Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 43

The players all played at once without waiting for turns, quarrelling all the while, and fighting for the hedgehogs; and in a very short time the Queen was in a furious passion, and went stamping about, and shouting 'Off with his head!' or 'Off with her head!' about once in a minute.

• The players: referring to the individuals participating in a game or activity [ðə pleɪərz]
• all: every one of the players [ɔl]
• played: participated in the game [pleɪd]
• at once: simultaneously; all at the same time [æt wəns]
• without waiting: not pausing or delaying [wɪˈθaʊt ˈweɪtɪŋ]
• for turns: for their designated sequence or opportunity to act [fər tərnz]
• quarrelling: engaging in an argument or dispute [quarrelling]
• all the while: continuously; throughout the entire period [ɔl ðə waɪl]
• and fighting: engaging in physical combat or struggling [ənd ˈfaɪtɪŋ]
• for the hedgehogs: competing or battling over possession of the hedgehogs [fər ðə ˈhɛˌʤhɑgz]
• and in a very short time: after a brief duration [ənd ɪn ə ˈvɛri ʃɔrt taɪm]
• the Queen: the female monarch or ruler [ðə kwin]
• was in a furious passion: experienced intense anger or rage [wɑz ɪn ə fˈjʊriəs ˈpæʃən]
• and went stamping about: moved around heavily and angrily, making loud noises with her feet [ənd wɛnt ˈstæmpɪŋ əˈbaʊt]
• and shouting: yelling or exclaiming loudly [ənd ˈʃaʊtɪŋ]
• Off with his head: a command to decapitate someone (male [ɔf wɪθ hɪz hɛd]
• about once in a minute: approximately every 60 seconds [əˈbaʊt wəns ɪn ə ˈmɪnət]

Alice began to feel very uneasy: to be sure, she had not as yet had any dispute with the Queen, but she knew that it might happen any minute, 'and then,' thought she, 'what would become of me?

• Alice: The name of the character [ˈælɪs]
• began to feel: started to experience [bɪˈgæn tɪ fil]
• very uneasy: uncomfortable, anxious, or worried [ˈvɛri əˈnizi]
• to be sure: certainly; admittedly [tɪ bi ʃʊr]
• she had not as yet: she had not yet [ʃi hæd nɑt ɛz jɛt]
• had any dispute: been in an argument or disagreement [hæd ˈɛni dɪˈspjut]
• with the Queen: with the ruling monarch [wɪθ ðə kwin]
• but she knew: however, she was aware [bət ʃi nu]
• that it might happen: that a dispute could occur [ðət ɪt maɪt ˈhæpən]
• any minute: at any moment; very soon [ˈɛni ˈmɪnət]
• and then: and if that happens [ənd ðɛn]
• thought she: she thought to herself [θɔt ʃi]
• what would become of me: what would happen to her; what her fate would be [wət wʊd bɪˈkəm əv mi]

She was looking about for some way of escape, and wondering whether she could get away without being seen, when she noticed a curious appearance in the air: it puzzled her very much at first, but, after watching it a minute or two, she made it out to be a grin, and she said to herself 'It's the Cheshire Cat: now I shall have somebody to talk to.'

• She: Refers to a female person, in this context, Alice [ʃi]
• was looking about: searching or exploring the surroundings [wɑz ˈlʊkɪŋ əˈbaʊt]
• for some way of escape: trying to find a method or route to get away from a situation [fər səm weɪ əv ɪˈskeɪp]
• and wondering: thinking about something with curiosity or doubt [ənd ˈwəndərɪŋ]
• whether: expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives [ˈwɛðər]
• she could get away: if she was able to leave or escape [ʃi kʊd gɪt əˈweɪ]
• without being seen: without anyone noticing her departure [wɪˈθaʊt biɪŋ sin]
• when: at the moment that; as soon as [wɪn]
• she noticed: she observed or became aware of [ʃi ˈnoʊtɪst]
• a curious appearance: an unusual or strange sight [ə ˈkjʊriəs əˈpɪrəns]
• in the air: in the space above the ground [ɪn ðə ɛr]
• it puzzled her: it confused or perplexed her [ɪt ˈpəzəld hər]
• very much: greatly or intensely [ˈvɛri məʧ]
• at first: initially or in the beginning [æt fərst]
• but: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• after watching it: after observing it carefully [ˈæftər ˈwɑʧɪŋ ɪt]
• a minute or two: a short period of time, approximately one or two minutes [ə ˈmɪnət ər tu]
• she made it out: she understood or recognized it [ʃi meɪd ɪt aʊt]
• to be a grin: that it was a wide smile [tɪ bi ə grɪn]
• and she said to herself: she thought or spoke silently to herself [ənd ʃi sɛd tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• It's: contraction of 'it is' [ɪts]
• the Cheshire Cat: a fictional cat known for its distinctive grin [ðə ˈʧɛʃər kæt]
• now: at the present time; immediately [naʊ]
• I shall have: I will have [aɪ ʃæl hæv]
• somebody to talk to: someone with whom to have a conversation [ˈsəmˌbɑdi tɪ tɔk tɪ]

'How are you getting on?' said the Cat, as soon as there was mouth enough for it to speak with.

• How are you getting on: How are you progressing or doing? [haʊ ər ju ˈgɪtɪŋ ɔn]
• said the Cat: the speaker is the Cat character [sɛd ðə kæt]
• as soon as: immediately after [ɛz sun ɛz]
• there was mouth enough: there was a sufficient mouth [ðɛr wɑz maʊθ ɪˈnəf]
• for it to speak with: in order for the Cat to be able to speak [fər ɪt tɪ spik wɪθ]

Alice waited till the eyes appeared, and then nodded. 'It's no use speaking to it,' she thought, 'till its ears have come, or at least one of them.' In another minute the whole head appeared, and then Alice put down her flamingo, and began an account of the game, feeling very glad she had someone to listen to her.

• Alice waited: Alice paused and remained in place [ˈælɪs ˈweɪtɪd]
• till: until [tɪl]
• the eyes appeared: the eyes became visible [ðə aɪz əˈpɪrd]
• and then nodded: and then moved her head up and down slightly as a sign of acknowledgement or agreement [ənd ðɛn ˈnɑdɪd]
• It's no use: it is not helpful or effective [ɪts noʊ juz]
• speaking to it: talking to the eyes [ˈspikɪŋ tɪ ɪt]
• she thought: this is what Alice was thinking [ʃi θɔt]
• till its ears have come: until its ears have appeared [tɪl ɪts ɪrz hæv kəm]
• or at least one of them: or at the minimum, one ear has appeared [ər æt list wən əv ðɛm]
• In another minute: after another short period of time [ɪn əˈnəðər ˈmɪnət]
• the whole head appeared: the entire head became visible [ðə hoʊl hɛd əˈpɪrd]
• and then Alice put down: Alice then placed [ənd ðɛn ˈælɪs pʊt daʊn]
• her flamingo: her flamingo mallet (used in the game of croquet [hər fləˈmɪŋgoʊ]
• and began an account: and started to describe [ənd bɪˈgæn ən əˈkaʊnt]
• of the game: of the croquet game [əv ðə geɪm]
• feeling very glad: feeling very happy [ˈfilɪŋ ˈvɛri glæd]
• she had someone: she had a person [ʃi hæd ˈsəmˌwən]
• to listen to her: to pay attention to what she was saying [tɪ ˈlɪsən tɪ hər]

The Cat seemed to think that there was enough of it now in sight, and no more of it appeared.

• The Cat seemed: it appeared that the Cat [ðə kæt simd]
• to think that: believed that [tɪ θɪŋk ðət]
• there was enough of it: there was a sufficient amount of the Cat [ðɛr wɑz ɪˈnəf əv ɪt]
• now in sight: currently visible [naʊ ɪn saɪt]
• and no more of it appeared: and no additional part of the Cat became visible [ənd noʊ mɔr əv ɪt əˈpɪrd]

'I don't think they play at all fairly,' Alice began, in rather a complaining tone, 'and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can't hear oneself speak—and they don't seem to have any rules in particular; at least, if there are, nobody attends to them—and you've no idea how confusing it is all the things being alive; for instance, there's the arch I've got to go through next walking about at the other end of the ground—and I should have croqueted the Queen's hedgehog just now, only it ran away when it saw mine coming!'

• I: first-person singular pronoun; used by the speaker to refer to themselves [aɪ]
• don't: contraction of 'do not'; used to form a negative statement [doʊnt]
• think: to have a particular belief or idea [θɪŋk]
• they: third-person plural pronoun; referring to a group of people or things previously mentioned [ðeɪ]
• play: to engage in an activity for enjoyment and recreation [pleɪ]
• at all: in any way; to any extent; used for emphasis [æt ɔl]
• fairly: in a just and impartial manner [ˈfɛrli]
• Alice: a proper noun, the name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]
• began: past tense of 'begin'; to start or commence an action or speech [bɪˈgæn]
• in: preposition indicating location, condition, or manner [ɪn]
• rather: to some extent; somewhat [ˈrəðər]
• a complaining tone: an expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance in the way someone speaks [ə kəmˈpleɪnɪŋ toʊn]
• and: conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• they: third-person plural pronoun; referring to a group of people or things previously mentioned [ðeɪ]
• all: every one of a group or number [ɔl]
• quarrel: to have an angry argument or disagreement [kˈwɔrəl]
• so: to such a great extent; so much [soʊ]
• dreadfully: very badly or unpleasantly [ˈdrɛdfəli]
• one: used to refer to people in general [wən]
• can't: contraction of 'cannot'; expressing inability [kænt]
• hear: to perceive with the ear the sound made by (someone or something [hir]
• oneself: one's own self [ˌwənˈsɛlf]
• speak: to say something in order to convey information, an opinion, or a feeling [spik]
• and: conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• they: third-person plural pronoun; referring to a group of people or things previously mentioned [ðeɪ]
• don't: contraction of 'do not'; used to form a negative statement [doʊnt]
• seem: to give the impression of being or doing something [sim]
• to: preposition indicating direction, purpose, or relationship [tɪ]
• have: to possess, own, or hold something [hæv]
• any: one or some or every or all without specification [ˈɛni]
• rules: principles or regulations governing conduct or procedure within a particular area or activity [rulz]
• in particular: specifically; especially [ɪn ˌpɑˈtɪkjələr]
• at least: used to indicate that what you are saying is in fact less impressive than what you have just suggested [æt list]
• if: conjunction introducing a conditional clause [ɪf]
• there: used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛr]
• are: present tense form of 'be'; used with plural subjects [ər]
• nobody: no person; not anyone [ˈnoʊˌbɑˌdi]
• attends: to be present at (an event, meeting, or function [əˈtɛndz]
• to: preposition indicating direction, purpose, or relationship [tɪ]
• them: third-person plural pronoun; referring to a group of people or things previously mentioned [ðɛm]
• and: conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• you've: contraction of 'you have' [juv]
• no idea: not knowing or understanding something [noʊ aɪˈdiə]
• how: in what way or manner [haʊ]
• confusing: causing one to become bewildered or perplexed [kənfˈjuzɪŋ]
• it is: used to refer to a situation or condition [ɪt ɪz]
• all: everything [ɔl]
• the things: referring to multiple items or matters [ðə θɪŋz]
• being: in the state of existence; present participle of 'be' [biɪŋ]
• alive: living; not dead [əˈlaɪv]
• for instance: as an example [fər ˈɪnstəns]
• there's: contraction of 'there is'; used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛrz]
• the arch: a curved structure spanning an opening [ðə ɑrʧ]
• I've: contraction of 'I have' [aɪv]
• got: have; possess [gɑt]
• to: preposition indicating direction, purpose, or relationship [tɪ]
• go through: to pass or move through something [goʊ θru]
• next: immediately following in time or order [nɛkst]
• walking: moving at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn [ˈwɔkɪŋ]
• about: approximately; around [əˈbaʊt]
• at: preposition expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position [æt]
• the other end: the opposite extremity of something [ðə ˈəðər ɛnd]
• of: preposition indicating relationship between two things [əv]
• the ground: the surface of the earth [ðə graʊnd]
• and: conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• I: first-person singular pronoun; used by the speaker to refer to themselves [aɪ]
• should: used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions [ʃʊd]
• have croqueted: past conditional of 'croquet'; to hit a ball with a mallet in the game of croquet [hæv croqueted]
• the Queen's: belonging to the Queen [ðə kwinz]
• hedgehog: a small, spiny mammal [ˈhɛˌʤhɑg]
• just now: a very short time ago [ʤɪst naʊ]
• only: except that; but [ˈoʊnli]
• it: third-person singular pronoun; referring to a thing previously mentioned [ɪt]
• ran away: to escape by running [ræn əˈweɪ]
• when: at or during the time that [wɪn]
• it: third-person singular pronoun; referring to a thing previously mentioned [ɪt]
• saw: past tense of 'see'; to perceive with the eyes [sɔ]
• mine: belonging to me [maɪn]
• coming: approaching; moving towards the speaker [ˈkəmɪŋ]