The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery- page 32

The fox gazed at the little prince, for a long time.

• The fox: refers to a specific fox in the story [ðə fɑks]
• gazed: looked steadily and intently, often with great interest or surprise [geɪzd]
• at: expressing direction or location [æt]
• the little prince: refers to a specific character, a young prince [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• for: introducing the reason or cause of something [fər]
• a long time: a considerable period of time [ə lɔŋ taɪm]

"Please — tame me!" he said.

• Please: a polite request [pliz]
• tame me: domesticate or make someone feel comfortable and trusting [teɪm mi]
• he said: attribution of the quote to the fox [hi sɛd]

"I want to, very much," the little prince replied. "But I have not much time.

• I want to: expresses a desire or wish to do something [aɪ wɔnt tɪ]
• very much: to a great extent; a lot [ˈvɛri məʧ]
• the little prince replied: attribution of the quote to the little prince [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns rɪˈplaɪd]
• But: introduces a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]
• I have not much time: indicates a lack of available time [aɪ hæv nɑt məʧ taɪm]

"One only understands the things that one tames," said the fox. "Men have no more time to understand anything.

• One only understands: a person can only comprehend [wən ˈoʊnli ˌəndərˈstændz]
• the things: specific items or concepts [ðə θɪŋz]
• that one tames: that a person domesticates or makes familiar [ðət wən teɪmz]
• said the fox: attribution of the quote to the fox [sɛd ðə fɑks]
• Men: plural of man, referring to human beings in general [mɛn]
• have no more time: do not have any additional time [hæv noʊ mɔr taɪm]
• to understand anything: to comprehend any matter [tɪ ˌəndərˈstænd ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]

They buy things all ready made at the shops.

• They buy things: people purchase items [ðeɪ baɪ θɪŋz]
• all ready made: completely prepared or manufactured [ɔl ˈrɛdi meɪd]
• at the shops: in stores or retail establishments [æt ðə ʃɑps]

But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more.

• But: introduces a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something [bət]
• there is no shop anywhere: there is no store in any location [ðɛr ɪz noʊ ʃɑp ˈɛniˌwɛr]
• where one can buy friendship: where a person can purchase companionship [wɛr wən kən baɪ ˈfrɛndʃɪp]
• and so: therefore; as a result [ənd soʊ]
• men have no friends any more: people no longer have companions [mɛn hæv noʊ frɛndz ˈɛni mɔr]

"What must I do, to tame you?" asked the little prince.

• What: interrogative word used to ask for specific information [wət]
• must: auxiliary verb expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• do: verb indicating an action or activity [du]
• to tame: to domesticate or control; to make less wild [tɪ teɪm]
• you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
• asked: verb indicating a question was posed [æst]
• the little prince: the young royal character [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]

"You must be very patient," replied the fox.

• You: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
• must: auxiliary verb expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
• be: verb indicating a state of being [bi]
• very patient: requiring or demonstrating a lot of patience [ˈvɛri ˈpeɪʃənt]
• replied: verb indicating a response [rɪˈplaɪd]
• the fox: the animal character [ðə fɑks]

"First you will sit down at a little distance from me — like that — in the grass.

• First: indicating the initial step or action [fərst]
• you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
• will: auxiliary verb indicating future tense [wɪl]
• sit down: to take a seat [sɪt daʊn]
• at: preposition indicating location [æt]
• a little distance: a short space away [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈdɪstəns]
• from: preposition indicating separation or origin [frəm]
• me: first-person singular object pronoun [mi]
• like that: in that manner; similarly [laɪk ðət]
• in: preposition indicating location [ɪn]
• the grass: green vegetation covering the ground [ðə græs]

I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing.

• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• shall: auxiliary verb indicating future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
• look: to direct one's gaze [lʊk]
• at: preposition indicating direction [æt]
• you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
• out of: from within [aʊt əv]
• the corner: the edge or angle [ðə ˈkɔrnər]
• of: preposition indicating possession or origin [əv]
• my eye: the organ of sight [maɪ aɪ]
• and: conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
• will: auxiliary verb indicating future tense [wɪl]
• say: to utter words [seɪ]
• nothing: not anything; no words [ˈnəθɪŋ]

Words are the source of misunderstandings.

• Words: units of language [wərdz]
• are: verb indicating a state of being [ər]
• the source: the origin or cause [ðə sɔrs]
• of: preposition indicating origin [əv]
• misunderstandings: failures to understand correctly [ˌmɪsəndərˈstændɪŋz]

The next day the little prince came back.

• The next day: The day following the current one [ðə nɛkst deɪ]
• the little prince: the young royal character [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• came back: returned [keɪm bæk]

Terrier.gif

"It would have been better to come back at the same hour," said the fox.

• It: pronoun referring to a situation or event [ɪt]
• would have been: conditional perfect form of 'to be', expressing a past possibility [wʊd hæv bɪn]
• better: more desirable or advantageous [ˈbɛtər]
• to come back: to return [tɪ kəm bæk]
• at: preposition indicating a specific time [æt]
• the same hour: the identical time [ðə seɪm aʊər]
• said: verb indicating speech [sɛd]
• the fox: the animal character [ðə fɑks]

"If, for example, you come at four o'clock in the afternoon, then at three o'clock I shall begin to be happy.

• If: conditional conjunction [ɪf]
• for example: as an illustration [fər ɪgˈzæmpəl]
• you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
• come: to arrive [kəm]
• at: preposition indicating a specific time [æt]
• four o'clock: a specific time of day [fɔr əˈklɑk]
• in: preposition indicating a time period [ɪn]
• the afternoon: the time of day between noon and evening [ðə ˌæftərˈnun]
• then: adverb indicating consequence [ðɛn]
• at: preposition indicating a specific time [æt]
• three o'clock: a specific time of day [θri əˈklɑk]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• shall: auxiliary verb indicating future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
• begin: to start [bɪˈgɪn]
• to be happy: to experience joy [tɪ bi ˈhæpi]

I shall feel happier and happier as the hour advances.

• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• shall: auxiliary verb indicating future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
• feel: to experience an emotion [fil]
• happier: more joyful [ˈhæpiər]
• and: conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• happier: more joyful [ˈhæpiər]
• as: conjunction indicating time [ɛz]
• the hour: a specific time [ðə aʊər]
• advances: progresses; moves forward [ədˈvænsɪz]

At four o'clock, I shall already be worrying and jumping about.

• At: preposition indicating a specific time [æt]
• four o'clock: a specific time of day [fɔr əˈklɑk]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• shall: auxiliary verb indicating future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
• already: before now or before a specific time [ɔˈrɛdi]
• be worrying: to be anxious [bi ˈwəriɪŋ]
• and: conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• jumping about: moving excitedly [ˈʤəmpɪŋ əˈbaʊt]

I shall show you how happy I am!

• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• shall: auxiliary verb indicating future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
• show: to demonstrate [ʃoʊ]
• you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
• how happy: the degree of happiness [haʊ ˈhæpi]
• I am: first-person singular present tense of 'to be' [aɪ æm]

But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you...

• But: conjunction introducing a contrast [bət]
• if: conditional conjunction [ɪf]
• you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
• come: to arrive [kəm]
• at: preposition indicating a specific time [æt]
• just any time: any unspecified time [ʤɪst ˈɛni taɪm]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• shall: auxiliary verb indicating future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
• never: at no time [ˈnɛvər]
• know: to be aware of [noʊ]
• at: preposition indicating a specific time [æt]
• what hour: which time [wət aʊər]
• my heart: the organ of emotion [maɪ hɑrt]
• is: verb indicating a state of being [ɪz]
• to be ready: prepared [tɪ bi ˈrɛdi]
• to greet: to welcome [tɪ grit]
• you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]

"What is a rite?" asked the little prince.

• What: interrogative word used to ask for specific information [wət]
• is: third-person singular present of the verb 'to be', indicating existence or a state of being [ɪz]
• a rite: a formal or ceremonial act or procedure prescribed or customary [ə raɪt]
• asked: past tense of the verb 'to ask', meaning to put a question to someone [æst]
• the little prince: refers to the main character, a young boy who is a prince from another planet [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]

"Those also are actions too often neglected," said the fox. "They are what make one day different from other days, one hour from other hours.

• Those: plural demonstrative pronoun, referring to specific things mentioned or understood [ðoʊz]
• also: in addition; too [ˈɔlsoʊ]
• are: plural present form of the verb 'to be' [ər]
• actions: the process or state of doing something or exerting energy [ˈækʃənz]
• too often neglected: happening with excessive frequency; disregarded or not given enough attention [tu ˈɔfən nɪˈglɛktɪd]
• said: past tense of the verb 'to say', meaning to utter words [sɛd]
• the fox: a wild canine animal; in this context, a character in the story [ðə fɑks]
• They: plural pronoun, referring back to 'actions' [ðeɪ]
• are: plural present form of the verb 'to be' [ər]
• what: used to ask for information specifying something [wət]
• make: to cause something to be or become [meɪk]
• one day: a single day [wən deɪ]
• different: not the same as another or each other [ˈdɪfərənt]
• from: indicating separation or distinction [frəm]
• other days: days that are not the one being referred to [ˈəðər deɪz]
• one hour: a single hour [wən aʊər]
• from: indicating separation or distinction [frəm]
• other hours: hours that are not the one being referred to [ˈəðər aʊərz]

There is a rite, for example, among my hunters.

• There: used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛr]
• is: third-person singular present of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
• a rite: a formal or ceremonial act or procedure prescribed or customary [ə raɪt]
• for example: used to introduce an instance of something [fər ɪgˈzæmpəl]
• among: surrounded by; in the midst of [əˈməŋ]
• my hunters: people who hunt animals; in this context, the fox's reference to people in a nearby village [maɪ ˈhəntərz]

Every Thursday they dance with the village girls.

• Every: used to refer to all members of a group or set [ˈɛvəri]
• Thursday: a day of the week [ˈθərzˌdeɪ]
• they: plural pronoun, referring to the hunters [ðeɪ]
• dance: to move rhythmically to music [dæns]
• with: accompanied by [wɪθ]
• the village girls: young women from the village [ðə ˈvɪlɪʤ gərlz]

So Thursday is a wonderful day for me!

• So: therefore; as a result [soʊ]
• Thursday: a day of the week [ˈθərzˌdeɪ]
• is: third-person singular present of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
• a wonderful day: a day that is very good or pleasing [ə ˈwəndərfəl deɪ]
• for me: for the speaker; in this case, the fox [fər mi]

I can take a walk as far as the vineyards.

• I: first-person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker [aɪ]
• can: expresses ability or possibility [kən]
• take: to perform an action [teɪk]
• a walk: an act of walking, usually for leisure or exercise [ə wɔk]
• as far as: to the extent or distance of [ɛz fɑr ɛz]
• the vineyards: areas where grapevines are grown for wine production [ðə ˈvɪnjərdz]

So the little prince tamed the fox.

• So: therefore; as a result [soʊ]
• the little prince: refers to the main character, a young boy who is a prince from another planet [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• tamed: past tense of the verb 'to tame', meaning to domesticate or make less wild [teɪmd]
• the fox: a wild canine animal; in this context, a character in the story [ðə fɑks]

"Ah," said the fox, "I shall cry."

• Ah: An exclamation, often expressing understanding, surprise, or realization [ɑ]
• said: Past tense of 'say', indicating that someone spoke [sɛd]
• the fox: A wild animal of the dog family with a pointed snout and bushy tail [ðə fɑks]
• I shall cry: Expressing the fox's intention to weep or shed tears [aɪ ʃæl kraɪ]