The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery- page 5

But he did not reply.

• But: conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• he: refers to a male person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified [hi]
• did: auxiliary verb used to form the past tense or to emphasize the verb [dɪd]
• not: used to negate a verb [nɑt]
• reply: to say something in response [rɪˈplaɪ]

"It is true that on that you can't have come from very far away..."

• It: refers to a situation or statement [ɪt]
• is: present tense form of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
• true: in accordance with fact or reality [tru]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• on: used to indicate a surface or location [ɔn]
• that: refers to something previously mentioned or understood [ðət]
• you: refers to the person being addressed [ju]
• can't: contraction of 'cannot', meaning 'not able to' [kænt]
• have: auxiliary verb used to form perfect tenses [hæv]
• come: to move or travel towards a place [kəm]
• from: indicating the point of origin [frəm]
• very: to a great degree [ˈvɛri]
• far: a long distance [fɑr]
• away: to or at a distance from a particular place [əˈweɪ]

And he sank into a reverie, which lasted a long time.

• And: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• he: refers to a male person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified [hi]
• sank: past tense of 'sink', to go down below the surface [sæŋk]
• into: expressing movement or action with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else [ˈɪntu]
• a: used before a noun to indicate one single thing [ə]
• reverie: a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream [ˈrɛvəri]
• which: used to introduce a relative clause referring to a thing or situation [wɪʧ]
• lasted: continued for a specified period of time [ˈlæstɪd]
• a: used before a noun to indicate one single thing [ə]
• long: measuring a great distance from end to end [lɔŋ]
• time: the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole [taɪm]

Then, taking my sheep out of his pocket, he buried himself in the contemplation of his treasure.

• Then: at that time; after that [ðɛn]
• taking: to get hold of something [ˈteɪkɪŋ]
• my: belonging to or associated with the speaker [maɪ]
• sheep: a domesticated ruminant animal with a thick woolly coat [ʃip]
• out: away from a place or position [aʊt]
• of: expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]
• his: belonging to or associated with a male person or animal previously mentioned [hɪz]
• pocket: a small bag sewn into or on clothing so as to form part of it, used for carrying small articles [ˈpɑkət]
• he: refers to a male person or animal previously mentioned or easily identified [hi]
• buried: past tense of 'bury', to put or hide underground [ˈbɛrid]
• himself: used as the object of a verb or preposition when the subject refers to the same male person [hɪmˈsɛlf]
• in: expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else [ɪn]
• the: referring to something definite or already specified [ðə]
• contemplation: the action of looking thoughtfully at something for a long time [ˌkɑntəmˈpleɪʃən]
• of: expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]
• his: belonging to or associated with a male person or animal previously mentioned [hɪz]
• treasure: a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects [ˈtrɛʒər]

You can imagine how my curiosity was aroused by this half-confidence about the "other planets." I made a great effort, therefore, to find out more on this subject.

• You: refers to the person being addressed [ju]
• can: expressing possibility or ability [kən]
• imagine: form a mental image or concept of something [ˌɪˈmæʤən]
• how: in what way or manner [haʊ]
• my: belonging to or associated with the speaker [maɪ]
• curiosity: a strong desire to know or learn something [ˌkjʊriˈɑsəti]
• was: past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]
• aroused: awaken or excite (a feeling, typically a strong one [əraʊzd]
• by: expressing the agent performing an action [baɪ]
• this: referring to something nearby or being mentioned [ðɪs]
• half-confidence: partially trusting or sure [half-confidence]
• about: concerning or regarding [əˈbaʊt]
• the: referring to something definite or already specified [ðə]
• other: used to refer to something that is different or remains [ˈəðər]
• planets: a celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star [ˈplænəts]
• I: the person speaking or writing [aɪ]
• made: past tense of 'make', to create or construct [meɪd]
• a: used before a noun to indicate one single thing [ə]
• great: of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the average [greɪt]
• effort: a vigorous or determined attempt [ˈɛfərt]
• therefore: for that reason; consequently [ˈðɛrˌfɔr]
• to: expressing motion in the direction of a particular location [tɪ]
• find: discover or perceive by chance or unexpectedly [faɪnd]
• out: away from a place or position [aʊt]
• more: a greater or additional amount or degree [mɔr]
• on: used to indicate a surface or location [ɔn]
• this: referring to something nearby or being mentioned [ðɪs]
• subject: a person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with [ˈsəbʤɪkt]

"My little man, where do you come from?

• My: belonging to or associated with the speaker [maɪ]
• little: small in size [ˈlɪtəl]
• man: an adult male human being [mæn]
• where: at or in what place or position [wɛr]
• do: used to form questions or negative statements [du]
• you: refers to the person being addressed [ju]
• come: to move or travel towards a place [kəm]
• from: indicating the point of origin [frəm]

What is this 'where I live,' of which you speak?

• What: asking for information specifying something [wət]
• is: present tense form of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]
• this: referring to something nearby or being mentioned [ðɪs]
• where: at or in what place or position [wɛr]
• I: the person speaking or writing [aɪ]
• live: to reside or dwell in a place [lɪv]
• of: expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]
• which: used to introduce a relative clause referring to a thing or situation [wɪʧ]
• you: refers to the person being addressed [ju]
• speak: say something in order to convey information or express a feeling [spik]

"The thing that is so good about the box you have given me is that at night he can use it as his house."

• The thing: refers to a particular object, matter, circumstance, or topic under consideration [ðə θɪŋ]
• that: introduces a relative clause, specifying or adding information about 'the thing' [ðət]
• is: linking verb, connecting the subject 'the thing' to its description [ɪz]
• so good: extremely positive or pleasing [soʊ gʊd]
• about: regarding or concerning [əˈbaʊt]
• the box: a container, typically rectangular, used for holding or carrying things [ðə bɑks]
• you have given me: you: the person being addressed; have given: past perfect tense indicating the action of giving completed before the present moment; me: the speaker or writer [ju hæv ˈgɪvɪn mi]
• is that: introduces the reason or explanation for why the box is so good [ɪz ðət]
• at night: during the nighttime [æt naɪt]
• he: refers to the subject, likely an animal or character, who uses the box [hi]
• can use: has the ability or permission to utilize [kən juz]
• it: refers back to 'the box' [ɪt]
• as: in the role or capacity of [ɛz]
• his house: the place where he lives or finds shelter [hɪz haʊs]

"That is so.

• That is so: an affirmation or agreement with a previous statement [ðət ɪz soʊ]

"Tie him!

• Tie him: Secure or fasten him with a rope or similar object [taɪ ɪm]

"But if you don't tie him," I said, "he will wander off somewhere, and get lost."

• But: introduces a contrast or contradiction [bət]
• if: introduces a conditional clause [ɪf]
• you don't tie: you: the person being addressed; don't tie: do not fasten or secure [ju doʊnt taɪ]
• him: refers to the subject, likely an animal or character [ɪm]
• I said: the speaker stated [aɪ sɛd]
• he will wander off: he: refers to the subject, likely an animal or character; will wander off: will move aimlessly away from a place [hi wɪl ˈwɑndər ɔf]
• somewhere: to an unspecified or unknown place [ˈsəmˌwɛr]
• and: used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]
• get lost: become unable to find one's way [gɪt lɔst]

My friend broke into another peal of laughter:

• My friend: a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection [maɪ frɛnd]
• broke into: suddenly began to express [broʊk ˈɪntu]
• another peal of laughter: a loud and prolonged burst of laughter [əˈnəðər pil əv ˈlæftər]

"But where do you think he would go?"

• But: introduces a contrast or contradiction [bət]
• where: in what place or position [wɛr]
• do you think: what is your opinion or belief [du ju θɪŋk]
• he would go: he: refers to the subject, likely an animal or character; would go: where he is likely to move or travel [hi wʊd goʊ]

"Anywhere.

• Anywhere: in or to any place [ˈɛniˌwɛr]

Then the little prince said, earnestly:

• Then: at that time; next [ðɛn]
• the little prince: a young, important character, often used in literature to represent innocence and wisdom [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• said: uttered words; spoke [sɛd]
• earnestly: in a serious and sincere manner [ˈərnəstli]

"That doesn't matter.

• That: referring to something previously mentioned [ðət]
• doesn't matter: is not important; is of no consequence [ˈdəzənt ˈmætər]

And, with perhaps a hint of sadness, he added:

• And: used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]
• with: accompanied by [wɪθ]
• perhaps: possibly; maybe [pərˈhæps]
• a hint of: a slight indication or suggestion of [ə hɪnt əv]
• sadness: the state of being unhappy or sorrowful [ˈsædnəs]
• he added: he said something more [hi ˈædɪd]

"Straight ahead of him, nobody can go very far..."

• Straight ahead: directly in front [streɪt əˈhɛd]
• of him: referring to a person [əv ɪm]
• nobody: no person; no one [ˈnoʊˌbɑˌdi]
• can go: is able to travel [kən goʊ]
• very far: a great distance [ˈvɛri fɑr]

IV

I had thus learned a second fact of great importance: this was that the planet the little prince came from was scarcely any larger than a house!

• I had thus learned: I had therefore discovered [aɪ hæd ðəs ˈlərnɪd]
• a second fact: another piece of information [ə ˈsɛkənd fækt]
• of great importance: very significant; very crucial [əv greɪt ˌɪmˈpɔrtəns]
• this was that: the fact was that [ðɪs wɑz ðət]
• the planet: a celestial body orbiting a star [ðə ˈplænət]
• the little prince: a young, important character, often used in literature to represent innocence and wisdom [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• came from: originated from; was from [keɪm frəm]
• was scarcely any larger: was barely bigger [wɑz ˈskɛrsli ˈɛni ˈlɑrʤər]
• than a house: in comparison to the size of a house [ðən ə haʊs]

But that did not really surprise me much.

• But: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]
• that: referring to something previously mentioned [ðət]
• did not really surprise: did not truly amaze [dɪd nɑt ˈrɪli səˈpraɪz]
• me much: me to a great extent [mi məʧ]

I knew very well that in addition to the great planets — such as the Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Venus — to which we have given names, there are also hundreds of others, some of which are so small that one has a hard time seeing them through the telescope.

• I knew: I was aware [aɪ nu]
• very well: thoroughly; completely [ˈvɛri wɛl]
• that: introducing a clause [ðət]
• in addition to: besides; as well as [ɪn əˈdɪʃən tɪ]
• the great planets: the large celestial bodies [ðə greɪt ˈplænəts]
• such as: for example [səʧ ɛz]
• the Earth: the planet we live on [ðə ərθ]
• Jupiter: a large planet in our solar system [ˈʤupɪtər]
• Mars: a planet in our solar system, known as the "Red Planet" [mɑrz]
• Venus: a planet in our solar system, often called the "Morning Star" or "Evening Star" [ˈvinəs]
• to which: to which ones [tɪ wɪʧ]
• we have given names: we have assigned labels [wi hæv ˈgɪvɪn neɪmz]
• there are: there exist [ðɛr ər]
• also: in addition; too [ˈɔlsoʊ]
• hundreds of others: many more [ˈhənərdz əv ˈəðərz]
• some of which: a portion of which [səm əv wɪʧ]
• are so small: are very tiny [ər soʊ smɔl]
• that: to such a degree that [ðət]
• one: a person; anyone [wən]
• has a hard time: finds it difficult [həz ə hɑrd taɪm]
• seeing them: observing them [siɪŋ ðɛm]
• through the telescope: using an optical instrument to view distant objects [θru ðə ˈtɛləˌskoʊp]

When an astronomer discovers one of these he does not give it a name, but only a number.

• When: at the time that [wɪn]
• an astronomer: a scientist who studies celestial objects [ən əˈstrɑnəmər]
• discovers: finds; locates [dɪˈskəvərz]
• one of these: one of these planets [wən əv ðiz]
• he does not give: he does not assign [hi dɪz nɑt gɪv]
• it a name: a proper noun [ɪt ə neɪm]
• but: instead [bət]
• only: just [ˈoʊnli]
• a number: a numerical designation [ə ˈnəmbər]

Telescope.jpg

I have serious reason to believe that the planet from which the little prince came is the asteroid known as B-612.

• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• have: to possess; to hold [hæv]
• serious reason: a significant cause or justification [ˈsɪriəs ˈrizən]
• to believe: to accept as true; to have faith in [tɪ bɪˈliv]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• the planet: a celestial body orbiting a star [ðə ˈplænət]
• from which: relative pronoun indicating origin [frəm wɪʧ]
• the little prince: a young, often idealized, ruler or character [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]
• came: past tense of 'come'; to originate from [keɪm]
• is: linking verb [ɪz]
• the asteroid: a small rocky body orbiting the sun [ðə ˈæstərˌɔɪd]
• known as: referred to as; identified as [noʊn ɛz]
• B-612: a specific designation or name [b-612]