Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 39

'At any rate I'll never go THERE again!' said Alice as she picked her way through the wood.

• At any rate: Regardless of what happened; in any case [æt ˈɛni reɪt]
• I'll never go THERE again: I will not return to that place [aɪl ˈnɛvər goʊ ðɛr əˈgɛn]
• said: Past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• Alice: The name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]
• as she picked her way: As she carefully chose her path [ɛz ʃi pɪkt hər weɪ]
• through the wood: Through the forest [θru ðə wʊd]

Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a door leading right into it. 'That's very curious!' she thought. 'But everything's curious today.

• Just as: Immediately after or at the same moment that [ʤɪst ɛz]
• she said this: she uttered these words; referring to something she had just spoken [ʃi sɛd ðɪs]
• she noticed: she became aware of; she observed [ʃi ˈnoʊtɪst]
• that one of the trees: referring to a specific tree out of a group of trees [ðət wən əv ðə triz]
• had a door: possessed an entrance [hæd ə dɔr]
• leading right into it: going directly inside the tree [ˈlidɪŋ raɪt ˈɪntu ɪt]
• That's very curious: That is very strange or unusual! An exclamation of surprise [ðæts ˈvɛri ˈkjʊriəs]
• she thought: she considered; it was her internal reflection [ʃi θɔt]
• But everything's curious today: However, all things are strange or unusual on this day [bət ˈɛvriˌθɪŋz ˈkjʊriəs təˈdeɪ]

I think I may as well go in at once.' And in she went.

• I think I may as well: I believe I should; expressing a willingness to do something [aɪ θɪŋk aɪ meɪ ɛz wɛl]
• go in at once: enter immediately; go inside without delay [goʊ ɪn æt wəns]
• And in she went: And she entered; emphasizing the action of entering [ənd ɪn ʃi wɛnt]

Once more she found herself in the long hall, and close to the little glass table. 'Now, I'll manage better this time,' she said to herself, and began by taking the little golden key, and unlocking the door that led into the garden.

• Once more: Again; one more time [wəns mɔr]
• she found herself: she realized her location or situation [ʃi faʊnd hərˈsɛlf]
• in the long hall: referring to a hallway that is extended in length [ɪn ðə lɔŋ hɔl]
• and close to: near to; in proximity to [ənd kloʊz tɪ]
• the little glass table: a small table made of glass [ðə ˈlɪtəl glæs ˈteɪbəl]
• Now, I'll manage better this time: I will handle the situation more effectively now [naʊ aɪl ˈmænɪʤ ˈbɛtər ðɪs taɪm]
• she said to herself: she spoke internally; she thought [ʃi sɛd tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• and began by: and started with [ənd bɪˈgæn baɪ]
• taking the little golden key: grabbing the small key made of gold [ˈteɪkɪŋ ðə ˈlɪtəl ˈgoʊldən ki]
• and unlocking the door: and opening the door using a key [ənd ənˈlɑkɪŋ ðə dɔr]
• that led into the garden: which provided access to the garden [ðət lɛd ˈɪntu ðə ˈgɑrdən]

Then she went to work nibbling at the mushroom (she had kept a piece of it in her pocket) till she was about a foot high: then she walked down the little passage: and THEN—she found herself at last in the beautiful garden, among the bright flower-beds and the cool fountains.

• Then she went to work: Then she started the task of [ðɛn ʃi wɛnt tɪ wərk]
• nibbling at the mushroom: taking small bites of the mushroom [ˈnɪbəlɪŋ æt ðə ˈməʃrum]
• she had kept: she had retained or held onto [ʃi hæd kɛpt]
• a piece of it: a portion of the mushroom [ə pis əv ɪt]
• in her pocket: inside her pocket [ɪn hər ˈpɑkət]
• till she was about a foot high: until she reached a height of approximately one foot [tɪl ʃi wɑz əˈbaʊt ə fʊt haɪ]
• then she walked down: after that, she proceeded along [ðɛn ʃi wɔkt daʊn]
• the little passage: the small pathway [ðə ˈlɪtəl ˈpæsɪʤ]
• and THEN: emphasizing the subsequent event [ənd ðɛn]
• she found herself at last: she finally realized her location [ʃi faʊnd hərˈsɛlf æt læst]
• in the beautiful garden: in the aesthetically pleasing garden [ɪn ðə ˈbjutəfəl ˈgɑrdən]
• among the bright flower-beds: surrounded by colorful areas where flowers are planted [əˈməŋ ðə braɪt flower-beds]
• and the cool fountains: and the refreshing water features [ənd ðə kul ˈfaʊntənz]

CHAPTER VIII.

• CHAPTER: a main division of a book [ˈʧæptər]
• VIII: Roman numeral for eight [viii]

A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red.

• A large rose-tree: a big shrub that produces roses [ə lɑrʤ rose-tree]
• stood: past tense of 'stand', meaning to be in an upright position [stʊd]
• near: close to [nɪr]
• the entrance: the point or place where one can enter [ðə ˈɛntrəns]
• of the garden: belonging to the garden [əv ðə ˈgɑrdən]
• the roses: specific flowers [ðə ˈroʊzɪz]
• growing: developing or increasing naturally [groʊɪŋ]
• on it: on the rose-tree [ɔn ɪt]
• were white: had a white color [wər waɪt]
• but: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]
• there were: used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛr wər]
• three gardeners: people who cultivate or tend a garden [θri ˈgɑrdənərz]
• at it: engaged in the activity of painting [æt ɪt]
• busily: in an active and energetic manner [ˈbɪzəli]
• painting: applying paint to something [ˈpeɪnɪŋ]
• them red: changing their color to red [ðɛm rɛd]

Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and just as she came up to them she heard one of them say, 'Look out now, Five!

• Alice: a proper noun, a name [ˈælɪs]
• thought: past tense of 'think', meaning to have an opinion or belief [θɔt]
• this: referring to the action of painting the roses red [ðɪs]
• a very curious thing: something strange or unusual [ə ˈvɛri ˈkjʊriəs θɪŋ]
• and: used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• she: pronoun referring to Alice [ʃi]
• went: past tense of 'go', meaning to move or travel [wɛnt]
• nearer: closer [ˈnɪrər]
• to watch: to observe or look at something [tɪ wɔʧ]
• them: the gardeners [ðɛm]
• and: used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• just as: at the same time as [ʤɪst ɛz]
• she came up: she approached [ʃi keɪm əp]
• to them: to the gardeners [tɪ ðɛm]
• she heard: she perceived with her ears [ʃi hərd]
• one of them: one of the gardeners [wən əv ðɛm]
• say: to utter words [seɪ]
• Look out: be careful [lʊk aʊt]
• now: at this moment [naʊ]
• Five: a name or designation [faɪv]

'I couldn't help it,' said Five, in a sulky tone; 'Seven jogged my elbow.'

• I couldn't help it: I was unable to prevent it [aɪ ˈkʊdənt hɛlp ɪt]
• said: uttered words [sɛd]
• Five: a name or designation [faɪv]
• in a sulky tone: in a bad-tempered or moody way [ɪn ə sulky toʊn]
• Seven: a name or designation [ˈsɛvən]
• jogged: bumped or nudged [ʤɑgd]
• my elbow: the joint between the forearm and upper arm [maɪ ˈɛlˌboʊ]

On which Seven looked up and said, 'That's right, Five!

• On which: immediately after which [ɔn wɪʧ]
• Seven: a name or designation [ˈsɛvən]
• looked up: raised one's eyes [lʊkt əp]
• and: used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• said: uttered words [sɛd]
• That's right: that is correct [ðæts raɪt]
• Five: a name or designation [faɪv]

'YOU'D better not talk!' said Five. 'I heard the Queen say only yesterday you deserved to be beheaded!'

• YOU'D: contraction of 'you would', indicating a conditional statement or advice [jʊd]
• better: advisable or preferable to do something [ˈbɛtər]
• not talk: an imperative statement telling someone to be silent [nɑt tɔk]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• Five: referring to a character named Five [faɪv]
• I heard: past tense of 'hear', indicating something was listened to [aɪ hərd]
• the Queen: referring to the Queen, a royal figure [ðə kwin]
• say: to utter words; to express something verbally [seɪ]
• only yesterday: very recently; just the day before today [ˈoʊnli ˈjɛstərˌdeɪ]
• you deserved: past tense of 'deserve', meaning to be worthy of something, either good or bad [ju dɪˈzərvd]
• to be beheaded: to have one's head cut off; a form of execution [tɪ bi bɪˈhɛdɪd]

'What for?' said the one who had spoken first.

• What for: asking the reason or purpose for something [wət fər]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• the one: referring to a specific individual [ðə wən]
• who had spoken: referring to the person who talked before [hu hæd ˈspoʊkən]
• first: before anyone else [fərst]

'That's none of YOUR business, Two!' said Seven.

• That's: contraction of 'that is' [ðæts]
• none of: not any part of [nən əv]
• YOUR: belonging to you [jʊr]
• business: something that concerns or is the responsibility of someone [ˈbɪznɪs]
• Two: referring to a character named Two [tu]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• Seven: referring to a character named Seven [ˈsɛvən]

'Yes, it IS his business!' said Five, 'and I'll tell him—it was for bringing the cook tulip-roots instead of onions.'

• Yes: affirmative response [jɛs]
• it IS: emphatic form of 'it is' [ɪt ɪz]
• his: belonging to him [hɪz]
• business: something that concerns or is the responsibility of him [ˈbɪznɪs]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• Five: referring to a character named Five [faɪv]
• and: conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]
• I'll: contraction of 'I will' [aɪl]
• tell him: to inform him [tɛl ɪm]
• it was: stating the reason [ɪt wɑz]
• for bringing: because of the action of bringing [fər ˈbrɪŋɪŋ]
• the cook: the person who prepares food [ðə kʊk]
• tulip-roots: the underground part of a tulip plant [tulip-roots]
• instead of: in place of [ˌɪnˈstɛd əv]
• onions: a type of vegetable [ˈənjənz]

Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun 'Well, of all the unjust things—' when his eye chanced to fall upon Alice, as she stood watching them, and he checked himself suddenly: the others looked round also, and all of them bowed low.

• Seven: referring to a character named Seven [ˈsɛvən]
• flung down: threw down forcefully [fləŋ daʊn]
• his brush: the brush belonging to him [hɪz brəʃ]
• and: conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]
• had just begun: was in the process of starting [hæd ʤɪst ˈbeɪgən]
• Well: an interjection, often used to express surprise or hesitation [wɛl]
• of all the unjust things: expressing strong disapproval of unfair actions [əv ɔl ðə ənˈʤəst θɪŋz-]
• when: at the time that [wɪn]
• his eye: the organ of sight belonging to him [hɪz aɪ]
• chanced to fall: happened to look [chanced tɪ fɔl]
• upon: on [əˈpɑn]
• Alice: referring to a character named Alice [ˈælɪs]
• as: while [ɛz]
• she stood: while she was standing [ʃi stʊd]
• watching them: observing them [ˈwɑʧɪŋ ðɛm]
• and: conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]
• he checked himself: he stopped himself [hi ʧɛkt hɪmˈsɛlf]
• suddenly: quickly and unexpectedly [ˈsədənli]
• the others: the remaining people [ðə ˈəðərz]
• looked round: turned to look [lʊkt raʊnd]
• also: in addition [ˈɔlsoʊ]
• and: conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]
• all of them: every one of them [ɔl əv ðɛm]
• bowed low: bent their bodies downward as a sign of respect [boʊd loʊ]