting to discuss something and seek advice [ə ˌkɑnsəlˈteɪʃən]
• about this: concerning the matter at hand [əˈbaʊt ðɪs]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• after: following in time or sequence [ˈæftər]
• a few minutes: a short period of time [ə fju ˈmɪnəts]
• it seemed: it appeared or gave the impression [ɪt simd]
• quite natural: completely normal or expected [kwaɪt ˈnæʧərəl]
• to Alice: referring to the character Alice [tɪ ˈælɪs]
• to find herself: to discover that she was [tɪ faɪnd hərˈsɛlf]
• talking familiarly: speaking in a friendly and informal manner [ˈtɔkɪŋ familiarly]
• with them: referring to the animals [wɪθ ðɛm]
• as if: in the same way as; as though [ɛz ɪf]
• she had known: past perfect tense of 'to know', indicating prior acquaintance [ʃi hæd noʊn]
• them: referring to the animals [ðɛm]
• all her life: for the entirety of her existence [ɔl hər laɪf]

Indeed, she had quite a long argument with the Lory, who at last turned sulky, and would only say, 'I am older than you, and must know better'; and this Alice would not allow without knowing how old it was, and, as the Lory positively refused to tell its age, there was no more to be said.

• Indeed: in truth; in fact [ˌɪnˈdid]
• she had: past tense of 'to have', indicating possession or experience [ʃi hæd]
• quite a long argument: a rather extended disagreement or debate [kwaɪt ə lɔŋ ˈɑrgjəmənt]
• with the Lory: referring to a character, the Lory [wɪθ ðə ˈlɔri]
• who: introduces a relative clause referring to the Lory [hu]
• at last: finally; eventually [æt læst]
• turned sulky: became bad-tempered and unwilling to cooperate [tərnd sulky]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• would only say: would merely state [wʊd ˈoʊnli seɪ]
• I am older than you: a statement of being of greater age [aɪ æm ˈoʊldər ðən ju]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• must know better: implying superior knowledge due to age [məst noʊ ˈbɛtər]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• this: referring to the Lory's statement [ðɪs]
• Alice: referring to the character Alice [ˈælɪs]
• would not allow: would not accept or permit [wʊd nɑt əˈlaʊ]
• without knowing: unless she knew [wɪˈθaʊt noʊɪŋ]
• how old: the age [haʊ oʊld]
• it was: referring to the Lory [ɪt wɑz]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• as: because; since [ɛz]
• the Lory: referring to the character the Lory [ðə ˈlɔri]
• positively refused: firmly declined [ˈpɑzətɪvli rɪfˈjuzd]
• to tell its age: to reveal how old it was [tɪ tɛl ɪts eɪʤ]
• there was: there existed [ðɛr wɑz]
• no more to be said: nothing further could be discussed [noʊ mɔr tɪ bi sɛd]