Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 24

This time Alice waited patiently until it chose to speak again.

• This time: On this occasion [ðɪs taɪm]
• Alice: Name of the character [ˈælɪs]
• waited patiently: Waited calmly without complaint [ˈweɪtɪd ˈpeɪʃəntli]
• until: Up to the point that [ənˈtɪl]
• it: Referring to the Caterpillar [ɪt]
• chose to speak: Decided to talk [ʧoʊz tɪ spik]
• again: Once more [əˈgɛn]

In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself.

• In a minute or two: A short period of time [ɪn ə ˈmɪnət ər tu]
• the Caterpillar: Referring to the Caterpillar character [ðə ˈkætəˌpɪlər]
• took: Past tense of 'take', meaning to remove [tʊk]
• the hookah: A type of water pipe [ðə hookah]
• out of its mouth: Removed it from its mouth [aʊt əv ɪts maʊθ]
• and yawned: Opened its mouth wide and inhaled deeply [ənd jɔnd]
• once or twice: One or two times [wəns ər twaɪs]
• and shook itself: Shook its body [ənd ʃʊk ˌɪtˈsɛlf]

'One side of WHAT?

• One side of WHAT: Expresses confusion and questioning about what 'side' is being referred to. 'WHAT?' emphasizes the confusion. [wən saɪd əv wət]

The other side of WHAT?' thought Alice to herself.

• The other side of WHAT: Continues the questioning, seeking clarification about the 'other side' of something. [ðə ˈəðər saɪd əv wət]
• thought Alice to herself: Indicates that Alice is pondering these questions internally. [θɔt ˈælɪs tɪ hərˈsɛlf]

'Of the mushroom,' said the Caterpillar, just as if she had asked it aloud; and in another moment it was out of sight.

• Of the mushroom: The Caterpillar is answering Alice's unspoken question, stating that they are referring to the sides of the mushroom. [əv ðə ˈməʃrum]
• said the Caterpillar: Attribution of the statement to the Caterpillar. [sɛd ðə ˈkætəˌpɪlər]
• just as if she had asked it aloud: Indicates that the Caterpillar seemed to know what Alice was thinking, as if she had spoken her question. [ʤɪst ɛz ɪf ʃi hæd æst ɪt əˈlaʊd]
• and in another moment: Indicates a very short time passed. [ənd ɪn əˈnəðər ˈmoʊmənt]
• it was out of sight: The Caterpillar disappeared quickly. [ɪt wɑz aʊt əv saɪt]

Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a minute, trying to make out which were the two sides of it; and as it was perfectly round, she found this a very difficult question.

• Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom: Alice continued to look at the mushroom, pondering its properties. [ˈælɪs rɪˈmeɪnd ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈθɔtfəli æt ðə ˈməʃrum]
• for a minute: Indicates the duration of Alice's contemplation. [fər ə ˈmɪnət]
• trying to make out: Attempting to discern or understand. [traɪɪŋ tɪ meɪk aʊt]
• which were the two sides of it: Alice is trying to identify the two sides of the mushroom. [wɪʧ wər ðə tu saɪdz əv ɪt]
• and as it was perfectly round: Explains why Alice is having difficulty; the mushroom's round shape makes it hard to distinguish sides. [ənd ɛz ɪt wɑz ˈpərfəktli raʊnd]
• she found this a very difficult question: Alice acknowledges the challenge of determining the sides of a round object. [ʃi faʊnd ðɪs ə ˈvɛri ˈdɪfəkəlt kˈwɛʃən]

However, at last she stretched her arms round it as far as they would go, and broke off a bit of the edge with each hand.

• However, at last: Indicates that after some time, Alice takes action. [ˌhaʊˈɛvər æt læst]
• she stretched her arms round it: Alice physically interacts with the mushroom, attempting to measure it. [ʃi strɛʧt hər ɑrmz raʊnd ɪt]
• as far as they would go: Indicates the extent of Alice's reach. [ɛz fɑr ɛz ðeɪ wʊd goʊ]
• and broke off a bit of the edge: Alice breaks off a piece of the mushroom. [ənd broʊk ɔf ə bɪt əv ðə ɛʤ]
• with each hand: She uses both hands to break off pieces. [wɪθ iʧ hænd]

'And now which is which?' she said to herself, and nibbled a little of the right-hand bit to try the effect: the next moment she felt a violent blow underneath her chin: it had struck her foot!

• And now which is which: Alice is questioning herself which piece of the mushroom is which side. [ənd naʊ wɪʧ ɪz wɪʧ]
• she said to herself: Indicates that Alice is speaking internally. [ʃi sɛd tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• and nibbled a little of the right-hand bit: Alice takes a small bite of the piece of mushroom in her right hand. [ənd ˈnɪbəld ə ˈlɪtəl əv ðə raɪˈthænd bɪt]
• to try the effect: She is testing the mushroom to see what happens. [tɪ traɪ ðə ˈifɛkt]
• the next moment: Very shortly after. [ðə nɛkst ˈmoʊmənt]
• she felt a violent blow underneath her chin: Alice experiences a sudden and forceful impact. [ʃi fɛlt ə ˈvaɪələnt bloʊ ˌəndərˈniθ hər ʧɪn]
• it had struck her foot: The blow was caused by her own foot, indicating she is shrinking or growing rapidly. [ɪt hæd strək hər fʊt]

She was a good deal frightened by this very sudden change, but she felt that there was no time to be lost, as she was shrinking rapidly; so she set to work at once to eat some of the other bit.

• She: third-person singular pronoun, referring to a female [ʃi]
• was: past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
• a good deal: considerably; to a significant extent [ə gʊd dil]
• frightened: feeling fear or anxiety [ˈfraɪtənd]
• by: preposition indicating the cause or agent [baɪ]
• this very sudden change: referring to an abrupt and unexpected alteration in circumstances [ðɪs ˈvɛri ˈsədən ʧeɪnʤ]
• but: conjunction indicating contrast [bət]
• she felt: she experienced an emotion or sensation [ʃi fɛlt]
• that: conjunction introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]
• there was no time to be lost: meaning that immediate action was necessary [ðɛr wɑz noʊ taɪm tɪ bi lɔst]
• as: conjunction indicating reason or cause [ɛz]
• she was shrinking: becoming smaller in size [ʃi wɑz ʃˈrɪŋkɪŋ]
• rapidly: quickly; at a fast pace [ˈræpədli]
• so: conjunction indicating consequence [soʊ]
• she set to work: she began to do something with effort and purpose [ʃi sɛt tɪ wərk]
• at once: immediately; without delay [æt wəns]
• to eat: to consume food [tɪ it]
• some of: a portion of [səm əv]
• the other bit: referring to a different piece or portion of something [ðə ˈəðər bɪt]

Her chin was pressed so closely against her foot, that there was hardly room to open her mouth; but she did it at last, and managed to swallow a morsel of the lefthand bit.

• Her chin: the part of the face below the mouth [hər ʧɪn]
• was pressed: being pushed or held firmly [wɑz prɛst]
• so closely: very near; with little space [soʊ ˈkloʊsli]
• against: in contact with; opposing [əˈgɛnst]
• her foot: the lower extremity of the leg [hər fʊt]
• that: conjunction introducing a result clause [ðət]
• there was hardly room: there was very little space [ðɛr wɑz ˈhɑrdli rum]
• to open: to move apart [tɪ ˈoʊpən]
• her mouth: the opening in the face used for speaking and eating [hər maʊθ]
• but: conjunction indicating contrast [bət]
• she did it: she managed to do something [ʃi dɪd ɪt]
• at last: finally; after some delay [æt læst]
• and: conjunction connecting clauses [ənd]
• managed: succeeded in doing something [ˈmænɪʤd]
• to swallow: to cause food or drink to pass down the throat [tɪ sˈwɔloʊ]
• a morsel: a small piece or amount [ə ˈmɔrsəl]
• of: preposition indicating part of a whole [əv]
• the lefthand bit: the piece on the left side [ðə ˌlɛfˈthænd bɪt]

* * * * * * *

* * * * * *

* * * * * * *

'Come, my head's free at last!' said Alice in a tone of delight, which changed into alarm in another moment, when she found that her shoulders were nowhere to be found: all she could see, when she looked down, was an immense length of neck, which seemed to rise like a stalk out of a sea of green leaves that lay far below her.

• Come: an exclamation of encouragement or impatience [kəm]
• my head's: contraction of 'my head is' [maɪ hɛdz]
• free: not confined or restricted [fri]
• at last: finally; after a long time [æt læst]
• said: past tense of the verb 'to say' [sɛd]
• Alice: a proper noun, a name [ˈælɪs]
• in: preposition indicating location or state [ɪn]
• a tone: the quality of a person's voice [ə toʊn]
• of delight: great pleasure or joy [əv dɪˈlaɪt]
• which: relative pronoun referring to the tone of delight [wɪʧ]
• changed: became different [ʧeɪnʤd]
• into: preposition indicating transformation [ˈɪntu]
• alarm: a feeling of fear or apprehension [əˈlɑrm]
• in: preposition indicating time [ɪn]
• another moment: a very short period of time [əˈnəðər ˈmoʊmənt]
• when: conjunction introducing a time clause [wɪn]
• she found: she discovered [ʃi faʊnd]
• that: conjunction introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]
• her shoulders: the part of the body between the neck and upper arms [hər ˈʃoʊldərz]
• were nowhere to be found: could not be located [wər ˈnoʊˌwɛr tɪ bi faʊnd]
• all: everything [ɔl]
• she could see: what she was able to perceive with her eyes [ʃi kʊd si]
• when: conjunction introducing a time clause [wɪn]
• she looked down: she directed her gaze downwards [ʃi lʊkt daʊn]
• was: past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
• an immense length: a very great distance [ən ˌɪˈmɛns lɛŋθ]
• of neck: the part of the body connecting the head and torso [əv nɛk]
• which: relative pronoun referring to the length of neck [wɪʧ]
• seemed: appeared to be [simd]
• to rise: to move upwards [tɪ raɪz]
• like: preposition indicating similarity [laɪk]
• a stalk: the main stem of a plant [ə stɔk]
• out of: from within [aʊt əv]
• a sea: a large expanse [ə si]
• of green leaves: foliage that is green in color [əv grin livz]
• that: relative pronoun referring to the leaves [ðət]
• lay: were situated [leɪ]
• far below: at a great distance beneath [fɑr bɪˈloʊ]
• her: belonging to her [hər]

'What CAN all that green stuff be?' said Alice. 'And where HAVE my shoulders got to?

• What: An exclamation expressing surprise or inquiry [wət]
• CAN: Expressing possibility or ability in the context of the sentence [kən]
• all that green stuff: Referring to a large quantity of green vegetation or material [ɔl ðət grin stəf]
• be: Used to inquire about the nature or identity of something [bi]
• said: Past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• Alice: The name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]
• And: Used to connect clauses or phrases [ənd]
• where: Asking about the location of something [wɛr]
• HAVE: Auxiliary verb used to form the present perfect tense [hæv]
• my shoulders: Referring to the speaker's shoulders [maɪ ˈʃoʊldərz]
• got to: Meaning 'gone to' or 'ended up'; expressing surprise or confusion about their location [gɑt tɪ]

And oh, my poor hands, how is it I can't see you?' She was moving them about as she spoke, but no result seemed to follow, except a little shaking among the distant green leaves.

• And: Used to connect clauses or phrases [ənd]
• oh: An exclamation expressing surprise, pain, or other emotions [oʊ]
• my poor hands: Expressing sympathy or concern for the speaker's hands [maɪ pur hænz]
• how: Asking about the manner or way in which something is happening [haʊ]
• is it: Used to introduce a question or statement of surprise [ɪz ɪt]
• I can't see you: Expressing the speaker's inability to see their hands [aɪ kænt si ju]
• She: Referring to Alice [ʃi]
• was moving: Past continuous tense of 'move', indicating an ongoing action [wɑz ˈmuvɪŋ]
• them: Referring to her hands [ðɛm]
• about: In various directions or locations [əˈbaʊt]
• as: While or during the time that [ɛz]
• she spoke: Past tense of 'speak', indicating that she was talking [ʃi spoʊk]
• but: Used to introduce a contrasting statement [bət]
• no result: Indicating that there was no outcome or effect [noʊ rɪˈzəlt]
• seemed: Appeared or gave the impression of [simd]
• to follow: To happen as a consequence or result [tɪ ˈfɑloʊ]
• except: Excluding or with the exception of [ɪkˈsɛpt]
• a little shaking: A slight trembling or movement [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈʃeɪkɪŋ]
• among: Surrounded by or in the middle of [əˈməŋ]
• the distant green leaves: Referring to green leaves that are far away [ðə ˈdɪstənt grin livz]