You are reading page 42 of 44 from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery. Use the contextual explanations to improve your English comprehension.
"It will be as if, in place of the stars, I had given you a great number of little bells that knew how to laugh..."
- It: pronoun referring to a situation or event [ɪt]
- will: auxiliary verb used to express future tense [wɪl]
- be: verb 'to be' indicating a state or condition [bi]
- as: used to indicate similarity [ɛz]
- if: used to introduce a conditional clause [ɪf]
- in place of: instead of; replacing [ɪn pleɪs əv]
- the stars: celestial bodies that are visible at night [ðə stɑrz]
- I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
- had given: past perfect tense of 'give', indicating a completed action in the past [hæd ˈgɪvɪn]
- you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
- a great number of: a large quantity of [ə greɪt ˈnəmbər əv]
- little bells: small, bell-shaped objects that produce a ringing sound [ˈlɪtəl bɛlz]
- that: relative pronoun referring to the bells [ðət]
- knew: past tense of 'know', indicating understanding or awareness [nu]
- how to laugh: the ability or manner of laughing [haʊ tɪ læf]
"I shall not leave you," I said.
- I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
- shall: auxiliary verb used to express future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
- not: used to negate a statement [nɑt]
- leave: to go away from [liv]
- you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
- I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
- said: past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]
"I shall look as if I were suffering.
- I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
- shall: auxiliary verb used to express future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
- look: to direct one's gaze [lʊk]
- as if: in a way that gives the impression of [ɛz ɪf]
- I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
- were: past subjunctive of 'be', used in hypothetical situations [wər]
- suffering: experiencing pain or distress [ˈsəfərɪŋ]
I shall look a little as if I were dying.
- I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
- shall: auxiliary verb used to express future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
- look: to direct one's gaze [lʊk]
- a little: slightly; to a small extent [ə ˈlɪtəl]
- as if: in a way that gives the impression of [ɛz ɪf]
- I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
- were: past subjunctive of 'be', used in hypothetical situations [wər]
- dying: in the process of death [daɪɪŋ]
- It: pronoun referring to a situation or event [ɪt]
- is: verb 'to be' indicating a state or condition [ɪz]
- like that: similar to that; in that way [laɪk ðət]
- Do not come: an imperative sentence meaning 'don't come' [du nɑt kəm]
- to see: to observe; to witness [tɪ si]
- that: referring to the situation described [ðət]
"I shall not leave you." But he was worried.
- I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
- shall: auxiliary verb used to express future tense (more formal than 'will' [ʃæl]
- not: used to negate a statement [nɑt]
- leave: to go away from [liv]
- you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
- But: conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
- he: pronoun referring to a male person previously mentioned or easily identified [hi]
- was: past tense of 'be' [wɑz]
- worried: experiencing anxiety or concern [ˈwərid]
"I tell you — it is also because of the snake.
- I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
- tell: to communicate information to someone [tɛl]
- you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
- it: pronoun referring to a situation or event [ɪt]
- is: verb 'to be' indicating a state or condition [ɪz]
- also: in addition; as well [ˈɔlsoʊ]
- because of: due to; on account of [bɪˈkəz əv]
- the snake: a reptile [ðə sneɪk]
- He: pronoun referring to the snake [hi]
- must: used to express necessity or obligation [məst]
- not: used to negate a statement [nɑt]
- bite: to puncture or seize with teeth [baɪt]
- you: second-person singular pronoun [ju]
- I shall not leave you: A formal and emphatic way of saying "I will not leave you." [aɪ ʃæl nɑt liv ju]
But a thought came to reassure him:
- But: Conjunction indicating contrast or introduction of a new element [bət]
- a thought: An idea or reflection [ə θɔt]
- came: Past tense of 'come', meaning to arrive or occur [keɪm]
- to reassure: To restore confidence or make someone feel less worried [tɪ ˌriəˈʃʊr]
- him: Pronoun referring to a male person previously mentioned [ɪm]
"It is true that they have no more poison for a second bite."
- It is true that they have no more poison for a second bite: Acknowledging a fact that provides some comfort or reassurance. [ɪt ɪz tru ðət ðeɪ hæv noʊ mɔr ˈpɔɪzən fər ə ˈsɛkənd baɪt]
That night I did not see him set out on his way.
- That night: Referring to a specific night previously mentioned or understood [ðət naɪt]
- I: First-person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker [aɪ]
- did not see: Past tense negative form of 'see', meaning did not observe [dɪd nɑt si]
- him: Pronoun referring to a male person previously mentioned [ɪm]
- set out: To begin a journey or start an activity [sɛt aʊt]
- on his way: On his journey or path [ɔn hɪz weɪ]
He got away from me without making a sound.
- He: Pronoun referring to a male person previously mentioned [hi]
- got away: To escape or leave a place [gɑt əˈweɪ]
- from me: Away from the speaker [frəm mi]
- without: Not having or doing something [wɪˈθaʊt]
- making a sound: Producing any noise [ˈmeɪkɪŋ ə saʊnd]
When I succeeded in catching up with him he was walking along with a quick and resolute step.
- When: At the time or occasion that [wɪn]
- I: First-person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker [aɪ]
- succeeded: To achieve the desired outcome [səkˈsidɪd]
- in catching up: To reach someone who is ahead [ɪn ˈkæʧɪŋ əp]
- with him: Referring to the male person previously mentioned [wɪθ ɪm]
- he: Pronoun referring to a male person previously mentioned [hi]
- was walking along: Moving forward on foot [wɑz ˈwɔkɪŋ əˈlɔŋ]
- with: Accompanied by or possessing [wɪθ]
- a quick and resolute step: Walking with speed and determination [ə kwɪk ənd ˈrɛzəˌlut stɛp]
"Ah! You are there..."
- Ah! You are there: An exclamation of surprise or recognition at the presence of someone. [ɑ ju ər ðɛr]
- And: Conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
- he: Pronoun referring to a male person previously mentioned [hi]
- took: Past tense of 'take', meaning to grasp or hold [tʊk]
- me: First-person singular object pronoun, referring to the speaker [mi]
- by the hand: Grasping the speaker's hand [baɪ ðə hænd]
- It was wrong of you to come: Expressing that the other person made a mistake by arriving. [ɪt wɑz rɔŋ əv ju tɪ kəm]
- You will suffer: Predicting that the other person will experience pain or hardship. [ju wɪl ˈsəfər]
"You understand...
- You: the person being addressed [ju]
- understand: to perceive the meaning of something [ˌəndərˈstænd]
- it: refers to something previously mentioned or known [ɪt]
- is: present tense of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
- too far: excessively distant or beyond a reasonable limit [tu fɑr]
"But it will be like an old abandoned shell.
- But: a conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something previously said [bət]
- it: refers to something previously mentioned, likely the body [ɪt]
- will be: future tense of 'to be', indicating a future state [wɪl bi]
- like: similar to [laɪk]
- an old abandoned shell: a metaphor for something that is no longer inhabited or useful [ən oʊld əˈbændənd ʃɛl]
- He: referring to a male person previously mentioned [hi]
- was: past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
- a little: slightly; to a small extent [ə ˈlɪtəl]
- discouraged: having lost confidence or enthusiasm; disheartened [dɪˈskərɪʤd]
"You know, it will be very nice.
- You: the person being addressed [ju]
- know: to be aware of something [noʊ]
- it: refers to a situation or idea [ɪt]
- will be: future tense of 'to be', indicating a future state [wɪl bi]
- very nice: pleasant; enjoyable [ˈvɛri nis]
I, too, shall look at the stars.
- I: the speaker [aɪ]
- too: also; in addition [tu]
- shall: auxiliary verb used to express future tense, especially with 'I' and 'we' [ʃæl]
- look: to direct one's gaze towards something [lʊk]
- at: expressing direction or location [æt]
- the stars: celestial bodies that are visible at night [ðə stɑrz]
All the stars will be wells with a rusty pulley.
- All: the whole number or quantity of [ɔl]
- the stars: celestial bodies that are visible at night [ðə stɑrz]
- will be: future tense of 'to be', indicating a future state [wɪl bi]
- wells: holes dug in the earth to obtain water [wɛlz]
- with: accompanied by [wɪθ]
- a rusty pulley: a wheel with a grooved rim around which a rope passes, used to raise heavy objects, and which is corroded with rust [ə ˈrəsti ˈpʊli]
- That: referring to something previously mentioned [ðət]
- will be: future tense of 'to be', indicating a future state [wɪl bi]
- so amusing: very funny or entertaining [soʊ əmˈjuzɪŋ]
Peur.jpg
And he too said nothing more, because he was crying...
- And: conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
- he: pronoun referring to a male person previously mentioned or known [hi]
- too: also; in addition [tu]
- said: past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]
- nothing more: no additional information or statement [ˈnəθɪŋ mɔr]
- because: conjunction introducing a reason or cause [bɪˈkəz]
- he: pronoun referring to the same male person as before [hi]
- was crying: expressing sorrow or pain by shedding tears [wɑz kraɪɪŋ]
- Here it is: Indicates that something that was being searched for has been found or is being presented [hir ɪt ɪz]
And he sat down, because he was afraid.
- And: conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
- he: pronoun referring to a male person previously mentioned or known [hi]
- sat down: lowered oneself to a sitting position [sæt daʊn]
- because: conjunction introducing a reason or cause [bɪˈkəz]
- he: pronoun referring to the same male person as before [hi]
- was afraid: feeling fear or apprehension [wɑz əˈfreɪd]
- You know: phrase used to seek agreement or understanding from the listener [ju noʊ]
- my flower: referring to a flower that the speaker has a special connection to [maɪ flaʊər]
- I am responsible: I have a duty to take care of [aɪ æm riˈspɑnsəbəl]
- for her: referring to the flower [fər hər]
- And: conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
- she: pronoun referring to the flower [ʃi]
- is so weak: not strong; easily harmed [ɪz soʊ wik]
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