Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 42

'Are their heads off?' shouted the Queen.

• Are their heads off: A question asking if the soldiers' heads have been removed. 'Their' refers to the soldiers, 'heads' refers to their heads, and 'off' means detached or removed. [ər ðɛr hɛdz ɔf]
• shouted: past tense of 'shout', meaning to yell loudly [ˈʃaʊtɪd]
• the Queen: the title of the character speaking [ðə kwin]

'Their heads are gone, if it please your Majesty!' the soldiers shouted in reply.

• Their heads are gone: Their heads have been removed. 'Their' refers to the soldiers. 'Gone' means missing or removed. [ðɛr hɛdz ər gɔn]
• if it please your Majesty: A formal way of speaking to royalty. 'If it please your Majesty' is a polite phrase used to show respect. [ɪf ɪt pliz jʊr ˈmæʤəsti]
• the soldiers: plural of soldier, referring to multiple military personnel [ðə ˈsoʊlʤərz]
• shouted: past tense of 'shout', meaning to yell loudly [ˈʃaʊtɪd]
• in reply: in response [ɪn rɪˈplaɪ]

'That's right!' shouted the Queen. 'Can you play croquet?'

• That's right: An exclamation indicating agreement or approval. 'That's' is a contraction of 'that is'. [ðæts raɪt]
• shouted: past tense of 'shout', meaning to yell loudly [ˈʃaʊtɪd]
• the Queen: the title of the character speaking [ðə kwin]
• Can you play croquet: A question asking if someone knows how to play the game of croquet. [kən ju pleɪ kroʊˈkeɪ]

The soldiers were silent, and looked at Alice, as the question was evidently meant for her.

• The soldiers: plural of soldier, referring to multiple military personnel [ðə ˈsoʊlʤərz]
• were silent: past tense of 'be silent', meaning not speaking [wər ˈsaɪlənt]
• and: conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• looked: past tense of 'look', meaning to direct one's gaze [lʊkt]
• at: preposition indicating direction [æt]
• Alice: the name of the character being looked at [ˈælɪs]
• as: conjunction indicating reason [ɛz]
• the question: referring to the question about playing croquet [ðə kˈwɛʃən]
• was evidently: was clearly or obviously [wɑz ˈɛvədəntli]
• meant: past participle of 'mean', meaning intended [mɛnt]
• for her: intended for Alice [fər hər]

'Yes!' shouted Alice.

• Yes: An affirmative response [jɛs]
• shouted: past tense of 'shout', meaning to yell loudly [ˈʃaʊtɪd]
• Alice: the name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]

'Come on, then!' roared the Queen, and Alice joined the procession, wondering very much what would happen next.

• Come on, then: An expression used to urge someone to hurry or to start doing something [kəm ɔn ðɛn]
• roared: To utter a loud, deep, prolonged sound, typically expressing pain, anger, or another strong emotion [rɔrd]
• the Queen: Referring to a female monarch or a female member of a royal family [ðə kwin]
• and: Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• Alice: A proper noun, referring to a specific character [ˈælɪs]
• joined: To become linked or connected [ʤɔɪnd]
• the procession: A group of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly fashion, especially as part of a ceremony or festival [ðə prəˈsɛʃən]
• wondering: Feeling curiosity or doubt about something [ˈwəndərɪŋ]
• very much: To a great extent; greatly [ˈvɛri məʧ]
• what: Asking for information specifying something [wət]
• would happen: Expressing a future possibility or likelihood of occurring [wʊd ˈhæpən]
• next: Immediately following in time or order [nɛkst]

'It's—it's a very fine day!' said a timid voice at her side.

• It's—it's: A hesitant repetition of 'it is', where 'it' likely refers to the weather [its-its]
• a very fine day: An exclamation indicating that the weather is pleasant and agreeable [ə ˈvɛri faɪn deɪ]
• said: Past tense of 'say', indicating someone spoke [sɛd]
• a timid voice: A shy or hesitant way of speaking [ə ˈtɪmɪd vɔɪs]
• at her side: Next to her [æt hər saɪd]

She was walking by the White Rabbit, who was peeping anxiously into her face.

• She: Referring to Alice [ʃi]
• was walking: Moving on foot at a moderate pace [wɑz ˈwɔkɪŋ]
• by: Near or next to [baɪ]
• the White Rabbit: A specific character, a rabbit with white fur [ðə waɪt ˈræbɪt]
• who: Referring to the White Rabbit [hu]
• was peeping: Looking quickly and furtively at something, often through a small opening [wɑz ˈpipɪŋ]
• anxiously: In a worried or nervous manner [ˈæŋkʃəsli]
• into her face: Looking directly at Alice's face [ˈɪntu hər feɪs]

'Very,' said Alice: '—where's the Duchess?'

• Very: An agreement or affirmation to the previous statement [ˈvɛri]
• said: Past tense of 'say', indicating someone spoke [sɛd]
• Alice: A proper noun, referring to a specific character [ˈælɪs]
• where's: Contraction of 'where is', asking the location of someone [wɛrz]
• the Duchess: Referring to a female member of nobility [ðə ˈdəʧəs]

'Hush! Hush!' said the Rabbit in a low, hurried tone.

• Hush! Hush: An exclamation used to urge silence [həʃ həʃ]
• said: Past tense of 'say', indicating someone spoke [sɛd]
• the Rabbit: Referring to a specific character, the Rabbit [ðə ˈræbɪt]
• in a low, hurried tone: Speaking quietly and quickly [ɪn ə loʊ ˈhərid toʊn]

'What for?' said Alice.

• What for: An informal way of asking 'Why?' or 'For what reason?' [wət fər]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who spoke the words [sɛd]
• Alice: the name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]

'Did you say "What a pity!"?' the Rabbit asked.

• Did you say: Inquiring whether someone uttered the following words [dɪd ju seɪ]
• What a pity: An expression of regret or disappointment [wət ə ˈpɪti]
• the Rabbit: Referring to the Rabbit character [ðə ˈræbɪt]
• asked: Inquired [æst]

'No, I didn't,' said Alice: 'I don't think it's at all a pity.

• No, I didn't: A negative response, indicating that Alice did not say 'What a pity!' [noʊ aɪ ˈdɪdənt]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who spoke the words [sɛd]
• Alice: the name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]
• I don't think: Expressing a lack of belief or opinion [aɪ doʊnt θɪŋk]
• it's: contraction of 'it is', referring to the situation or event being discussed [ɪts]
• at all: used to emphasize the statement [æt ɔl]
• a pity: something that is regrettable or unfortunate [ə ˈpɪti]

'She boxed the Queen's ears—' the Rabbit began.

• She boxed: past tense of 'box', meaning to strike with a fist [ʃi bɑkst]
• the Queen's: possessive form of 'Queen', indicating belonging to the Queen [ðə kwinz]
• ears: the organs of hearing [ɪrz-]
• the Rabbit: Referring to the Rabbit character [ðə ˈræbɪt]
• began: past tense of 'begin', indicating the start of an action or speech [bɪˈgæn]

Alice gave a little scream of laughter. 'Oh, hush!' the Rabbit whispered in a frightened tone. 'The Queen will hear you!

• Alice: the name of the character [ ˈælɪs]
• gave: past tense of 'give', indicating an action [geɪv]
• a little scream: a short, high-pitched cry [ə ˈlɪtəl skrim]
• of laughter: the act or sound of laughing [əv ˈlæftər]
• Oh, hush: An exclamation urging someone to be quiet [ oʊ həʃ]
• the Rabbit: Referring to the Rabbit character [ðə ˈræbɪt]
• whispered: past tense of 'whisper', to speak very softly [ˈwɪspərd]
• in a frightened tone: speaking in a way that shows fear [ɪn ə ˈfraɪtənd toʊn]
• The Queen: Referring to the Queen character [ ðə kwin]
• will hear: future tense of 'hear', meaning to perceive sound [wɪl hir]
• you: Addressing the listener directly [ju]

'Get to your places!' shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder, and people began running about in all directions, tumbling up against each other; however, they got settled down in a minute or two, and the game began.

• Get to: An instruction to move to [gɪt tɪ]
• your places: The designated spots or positions [jʊr ˈpleɪsɪz]
• shouted: past tense of 'shout', to speak very loudly [ˈʃaʊtɪd]
• the Queen: Referring to the Queen character [ðə kwin]
• in a voice of thunder: speaking very loudly and powerfully [ɪn ə vɔɪs əv ˈθəndər]
• and: Connecting two clauses [ ənd]
• people: Individuals; persons [ˈpipəl]
• began: past tense of 'begin', indicating the start of an action [bɪˈgæn]
• running about: moving quickly in different directions [ˈrənɪŋ əˈbaʊt]
• in all directions: moving in every possible direction [ɪn ɔl dɪˈrɛkʃɪnz]
• tumbling up: falling or tripping [ ˈtəmbəlɪŋ əp]
• against: in contact with [əˈgɛnst]
• each other: one another [iʧ ˈəðər]
• however: Despite what has just been said [ ˌhaʊˈɛvər]
• they got: They managed to [ ðeɪ gɑt]
• settled down: to become calm and organized [ˈsɛtəld daʊn]
• in a minute or two: a short amount of time [ɪn ə ˈmɪnət ər tu]
• and: Connecting two clauses [ ənd]
• the game: The activity being played [ðə geɪm]
• began: past tense of 'begin', indicating the start of an action [bɪˈgæn]

Alice thought she had never seen such a curious croquet-ground in her life; it was all ridges and furrows; the balls were live hedgehogs, the mallets live flamingoes, and the soldiers had to double themselves up and to stand on their hands and feet, to make the arches.

• Alice: the name of the character [ ˈælɪs]
• thought: past tense of 'think', indicating a belief or opinion [θɔt]
• she had never seen: she had not ever witnessed [ʃi hæd ˈnɛvər sin]
• such a curious: so strange or unusual [səʧ ə ˈkjʊriəs]
• croquet-ground: the area where the game of croquet is played [croquet-ground]
• in her life: during her existence [ɪn hər laɪf]
• it was: Providing a description of the croquet-ground [ ɪt wɑz]
• all ridges: covered in raised strips of ground [ɔl ˈrɪʤɪz]
• and furrows: and grooves or trenches [ənd furrows]
• the balls: the objects used in the game [ ðə bɔlz]
• were live hedgehogs: were actual, living hedgehogs [wər lɪv ˈhɛˌʤhɑgz]
• the mallets: the hammers used to hit the balls [ ðə mallets]
• live flamingoes: actual, living flamingoes [lɪv flamingoes]
• and: Connecting two clauses [ ənd]
• the soldiers: the military personnel [ðə ˈsoʊlʤərz]
• had to: were required to [hæd tɪ]
• double themselves up: bend over completely [ˈdəbəl ðɛmˈsɛlvz əp]
• and to stand: and to position themselves [ənd tɪ stænd]
• on their hands: using their hands for support [ɔn ðɛr hænz]
• and feet: and feet for support [ənd fit]
• to make: in order to create [ tɪ meɪk]
• the arches: the hoops that the balls must pass through [ðə ˈɑrʧɪz]

The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo: she succeeded in getting its body tucked away, comfortably enough, under her arm, with its legs hanging down, but generally, just as she had got its neck nicely straightened out, and was going to give the hedgehog a blow with its head, it WOULD twist itself round and look up in her face, with such a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing: and when she had got its head down, and was going to begin again, it was very provoking to find that the hedgehog had unrolled itself, and was in the act of crawling away: besides all this, there was generally a ridge or furrow in the way wherever she wanted to send the hedgehog to, and, as the doubled-up soldiers were always getting up and walking off to other parts of the ground, Alice soon came to the conclusion that it was a very difficult game indeed.

• The chief difficulty: The main or biggest problem [ðə ʧif ˈdɪfɪˌkəlti]
• Alice found: Alice encountered or experienced [ˈælɪs faʊnd]
• at first: initially; in the beginning [æt fərst]
• was in managing: involved controlling or handling [wɑz ɪn ˈmænəʤɪŋ]
• her flamingo: the flamingo that belongs to her [hər fləˈmɪŋgoʊ]
• she succeeded: she managed to do something [ʃi səkˈsidɪd]
• in getting: in the process of obtaining or achieving [ɪn ˈgɪtɪŋ]
• its body: the flamingo's body [ɪts ˈbɑdi]
• tucked away: safely and snugly positioned [təkt əˈweɪ]
• comfortably enough: sufficiently comfortable [ˈkəmfərtəbli ɪˈnəf]
• under her arm: in the space between her arm and her body [ˈəndər hər ɑrm]
• with its legs hanging down: the flamingo's legs dangling downwards [wɪθ ɪts lɛgz ˈhæŋɪŋ daʊn]
• but generally: but usually; in most cases [bət ˈʤɛnərəli]
• just as she had got: at the precise moment when she had managed to get [ʤɪst ɛz ʃi hæd gɑt]
• its neck nicely straightened out: the flamingo's neck properly extended [ɪts nɛk ˈnaɪsli ˈstreɪtənd aʊt]
• and was going to give: and was about to give [ənd wɑz goʊɪŋ tɪ gɪv]
• the hedgehog: a small, spiny mammal [ðə ˈhɛˌʤhɑg]
• a blow: a hit or strike [ə bloʊ]
• with its head: using the flamingo's head as a mallet [wɪθ ɪts hɛd]
• it WOULD twist itself round: the flamingo would turn its body around [ɪt wʊd twɪst ˌɪtˈsɛlf raʊnd]
• and look up in her face: and gaze upwards at Alice's face [ənd lʊk əp ɪn hər feɪs]
• with such a puzzled expression: with a facial expression showing confusion [wɪθ səʧ ə ˈpəzəld ɪkˈsprɛʃən]
• that she could not help: that she was unable to resist [ðət ʃi kʊd nɑt hɛlp]
• bursting out laughing: suddenly starting to laugh loudly [ˈbərstɪŋ aʊt ˈlæfɪŋ]
• and when she had got: and after she had managed to get [ənd wɪn ʃi hæd gɑt]
• its head down: the flamingo's head pointing downwards [ɪts hɛd daʊn]
• and was going to begin again: and was about to start the game again [ənd wɑz goʊɪŋ tɪ bɪˈgɪn əˈgɛn]
• it was very provoking: it was very annoying or irritating [ɪt wɑz ˈvɛri prəˈvoʊkɪŋ]
• to find: to discover [tɪ faɪnd]
• that the hedgehog had unrolled itself: that the hedgehog had straightened out its body [ðət ðə ˈhɛˌʤhɑg hæd ˌənˈroʊld ˌɪtˈsɛlf]
• and was in the act of crawling away: and was in the process of moving away slowly on its belly [ənd wɑz ɪn ðə ækt əv ˈkrɔlɪŋ əˈweɪ]
• besides all this: in addition to everything mentioned before [ˌbiˈsaɪdz ɔl ðɪs]
• there was generally: there was usually [ðɛr wɑz ˈʤɛnərəli]
• a ridge or furrow: a raised strip or a trench in the ground [ə rɪʤ ər fəroʊ]
• in the way: obstructing the path [ɪn ðə weɪ]
• wherever she wanted to send: to whatever place she wanted to direct [wɛˈrɛvər ʃi ˈwɔntɪd tɪ sɛnd]
• the hedgehog to: the hedgehog [ðə ˈhɛˌʤhɑg tɪ]
• and, as the doubled-up soldiers: and because the bent-over playing cards [ənd ɛz ðə doubled-up ˈsoʊlʤərz]
• were always getting up: were constantly standing up [wər ˈɔlˌweɪz ˈgɪtɪŋ əp]
• and walking off: and moving away [ənd ˈwɔkɪŋ ɔf]
• to other parts of the ground: to different areas of the playing field [tɪ ˈəðər pɑrts əv ðə graʊnd]
• Alice soon came to the conclusion: Alice quickly decided [ˈælɪs sun keɪm tɪ ðə kənˈkluʒən]
• that it was: that the game was [ðət ɪt wɑz]
• a very difficult game indeed: a truly challenging game [ə ˈvɛri ˈdɪfəkəlt geɪm ˌɪnˈdid]