'I shall sit here(Indicates the beginning of a direct quote. 'I shall sit here' expresses the Footman's intention to remain in place. 'Shall' is a formal way of expressing future intention, especially in first person. [aɪ ʃæl sɪt hir]),' the Footman remarked(Identifies who is speaking. 'Remarked' means to say something as a comment. [ðə ˈfʊtmən rɪˈmɑrkt]), 'till tomorrow(Indicates the end of the Footman's direct quote. 'Till' is a shortened form of 'until', indicating a time up to a specific point. 'Tomorrow' refers to the day after the current day. The dash indicates an unfinished thought or continuation. [tɪl təˈmɑˌroʊ-])—'
At this moment(Indicates a specific point in time, happening immediately. [æt ðɪs ˈmoʊmənt]) the door of the house opened(Describes the action of the door opening. 'Of the house' specifies which door. [ðə dɔr əv ðə haʊs ˈoʊpənd]), and a large plate came skimming out(Describes the movement of a plate coming out quickly and lightly. 'Skimming' suggests a fast, gliding motion. [ənd ə lɑrʤ pleɪt keɪm ˈskɪmɪŋ aʊt]), straight at the Footman's head(Indicates the direction of the plate's movement. 'Straight at' means directly towards. [streɪt æt ðə footmans hɛd]): it just grazed his nose(Describes the plate lightly touching the Footman's nose. 'Grazed' means to touch lightly in passing. [ɪt ʤɪst greɪzd hɪz noʊz]), and broke to pieces(Describes the plate shattering into many fragments. [ənd broʊk tɪ ˈpisɪz]) against one of the trees behind him(Indicates where the plate broke. 'Behind him' specifies the location relative to the Footman. [əˈgɛnst wən əv ðə triz bɪˈhaɪnd ɪm]).
'—or next day, maybe(Indicates a continuation of a previous statement. 'Next day' refers to the day after tomorrow. 'Maybe' expresses uncertainty. [-ər nɛkst deɪ ˈmeɪbi]),' the Footman continued(Indicates that the Footman is still speaking. 'Continued' means to keep talking. [ðə ˈfʊtmən kənˈtɪnjud]) in the same tone(Describes the Footman's manner of speaking. 'Same tone' means the voice and attitude remained unchanged. [ɪn ðə seɪm toʊn]), exactly as if nothing had happened(Emphasizes the Footman's lack of reaction to the preceding event. 'As if' means in a way that suggests. [ɪgˈzæktli ɛz ɪf ˈnəθɪŋ hæd ˈhæpənd]).
'How am I to get in(Alice is asking a question about entering a place. 'How am I to get in?' expresses her desire to know the method or way to enter. [haʊ æm aɪ tɪ gɪt ɪn])?' asked Alice again(Identifies who is speaking and that this is not the first time she has asked. [æst ˈælɪs əˈgɛn]), in a louder tone(Describes the manner in which Alice is speaking. 'Louder tone' means she is speaking more loudly than before. [ɪn ə ˈlaʊdər toʊn]).
'ARE you to get in at all(The Footman is questioning whether Alice is even supposed to enter. 'At all' emphasizes the doubt. [ər ju tɪ gɪt ɪn æt ɔl])?' said the Footman(Identifies who is speaking. [sɛd ðə ˈfʊtmən]). 'That's the first question, you know(The Footman states that the primary consideration is whether Alice should enter at all. 'You know' is used as a conversational filler, seeking agreement or understanding. [ðæts ðə fərst kˈwɛʃən ju noʊ]).'
It was, no doubt(Acknowledges that what was said is true or valid. 'No doubt' means certainly or without question. [ɪt wɑz noʊ daʊt]): only Alice did not like to be told so(Indicates Alice's displeasure at being told something obvious or unwelcome. [ˈoʊnli ˈælɪs dɪd nɑt laɪk tɪ bi toʊld soʊ]). 'It's really dreadful(Expresses Alice's strong negative opinion. 'Dreadful' means extremely bad or unpleasant. [ɪts ˈrɪli ˈdrɛdfəl]),' she muttered to herself(Describes how Alice is speaking - quietly and to herself. 'Muttered' means to speak in a low, unclear voice. [ʃi ˈmətərd tɪ hərˈsɛlf]), 'the way all the creatures argue(Alice is commenting on the argumentative nature of the creatures she has encountered. [ðə weɪ ɔl ðə ˈkriʧərz ˈɑrgju]). It's enough to drive one crazy(Expresses the idea that the situation is so frustrating that it could make someone lose their mind. 'Drive one crazy' is an idiom meaning to make someone insane or extremely annoyed. [ɪts ɪˈnəf tɪ draɪv wən ˈkreɪzi])!'
The Footman(A character in the story, a servant [ðə ˈfʊtmən]) seemed to(appeared to [simd tɪ]) think(believe or consider [θɪŋk]) this(referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ðɪs]) a good opportunity(a favorable or suitable time [ə gʊd ˌɑpərˈtunəti]) for repeating(to say again [fər rɪˈpitɪŋ]) his remark(something he had said previously [hɪz rɪˈmɑrk]), with variations(with slight changes or modifications [wɪθ ˌvɛriˈeɪʃənz]). 'I shall sit here(I will sit here; a statement of intention [aɪ ʃæl sɪt hir]),' he said(attribution of the statement [hi sɛd]), 'on and off(intermittently; not continuously [ɔn ənd ɔf]), for days and days(for a long period of time [fər deɪz ənd deɪz]).'
'But what am I to do(Expressing a question about what action should be taken [bət wət æm aɪ tɪ du])?' said Alice(Attribution of the statement to Alice [sɛd ˈælɪs]).
'Anything you like(You can do whatever you want [ˈɛniˌθɪŋ ju laɪk]),' said the Footman(Attribution of the statement to the Footman [sɛd ðə ˈfʊtmən]), and began whistling(and started to whistle [ənd bɪˈgæn ˈwɪslɪŋ]).
'Oh(An exclamation of surprise or frustration [oʊ]), there's no use(it is pointless [ðɛrz noʊ juz]) in talking to him(to speak to him [ɪn ˈtɔkɪŋ tɪ ɪm]),' said Alice desperately(Attribution of the statement to Alice, indicating a feeling of hopelessness [sɛd ˈælɪs ˈdɛspərətli]): 'he's perfectly idiotic(he is completely foolish or senseless [hiz ˈpərfəktli ˌɪdiˈɑtɪk])!' And she opened the door(She performed the action of opening the door [ənd ʃi ˈoʊpənd ðə dɔr]) and went in(and entered [ənd wɛnt ɪn]).
The door(The entrance to a room or building [ðə dɔr]) led right into(opened directly into [lɛd raɪt ˈɪntu]) a large kitchen(a big room used for cooking [ə lɑrʤ ˈkɪʧən]), which was full of smoke(that had a lot of smoke in it [wɪʧ wɑz fʊl əv smoʊk]) from one end to the other(covering the entire space [frəm wən ɛnd tɪ ðə ˈəðər]): the Duchess(A noblewoman, a character in the story [ðə ˈdəʧəs]) was sitting(was in a seated position [wɑz ˈsɪtɪŋ]) on a three-legged stool(on a seat with three legs [ɔn ə three-legged stul]) in the middle(at the center of the room [ɪn ðə ˈmɪdəl]), nursing a baby(caring for a baby, possibly breastfeeding or holding it [ˈnərsɪŋ ə ˈbeɪbi]); the cook(the person who prepares food [ðə kʊk]) was leaning over(was bending forward over [wɑz ˈlinɪŋ ˈoʊvər]) the fire(the source of heat for cooking [ðə faɪər]), stirring(mixing with a circular motion [stərɪŋ]) a large cauldron(a big pot [ə lɑrʤ ˈkɔldrən]) which seemed to be full of soup(that appeared to be filled with soup [wɪʧ simd tɪ bi fʊl əv sup]).
'There's(contraction of 'there is', indicating existence or presence [ðɛrz]) certainly(without doubt; definitely [ˈsərtənli]) too much(more than enough; an excessive amount [tu məʧ]) pepper(a pungent spice used to flavor food [ˈpɛpər]) in that soup(contained within the specified soup [ɪn ðət sup])!' Alice said(Alice, the speaker, expressed [ˈælɪs sɛd]) to herself(speaking quietly so only she could hear [tɪ hərˈsɛlf]), as well as(to the best of her ability [ɛz wɛl ɛz]) she could(she was able to [ʃi kʊd]) for sneezing(because she was sneezing; the reason for her limited ability to speak clearly [fər sˈnizɪŋ]).
There was(indicates existence or presence in the past [ðɛr wɑz]) certainly(without doubt; definitely [ˈsərtənli]) too much(more than enough; an excessive amount [tu məʧ]) of it(referring to the pepper mentioned earlier [əv ɪt]) in the air(present and dispersed throughout the atmosphere [ɪn ðə ɛr]). Even the Duchess(indicates that even someone of high status was affected [ˈivɪn ðə ˈdəʧəs]) sneezed(expelled air involuntarily from the nose and mouth [snizd]) occasionally(happening from time to time; not frequently [ɔˈkeɪʒənəˌli]); and as for(regarding; concerning [ənd ɛz fər]) the baby(a very young child [ðə ˈbeɪbi]), it was(referring to the baby [ɪt wɑz]) sneezing(expelling air involuntarily from the nose and mouth [sˈnizɪŋ]) and howling(crying loudly and mournfully [ənd ˈhaʊlɪŋ]) alternately(one after the other in a repeated sequence [ˈɔltərnətli]) without a moment's pause(continuously; without any interruption [wɪˈθaʊt ə ˈmoʊmənts pɔz]). The only things(the sole items or beings [ðə ˈoʊnli θɪŋz]) in the kitchen(located within the kitchen area [ɪn ðə ˈkɪʧən]) that did not sneeze(which did not expel air involuntarily from the nose and mouth [ðət dɪd nɑt sniz]), were the cook(the person who prepares food [wər ðə kʊk]), and a large cat(a feline of considerable size [ənd ə lɑrʤ kæt]) which was sitting(in a seated position [wɪʧ wɑz ˈsɪtɪŋ]) on the hearth(the area in front of a fireplace [ɔn ðə hɑrθ]) and grinning(smiling broadly, showing teeth [ənd ˈgrɪnɪŋ]) from ear to ear(a very wide smile [frəm ɪr tɪ ɪr]).
'Please(a polite request [pliz]) would you tell me(a polite way of asking for information [wʊd ju tɛl mi]),' said Alice(Alice, the speaker, expressed [sɛd ˈælɪs]), a little timidly(in a slightly shy or hesitant manner [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈtɪmədli]), for she was(because she was [fər ʃi wɑz]) not quite sure(not completely certain [nɑt kwaɪt ʃʊr]) whether it was(if it was [ˈwɛðər ɪt wɑz]) good manners(polite and respectful behavior [gʊd ˈmænərz]) for her(for Alice [fər hər]) to speak first(to initiate the conversation [tɪ spik fərst]), 'why your cat(the reason for the cat belonging to the person being addressed [waɪ jʊr kæt]) grins(smiles broadly, showing teeth [grɪnz]) like that(in that particular manner [laɪk ðət])?'
'It's(contraction of 'it is' [ɪts]) a Cheshire cat(a cat with a broad, fixed grin; a fictional cat popularized by Lewis Carroll in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' [ə ˈʧɛʃər kæt]),' said(past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]) the Duchess(a noblewoman holding the rank of a duchess [ðə ˈdəʧəs]), 'and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) that's(contraction of 'that is' [ðæts]) why(the reason for something [waɪ]). Pig(a domestic animal; here used as a term of endearment or possibly mild insult [pɪg])!'
She(referring to the Duchess [ʃi]) said(past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]) the last word(the final word spoken [ðə læst wərd]) with such sudden violence(with a sudden and forceful expression [wɪθ səʧ ˈsədən ˈvaɪələns]) that(used to introduce a result clause [ðət]) Alice(the main character in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' [ˈælɪs]) quite jumped(was startled and jumped slightly [kwaɪt ʤəmpt]); but(used to introduce a contrasting statement [bət]) she(referring to Alice [ʃi]) saw(past tense of 'see', to perceive with the eyes [sɔ]) in another moment(very soon; shortly after [ɪn əˈnəðər ˈmoʊmənt]) that(used to introduce a clause [ðət]) it(referring to the word 'Pig' [ɪt]) was addressed(was directed to [wɑz əˈdrɛst]) to the baby(to the infant [tɪ ðə ˈbeɪbi]), and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) not to her(not directed at Alice [nɑt tɪ hər]), so(therefore; as a result [soʊ]) she(referring to Alice [ʃi]) took courage(gained confidence [tʊk kərɪʤ]), and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) went on again(continued speaking [wɛnt ɔn əˈgɛn]):—