Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 54

'I never thought about it,' said Alice. 'Why?'

• I: first-person singular pronoun, referring to Alice [aɪ]
• never: at no time in the past [ˈnɛvər]
• thought: past tense of 'think', meaning to consider or believe [θɔt]
• about: concerning [əˈbaʊt]
• it: referring to the reason why it's called a whiting [ɪt]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]

'IT DOES THE BOOTS AND SHOES.' the Gryphon replied very solemnly.

• IT: used for emphasis [ɪt]
• DOES: present tense of 'do', used for emphasis [dɪz]
• THE: definite article, referring to specific boots and shoes [ðə]
• BOOTS: plural of boot, a type of footwear [buts]
• AND: conjunction, connecting two items [ənd]
• SHOES: plural of shoe, another type of footwear [ʃuz]
• the Gryphon: identifies the speaker as the Gryphon, a mythical creature [ðə gryphon]
• replied: past tense of 'reply', meaning to answer [rɪˈplaɪd]
• very: to a high degree [ˈvɛri]

Alice was thoroughly puzzled. 'Does the boots and shoes!' she repeated in a wondering tone.

• Alice: a proper noun, likely referring to the character Alice in the story [ˈælɪs]
• was: past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
• thoroughly: adverb meaning completely or utterly [ˈθəroʊli]
• puzzled: adjective meaning confused or bewildered [ˈpəzəld]
• Does: auxiliary verb used to form questions or emphasize a statement [dɪz]
• the boots and shoes: referring to boots and shoes [ðə buts ənd ʃuz]
• she: pronoun referring to Alice [ʃi]
• repeated: past tense of the verb 'to repeat', meaning to say something again [rɪˈpitɪd]
• in: preposition indicating location or manner [ɪn]
• a wondering: adjective describing a state of surprise or curiosity [ə ˈwəndərɪŋ]
• tone: the quality of a person's voice [toʊn]

'Why, what are YOUR shoes done with?' said the Gryphon. 'I mean, what makes them so shiny?'

• Why: an exclamation expressing surprise or mild protest [waɪ]
• what: interrogative pronoun used to ask for specific information [wət]
• are: present tense of the verb 'to be', used with plural subjects [ər]
• YOUR: possessive pronoun indicating ownership by the person being addressed [jʊr]
• shoes: footwear [ʃuz]
• done with: an expression meaning 'what has happened to' or 'what is the condition of' [dən wɪθ]
• said: past tense of the verb 'to say' [sɛd]
• the Gryphon: a proper noun, referring to a character named Gryphon [ðə gryphon]
• I mean: an expression used to clarify or rephrase a statement [aɪ min]
• what: interrogative pronoun used to ask for specific information [wət]
• makes: present tense of the verb 'to make', meaning to cause something to be [meɪks]
• them: pronoun referring to the shoes [ðɛm]
• so: adverb meaning to a great extent or degree [soʊ]
• shiny: adjective meaning bright and reflective [ˈʃaɪni]

Alice looked down at them, and considered a little before she gave her answer. 'They're done with blacking, I believe.'

• Alice: a proper noun, likely referring to the character Alice in the story [ˈælɪs]
• looked: past tense of the verb 'to look', meaning to direct one's gaze [lʊkt]
• down: adverb indicating a downward direction [daʊn]
• at: preposition indicating location or direction [æt]
• them: pronoun referring to the shoes [ðɛm]
• and: conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• considered: past tense of the verb 'to consider', meaning to think carefully about something [kənˈsɪdərd]
• a little: a short amount of time [ə ˈlɪtəl]
• before: conjunction indicating time [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• she: pronoun referring to Alice [ʃi]
• gave: past tense of the verb 'to give' [geɪv]
• her: possessive pronoun indicating ownership by Alice [hər]
• answer: a reply to a question [ˈænsər]
• They're: contraction of 'they are' [ðɛr]
• done with: covered or treated with [dən wɪθ]
• blacking: a substance used to polish shoes, making them black and shiny [blacking]
• I believe: an expression indicating that the speaker thinks something is true, but is not completely certain [aɪ bɪˈliv]

'Boots and shoes under the sea,' the Gryphon went on in a deep voice, 'are done with a whiting.

• Boots: a type of footwear covering the foot and ankle [buts]
• and: conjunction connecting two nouns [ənd]
• shoes: footwear [ʃuz]
• under: preposition indicating a position below something [ˈəndər]
• the sea: the ocean [ðə si]
• the Gryphon: a proper noun, referring to a character named Gryphon [ðə gryphon]
• went on: continued speaking [wɛnt ɔn]
• in: preposition indicating manner [ɪn]
• a deep: adjective describing a low-pitched voice [ə dip]
• voice: the sound produced by a person's vocal cords [vɔɪs]
• are done with: are polished with [ər dən wɪθ]
• a whiting: a substance, in this context, used for polishing [ə ˈwaɪtɪŋ]

'And what are they made of?' Alice asked in a tone of great curiosity.

• And: conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• what: interrogative pronoun used to ask for specific information [wət]
• are: present tense of the verb 'to be', used with plural subjects [ər]
• they: pronoun referring to the boots and shoes [ðeɪ]
• made of: composed of; what materials are used to create them? [meɪd əv]
• Alice: a proper noun, likely referring to the character Alice in the story [ˈælɪs]
• asked: past tense of the verb 'to ask' [æst]
• in: preposition indicating manner [ɪn]
• a tone: the quality of a person's voice [ə toʊn]
• of: preposition indicating possession or relationship [əv]
• great: adjective meaning large or significant [greɪt]
• curiosity: a strong desire to know or learn something [ˌkjʊriˈɑsəti]

'Soles and eels, of course,' the Gryphon replied rather impatiently: 'any shrimp could have told you that.'

• Soles: the bottom part of a shoe or boot [soʊlz]
• and: conjunction connecting two nouns [ənd]
• eels: a snake-like fish [ilz]
• of course: an expression indicating that something is obvious or expected [əv kɔrs]
• the Gryphon: a proper noun, referring to a character named Gryphon [ðə gryphon]
• replied: past tense of the verb 'to reply', meaning to answer [rɪˈplaɪd]
• rather: adverb meaning somewhat or to a certain extent [ˈrəðər]
• impatiently: adverb meaning in a way that shows irritation or annoyance [ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli]
• any: determiner referring to one or some of a thing or number of things, no matter how many [ˈɛni]
• shrimp: a small crustacean [ʃrɪmp]
• could have: auxiliary verb indicating possibility in the past [kʊd hæv]
• told: past participle of the verb 'to tell', meaning to communicate information [toʊld]
• you: pronoun referring to the person being addressed [ju]
• that: pronoun referring to the previous statement [ðət]

'If I'd been the whiting,' said Alice, whose thoughts were still running on the song, 'I'd have said to the porpoise, "Keep back, please: we don't want YOU with us!"'

• If I'd been the whiting: Alice imagines herself as a whiting (a type of fish) and considers what she would have said [ɪf aɪd bɪn ðə ˈwaɪtɪŋ]
• said Alice: indicates that Alice is speaking [sɛd ˈælɪs]
• whose thoughts were still running on the song: explains that Alice is still thinking about a song [huz θɔts wər stɪl ˈrənɪŋ ɔn ðə sɔŋ]
• I'd have said to the porpoise: Alice imagines what she would say to a porpoise [aɪd hæv sɛd tɪ ðə ˈpɔrpəs]
• Keep back, please: a polite request to stay away [kip bæk pliz]
• we don't want YOU with us: emphasizes the rejection of the porpoise [wi doʊnt wɔnt ju wɪθ ˈjuˈɛs]

'They were obliged to have him with them,' the Mock Turtle said: 'no wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise.'

• They were obliged to have him with them: indicates that they were forced to include the porpoise [ðeɪ wər əˈblaɪʤd tɪ hæv ɪm wɪθ ðɛm]
• the Mock Turtle said: identifies the speaker as the Mock Turtle [ðə mɑk ˈtərtəl sɛd]
• no wise fish: a fish with good judgment [noʊ waɪz fɪʃ]
• would go anywhere: would travel to any place [wʊd goʊ ˈɛniˌwɛr]
• without a porpoise: indicates that a porpoise is essential for travel, according to the Mock Turtle [wɪˈθaʊt ə ˈpɔrpəs]

'Wouldn't it really?' said Alice in a tone of great surprise.

• Wouldn't it really: expresses disbelief or surprise at a previous statement [ˈwʊdənt ɪt ˈrɪli]
• said Alice: indicates that Alice is speaking [sɛd ˈælɪs]
• in a tone of great surprise: describes Alice's tone of voice as very surprised [ɪn ə toʊn əv greɪt səˈpraɪz]

'Of course not,' said the Mock Turtle: 'why, if a fish came to ME, and told me he was going a journey, I should say "With what porpoise?"'

• Of course not: a strong disagreement with a previous statement [əv kɔrs nɑt]
• said the Mock Turtle: identifies the speaker as the Mock Turtle [sɛd ðə mɑk ˈtərtəl]
• why, if a fish came to ME: the Mock Turtle presents a hypothetical situation [waɪ ɪf ə fɪʃ keɪm tɪ mi]
• and told me he was going a journey: the fish informs the Mock Turtle about its travel plans [ənd toʊld mi hi wɑz goʊɪŋ ə ˈʤərni]
• I should say: indicates what the Mock Turtle would say [aɪ ʃʊd seɪ]
• With what porpoise: a play on words, using 'porpoise' instead of 'purpose' [wɪθ wət ˈpɔrpəs]

'Don't you mean "purpose"?' said Alice.

• Don't you mean "purpose: Alice corrects the Mock Turtle's word choice, suggesting 'purpose' instead of 'porpoise' [doʊnt ju min ˈpərpəs]
• said Alice: indicates that Alice is speaking [sɛd ˈælɪs]

'I mean what I say,' the Mock Turtle replied in an offended tone.

• I mean what I say: Indicates the speaker's intention to be taken seriously and that their words are sincere [aɪ min wət aɪ seɪ]
• the Mock Turtle: A character in Alice in Wonderland, a creature that is part turtle and part calf [ðə mɑk ˈtərtəl]
• replied: responded or answered [rɪˈplaɪd]
• in an offended tone: speaking in a way that shows they are upset or insulted [ɪn ən əˈfɛndɪd toʊn]

'I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning,' said Alice a little timidly: 'but it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.'

• I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning: Expressing willingness to share personal experiences starting from the current day [aɪ kʊd tɛl ju maɪ adventures-beginning frəm ðɪs ˈmɔrnɪŋ]
• said: spoke [sɛd]
• Alice: The main character in Alice in Wonderland [ˈælɪs]
• a little timidly: speaking with slight shyness or hesitation [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈtɪmədli]
• but: Used to introduce a contrast or exception [bət]
• it's: contraction of 'it is' [ɪts]
• no use: not helpful or beneficial [noʊ juz]
• going back: returning to a previous topic or time [goʊɪŋ bæk]
• to yesterday: the day before the current day [tɪ ˈjɛstərˌdeɪ]
• because: for the reason that [bɪˈkəz]
• I was: past tense of 'I am' [aɪ wɑz]
• a different person: implying a change in character, experiences, or perspective [ə ˈdɪfərənt ˈpərsən]
• then: at that time in the past [ðɛn]

'Explain all that,' said the Mock Turtle.

• Explain all that: Requesting a detailed explanation of a previous statement or situation [ɪkˈspleɪn ɔl ðət]
• said: spoke [sɛd]
• the Mock Turtle: Referring to the character, the Mock Turtle [ðə mɑk ˈtərtəl]

'No, no!

• No, no: Expressing disagreement or impatience [noʊ noʊ]

So Alice began telling them her adventures from the time when she first saw the White Rabbit.

• So: Therefore; as a result [soʊ]
• Alice: The main character in Alice in Wonderland [ˈælɪs]
• began: started [bɪˈgæn]
• telling: narrating or recounting [ˈtɛlɪŋ]
• them: referring to the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle [ðɛm]
• her adventures: the stories of her experiences [hər ædˈvɛnʧərz]
• from the time: starting at the point [frəm ðə taɪm]
• when: at which [wɪn]
• she first saw: she initially observed [ʃi fərst sɔ]
• the White Rabbit: A character in Alice in Wonderland, a rabbit wearing clothes [ðə waɪt ˈræbɪt]

She was a little nervous about it just at first, the two creatures got so close to her, one on each side, and opened their eyes and mouths so VERY wide, but she gained courage as she went on.

• She was: She existed in a state of being [ʃi wɑz]
• a little nervous: slightly anxious or uneasy [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈnərvəs]
• about it: regarding the situation of telling her adventures [əˈbaʊt ɪt]
• just at first: only in the beginning [ʤɪst æt fərst]
• the two creatures: referring to the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle [ðə tu ˈkriʧərz]
• got: moved or came [gɑt]
• so close: very near [soʊ kloʊz]
• to her: in proximity to Alice [tɪ hər]
• one on each side: with one creature positioned on her left and the other on her right [wən ɔn iʧ saɪd]
• and: connecting clauses [ənd]
• opened: widened or revealed [ˈoʊpənd]
• their eyes: the organs of sight of the creatures [ðɛr aɪz]
• and mouths: the openings in their faces used for speaking and eating [ənd maʊðz]
• so VERY wide: to an extreme extent [soʊ ˈvɛri waɪd]
• but: however [bət]
• she gained courage: she became more confident [ʃi geɪnd kərɪʤ]
• as she went on: as she continued telling her story [ɛz ʃi wɛnt ɔn]