The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery- page 38

"They do not find it," I replied.

• They do not find it: They are unable to locate or discover the thing they are searching for. [ðeɪ du nɑt faɪnd ɪt]
• I replied: The speaker is responding to a previous statement. [aɪ rɪˈplaɪd]

"And yet what they are looking for could be found in one single rose, or in a little water."

• And yet: Despite what has been said; nevertheless [ənd jɛt]
• what they are looking for: the thing that they are searching for [wət ðeɪ ər ˈlʊkɪŋ fər]
• could be found: it is possible to discover it [kʊd bi faʊnd]
• in one single rose: even in just one rose [ɪn wən ˈsɪŋgəl roʊz]
• or in a little water: or even in a small amount of water. [ər ɪn ə ˈlɪtəl ˈwɔtər)]

"Yes, that is true," I said.

• Yes, that is true: Agreement with the previous statement. [jɛs ðət ɪz tru]
• I said: The speaker is confirming the truth of the statement. [aɪ sɛd]

And the little prince added:

• And: Connecting the current statement to the previous one [ənd]
• the little prince: Referring to the character known as the little prince [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• added: Indicates that the little prince is going to say something more [ˈædɪd]

"But the eyes are blind.

• But: Introducing a contrasting idea [bət]
• the eyes are blind: The physical eyes cannot perceive the true essence or meaning. [ðə aɪz ər blaɪnd]

I had drunk the water.

• I had drunk: I had consumed [aɪ hæd drəŋk]
• the water: Referring to a specific water [ðə ˈwɔtər]

I breathed easily.

• I breathed: I inhaled and exhaled [aɪ briðd]
• easily: Without difficulty or strain [ˈizəli]

At sunrise the sand is the color of honey.

• At sunrise: The time of day when the sun begins to appear over the horizon [æt ˈsənˌraɪz]
• the sand: Small grains of rock material [ðə sænd]
• is the color of honey: Describing the color of the sand as resembling honey [ɪz ðə ˈkələr əv ˈhəni]

And that honey color was making me happy, too.

• And: Connecting the previous statement to the next one [ənd]
• that honey color: Referring to the color of honey mentioned earlier [ðət ˈhəni ˈkələr]
• was making me happy: Causing a feeling of joy or contentment [wɑz ˈmeɪkɪŋ mi ˈhæpi]
• too: In addition to other things [tu]

What brought me, then, this sense of grief?

• What brought me, then: What caused me at that moment [wət brɔt mi ðɛn]
• this sense of grief: This feeling of deep sorrow or sadness [ðɪs sɛns əv grif]

"You must keep your promise," said the little prince, softly, as he sat down beside me once more.

• You: refers to the person being addressed [ju]
• must: indicates obligation or necessity [məst]
• keep: to maintain or fulfill [kip]
• your promise: the commitment you made [jʊr ˈprɑməs]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• the little prince: referring to a character known as the little prince [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• softly: in a quiet and gentle manner [ˈsɔftli]
• as: while or during the time that [ɛz]
• he: referring to the little prince [hi]
• sat down: took a seat [sæt daʊn]
• beside: next to [ˌbiˈsaɪd]
• me: the speaker [mi]
• once more: again; one more time [wəns mɔr]

"What promise?"

• What promise: asking which commitment is being referred to [wət ˈprɑməs]

"You know — a muzzle for my sheep...

• You know: used to indicate that the listener is already aware of something [ju noʊ]
• a muzzle: a covering for an animal's snout to prevent it from biting or eating [ə ˈməzəl]
• for: intended to be used on [fər]
• my sheep: belonging to me; referring to the speaker's sheep [maɪ ʃip]

I took my rough drafts of drawings out of my pocket.

• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• took: past tense of 'take', meaning to get or grab [tʊk]
• my rough drafts: preliminary versions of drawings, not yet finalized [maɪ rəf dræfts]
• of drawings: referring to the drawings themselves [əv drɔɪŋz]
• out of: from inside [aʊt əv]
• my pocket: the speaker's pocket [maɪ ˈpɑkət]

"Your baobabs — they look a little like cabbages."

• Your baobabs: referring to the drawings of baobab trees made by the listener [jʊr baobabs]
• they: referring to the baobabs [ðeɪ]
• look: appear [lʊk]
• a little: slightly [ə ˈlɪtəl]
• like: similar to [laɪk]
• cabbages: a type of vegetable [ˈkæbɪʤɪz]

"Oh!"

• Oh: an exclamation, often expressing surprise or realization [oʊ]

I had been so proud of my baobabs!

• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• had been: past perfect tense of 'to be', indicating a state in the past [hæd bɪn]
• so proud: very pleased and satisfied [soʊ praʊd]
• of: regarding [əv]
• my baobabs: the speaker's drawings of baobab trees [maɪ baobabs]

"Your fox — his ears look a little like horns; and they are too long."

• Your fox: referring to the drawing of a fox made by the listener [jʊr fɑks]
• his ears: the ears of the fox [hɪz ɪrz]
• look: appear [lʊk]
• a little: slightly [ə ˈlɪtəl]
• like: similar to [laɪk]
• horns: pointed projections on the heads of certain animals [hɔrnz]
• and: connecting two clauses [ənd]
• they: referring to the ears [ðeɪ]
• are: linking verb [ər]
• too long: excessively long [tu lɔŋ]

And he laughed again.

• And: connecting to the previous statement [ənd]
• he: referring to the little prince [hi]
• laughed: past tense of 'laugh', meaning to make sounds of amusement [læft]
• again: once more; another time [əˈgɛn]

"You are not fair, little prince," I said. "I don't know how to draw anything except boa constrictors from the outside and boa constrictors from the inside."

• You: referring to the little prince [ju]
• are: linking verb [ər]
• not fair: not just or impartial [nɑt fɛr]
• little prince: addressing the little prince [ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• don't know: do not know; lack the ability [doʊnt noʊ]
• how to draw: the method or skill of drawing [haʊ tɪ drɔ]
• anything: any object or subject [ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]
• except: excluding; only [ɪkˈsɛpt]
• boa constrictors: a type of snake that constricts its prey [boʊə kənˈstrɪktərz]
• from the outside: viewed from the exterior [frəm ðə ˈaʊtˈsaɪd]
• and: connecting two similar items [ənd]
• boa constrictors: a type of snake that constricts its prey [boʊə kənˈstrɪktərz]
• from the inside: viewed from the interior [frəm ðə ˌɪnˈsaɪd]

"Oh, that will be all right," he said, "children understand."

• Oh: an exclamation expressing surprise, understanding, or other emotions [oʊ]
• that: referring to something previously mentioned or understood [ðət]
• will be: future tense of 'to be', indicating something that is going to happen [wɪl bi]
• all right: okay; satisfactory; acceptable [ɔl raɪt]
• he said: attribution of the statement to a male speaker [hi sɛd]
• children: plural of 'child', referring to young people [ˈʧɪldrən]
• understand: to perceive the intended meaning of words, language, or a speaker [ˌəndərˈstænd]

So then I made a pencil sketch of a muzzle.

• So then: therefore; as a result [soʊ ðɛn]
• I: the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]
• made: past tense of 'make', meaning to create or produce something [meɪd]
• a pencil sketch: a drawing made with a pencil, usually a preliminary drawing [ə ˈpɛnsəl skɛʧ]
• of: indicating the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]
• a muzzle: the projecting part of the face, including the nose and mouth, of an animal [ə ˈməzəl]

And as I gave it to him my heart was torn.

• And: used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• as: while; during the time that [ɛz]
• I: the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]
• gave: past tense of 'give', meaning to hand over something [geɪv]
• it: referring to the pencil sketch [ɪt]
• to him: to the person being addressed [tɪ ɪm]
• my heart: the organ in the chest that pumps blood through the body, often used metaphorically to represent emotions [maɪ hɑrt]
• was torn: past participle of 'tear', meaning to be deeply distressed or emotionally affected [wɑz tɔrn]

"You have plans that I do not know about," I said.

• You have: the person being addressed possesses [ju hæv]
• plans: intended courses of action [plænz]
• that: introducing a relative clause that modifies 'plans' [ðət]
• I: the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]
• do not know: lack of awareness or understanding [du nɑt noʊ]
• about: concerning; regarding [əˈbaʊt]
• I said: the speaker is stating something [aɪ sɛd]

But he did not answer me.

• But: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something previously said [bət]
• he: referring to a male person [hi]
• did not answer: did not respond [dɪd nɑt ˈænsər]
• me: the speaker or writer referring to themself as the object of a verb or preposition [mi]

"You know — my descent to the earth...

• You know: used to seek confirmation or agreement from the listener, or to introduce something familiar [ju noʊ]
• my descent: the act of coming or going down [maɪ dɪˈsɛnt]
• to the earth: the planet on which we live [tɪ ðə ərθ]

Then, after a silence, he went on:

• Then: at that time; after that [ðɛn]
• after: following in time or sequence [ˈæftər]
• a silence: a period of time with no sound [ə ˈsaɪləns]
• he went on: he continued speaking [hi wɛnt ɔn]

"I came down very near here."

• I came down: I descended or landed [aɪ keɪm daʊn]
• very near: close to [ˈvɛri nɪr]
• here: in or at this place [hir]

And he flushed.

• And: used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• he flushed: his face became red, usually due to embarrassment or excitement [hi fləʃt]

And once again, without understanding why, I had a queer sense of sorrow.

• And: used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• once again: one more time; another time [wəns əˈgɛn]
• without understanding: lacking comprehension [wɪˈθaʊt ˌəndərˈstændɪŋ]
• why: for what reason or purpose [waɪ]
• I: the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]
• had: past tense of 'have', meaning to possess or experience [hæd]
• a queer sense: a strange or peculiar feeling [ə kwɪr sɛns]
• of sorrow: of sadness or grief [əv ˈsɑroʊ]

"Then it was not by chance that on the morning when I first met you — a week ago — you were strolling along like that, all alone, a thousand miles from any inhabited region? You were on the your back to the place where you landed?"

• Then: at that time; after that [ðɛn]
• it: refers to a situation or event [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• not: negation [nɑt]
• by chance: not planned or accidental; randomly [baɪ ʧæns]
• that: introduces a clause [ðət]
• on the morning: a specific time of day [ɔn ðə ˈmɔrnɪŋ]
• when: at the time that [wɪn]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• first: for the first time [fərst]
• met: past tense of 'meet', to encounter someone [mɛt]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• a week ago: seven days in the past from the present [ə wik əˈgoʊ]
• you were strolling: you were walking in a leisurely way [ju wər ˈstroʊlɪŋ]
• along: in a forward direction [əˈlɔŋ]
• like that: in that manner [laɪk ðət]
• all alone: completely by yourself [ɔl əˈloʊn]
• a thousand miles: a great distance [ə ˈθaʊzənd maɪəlz]
• from: indicating separation or distance [frəm]
• any inhabited region: any area where people live [ˈɛni ˌɪnˈhæbətəd ˈriʤən]
• to the place: the specific location [tɪ ðə pleɪs]
• where: at which [wɛr]
• you landed: where you arrived from the sky [ju ˈlændɪd]

The little prince flushed again.

• The little prince: A young, small royal figure [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• flushed: His face became red [fləʃt]
• again: one more time; repeatedly [əˈgɛn]

And I added, with some hesitancy:

• And: conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• added: past tense of 'add', to say something more [ˈædɪd]
• with some hesitancy: with a degree of reluctance or uncertainty [wɪθ səm ˈhɛzɪtənsi]

"Perhaps it was because of the anniversary?"

• Perhaps: possibly; maybe [pərˈhæps]
• it: refers to a situation or event [ɪt]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• because of: due to; on account of [bɪˈkəz əv]
• the anniversary: the date on which an event took place in a previous year [ðə ˌænəˈvərsəri]

The little prince flushed once more.

• The little prince: A young, small royal figure [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• flushed: His face became red [fləʃt]
• once more: again; one more time [wəns mɔr]