The bird(Refers to a specific bird, indicating the subject of the sentence [ðə bərd]) went higher(moved to a greater altitude [wɛnt haɪər]) in the air(specifies the location of the bird's movement [ɪn ðə ɛr]) and circled(moved in a circular path [ənd ˈsərkəld]) again(repeated the circular movement [əˈgɛn]), his wings(possessive pronoun referring to the bird's wings [hɪz wɪŋz]) motionless(without movement; still [ˈmoʊʃənləs]). Then he dove(Suddenly descended or plunged downwards [ðɛn hi dəv]) suddenly(quickly and unexpectedly [ˈsədənli]) and the old man(introduces another character in the scene [ənd ðə oʊld mæn]) saw(perceived with his eyes [sɔ]) flying fish(fish that can leap out of the water and glide through the air [flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]) spurt out(suddenly emerge or burst forth [spərt aʊt]) of the water(indicates the origin of the flying fish [əv ðə ˈwɔtər]) and sail(glide or move smoothly through the air [ənd seɪl]) desperately(with great urgency or effort [ˈdɛspərətli]) over the surface(above the top layer of the water [ˈoʊvər ðə ˈsərfəs]).
''Dolphin(The old man identifies the creature as a dolphin [ˈdɑlfən]),'' the old man(refers to the character [ðə oʊld mæn]) said aloud(spoke in a voice loud enough to be heard [sɛd əˈlaʊd]). ''Big dolphin(He emphasizes the size of the dolphin [bɪg ˈdɑlfən]).''
He shipped his oars(He lifted his oars out of the water and brought them into the boat [hi ʃɪpt hɪz ɔrz]) and brought(and retrieved [ənd brɔt]) a small line(a thin rope or cord used for fishing [ə smɔl laɪn]) from under the bow(from beneath the front part of the boat [frəm ˈəndər ðə boʊ]). It had(The line possessed [ɪt hæd]) a wire leader(a short length of wire attached to the fishing line to prevent the fish from biting through it [ə waɪər ˈlidər]) and a medium-sized hook(a hook of average size used for catching fish [ənd ə medium-sized hʊk]) and he baited it(He attached bait to the hook [ənd hi ˈbeɪtɪd ɪt]) with one of the sardines(using a sardine as bait [wɪθ wən əv ðə sɑrˈdinz]). He let it go(He released the line and hook [hi lɛt ɪt goʊ]) over the side(over the edge of the boat [ˈoʊvər ðə saɪd]) and then made it fast(and then secured it tightly [ənd ðɛn meɪd ɪt fæst]) to a ring bolt(to a metal ring fixed to the boat [tɪ ə rɪŋ boʊlt]) in the stern(at the back of the boat [ɪn ðə stərn]). Then he baited(Next, he prepared bait [ðɛn hi ˈbeɪtɪd]) another line(a different fishing line [əˈnəðər laɪn]) and left it coiled(and placed it in a circular or spiral arrangement [ənd lɛft ɪt kɔɪld]) in the shade of the bow(in the shaded area at the front of the boat [ɪn ðə ʃeɪd əv ðə boʊ]). He went back(He returned [hi wɛnt bæk]) to rowing(to propelling the boat with oars [tɪ roʊɪŋ]) and to watching(and to observing [ənd tɪ ˈwɑʧɪŋ]) the long-winged black bird(a bird with long wings and black plumage [ðə long-winged blæk bərd]) who was working, now(which was actively hunting or searching for food [hu wɑz ˈwərkɪŋ naʊ]), low over the water(flying close to the surface of the water [loʊ ˈoʊvər ðə ˈwɔtər]).
As(conjunction used to indicate that two events happen at the same time [ɛz]) he(third-person singular pronoun referring to the old man or another male character [hi]) watched(past tense of 'watch', meaning to observe something [wɔʧt]) the bird(a general reference to a bird, likely the one previously mentioned [ðə bərd]) dipped(past tense of 'dip', meaning to move downwards quickly [dɪpt]) again(once more; repeating an action [əˈgɛn]) slanting(present participle of 'slant', meaning to incline or angle [sˈlæntɪŋ]) his(possessive pronoun referring to the bird [hɪz]) wings(plural of 'wing', referring to the bird's wings [wɪŋz]) for(preposition indicating purpose [fər]) the dive(a rapid descent through the air [ðə daɪv]) and(conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]) then(adverb indicating sequence [ðɛn]) swinging(present participle of 'swing', meaning to move back and forth [sˈwɪŋɪŋ]) them(pronoun referring to the wings [ðɛm]) wildly(in an uncontrolled manner [ˈwaɪldli]) and(conjunction connecting two adjectives [ənd]) ineffectually(without producing the desired effect [ineffectually]) as(conjunction indicating simultaneous action [ɛz]) he(pronoun referring to the bird [hi]) followed(past tense of 'follow', meaning to move behind or track [ˈfɑloʊd]) the flying fish(fish that can leap out of the water and glide through the air [ðə flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]). The old man(reference to the old man character [ðə oʊld mæn]) could see(past tense of 'can see', meaning was able to observe [kʊd si]) the slight bulge(a small swelling or protuberance [ðə slaɪt bəlʤ]) in the water(location of the bulge [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]) that(relative pronoun referring to the bulge [ðət]) the big dolphin(large marine mammal [ðə bɪg ˈdɑlfən]) raised(past tense of 'raise', meaning to cause to appear [reɪzd]) as(conjunction indicating simultaneous action [ɛz]) they(pronoun referring to the dolphins [ðeɪ]) followed(past tense of 'follow', meaning to move behind or track [ˈfɑloʊd]) the escaping fish(fish trying to avoid capture [ðə ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ fɪʃ]). The dolphin(plural of dolphin [ðə ˈdɑlfən]) were cutting(past continuous tense of 'cut', meaning moving through [wər ˈkətɪŋ]) through(preposition indicating movement within [θru]) the water(the body of water [ðə ˈwɔtər]) below(preposition indicating position underneath [bɪˈloʊ]) the flight(the act of flying [ðə flaɪt]) of the fish(belonging to the fish [əv ðə fɪʃ]) and(conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]) would be(conditional form of 'be', indicating a future possibility [wʊd bi]) in the water(location of the action [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]), driving(present participle of 'drive', meaning to move forcefully [ˈdraɪvɪŋ]) at speed(moving quickly [æt spid]), when(conjunction indicating time [wɪn]) the fish(referring to the flying fish [ðə fɪʃ]) dropped(past tense of 'drop', meaning to fall [drɑpt]). It(pronoun referring to the school [ɪt]) is(present tense of 'be' [ɪz]) a big school(a large group [ə bɪg skul]) of dolphin(belonging to dolphins [əv ˈdɑlfən]), he(pronoun referring to the old man [hi]) thought(past tense of 'think', meaning to have an opinion [θɔt]). They(pronoun referring to the dolphins [ðeɪ]) are(present tense of 'be' [ər]) widespread(distributed over a large area [ˈwaɪdˈsprɛd]) and(conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]) the flying fish(fish that can leap out of the water and glide through the air [ðə flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]) have(present tense of 'have', indicating possession [hæv]) little chance(small possibility of success [ˈlɪtəl ʧæns]). The bird(reference to the bird [ðə bərd]) has(present tense of 'have', indicating possession [həz]) no chance(zero possibility of success [noʊ ʧæns]). The flying fish(fish that can leap out of the water and glide through the air [ðə flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]) are(present tense of 'be' [ər]) too big(excessively large [tu bɪg]) for him(in relation to the bird [fər ɪm]) and(conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]) they(pronoun referring to the flying fish [ðeɪ]) go(present tense of 'go', meaning to move [goʊ]) too fast(excessively quickly [tu fæst]).
He(refers to a male person or character [hi]) watched(past tense of 'watch', meaning to look at something for a period of time [wɔʧt]) the flying fish(fish that can leap out of the water and glide through the air [ðə flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ]) burst out(to suddenly emerge or appear [bərst aʊt]) again and again(repeatedly; many times [əˈgɛn ənd əˈgɛn]) and(conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) the ineffectual movements(movements that are not producing any significant or desired effect [ðə ˌɪnəˈfɛkʧuəl ˈmuvmənts]) of the bird(referring to a specific bird [əv ðə bərd]). That school(referring to a group of fish [ðət skul]) has gotten away(past participle of 'get away', meaning to escape or leave [həz ˈgɔtən əˈweɪ]) from me(away from the speaker [frəm mi]), he thought(internal monologue of the character [hi θɔt]). They(referring to the school of fish [ðeɪ]) are moving out(to leave or depart from a place [ər ˈmuvɪŋ aʊt]) too fast(at an excessive speed [tu fæst]) and(conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) too far(at an excessive distance [tu fɑr]). But(conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]) perhaps(maybe; possibly [pərˈhæps]) I will pick up(to acquire or obtain something [aɪ wɪl pɪk əp]) a stray(something that has wandered away or been separated from its group [ə streɪ]) and(conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) perhaps(maybe; possibly [pərˈhæps]) my big fish(referring to a large fish the speaker is trying to catch [maɪ bɪg fɪʃ]) is around them(located near or in the vicinity of the school of fish [ɪz əraʊnd ðɛm]). My big fish(referring to a large fish the speaker is trying to catch [maɪ bɪg fɪʃ]) must be(expressing necessity or obligation [məst bi]) somewhere(in an unspecified or unknown place [ˈsəmˌwɛr]).
The clouds(visible masses of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere [ðə klaʊdz]) over the land(above the ground or earth [ˈoʊvər ðə lænd]) now(at the present time [naʊ]) rose(past tense of 'rise', meaning to increase in size or height [roʊz]) like mountains(resembling mountains in size or shape [laɪk ˈmaʊntənz]) and(conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) the coast(the land along the sea [ðə koʊst]) was(past tense of 'be' [wɑz]) only(merely; just [ˈoʊnli]) a long green line(a lengthy, verdant boundary [ə lɔŋ grin laɪn]) with(accompanied by [wɪθ]) the gray blue hills(hills with a grayish-blue color [ðə greɪ blu hɪlz]) behind it(at the back of it [bɪˈhaɪnd ɪt]). The water(a clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid [ðə ˈwɔtər]) was(past tense of 'be' [wɑz]) a dark blue(a deep shade of blue [ə dɑrk blu]) now(at the present time [naʊ]), so dark(to such a degree of darkness [soʊ dɑrk]) that(used to introduce a clause of result [ðət]) it was(referring to the water [ɪt wɑz]) almost purple(nearly the color purple [ˈɔlˌmoʊst ˈpərpəl]). As(while; when [ɛz]) he looked down(to direct one's gaze downward [hi lʊkt daʊn]) into it(into the water [ˈɪntu ɪt]) he saw(past tense of 'see', meaning to perceive with the eyes [hi sɔ]) the red sifting(the scattering or dispersing of red particles [ðə rɛd ˈsɪftɪŋ]) of the plankton(microscopic organisms drifting in water [əv ðə ˈplæŋktən]) in the dark water(water with little or no light [ɪn ðə dɑrk ˈwɔtər]) and(conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) the strange light(unusual or peculiar illumination [ðə streɪnʤ laɪt]) the sun made(produced by the sun [ðə sən meɪd]) now(at the present time [naʊ]). He watched(past tense of 'watch', meaning to look at something for a period of time [hi wɔʧt]) his lines(referring to fishing lines [hɪz laɪnz]) to see(in order to see [tɪ si]) them(referring to the fishing lines [ðɛm]) go straight down(to descend vertically [goʊ streɪt daʊn]) out of sight(no longer visible [aʊt əv saɪt]) into the water(into the body of water [ˈɪntu ðə ˈwɔtər]) and(conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) he was happy(feeling pleasure or contentment [hi wɑz ˈhæpi]) to see(in order to see [tɪ si]) so much plankton(a large quantity of microscopic organisms drifting in water [soʊ məʧ ˈplæŋktən]) because(for the reason that [bɪˈkəz]) it meant fish(it indicated the presence of fish [ɪt mɛnt fɪʃ]). The strange light(unusual or peculiar illumination [ðə streɪnʤ laɪt]) the sun made(produced by the sun [ðə sən meɪd]) in the water(in the body of water [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]), now that(since; because [naʊ ðət]) the sun(the star that provides light and heat to Earth [ðə sən]) was higher(at a greater altitude [wɑz haɪər]), meant(past tense of 'mean', meaning to signify or indicate [mɛnt]) good weather(pleasant atmospheric conditions [gʊd ˈwɛðər]) and(conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) so did(also did [soʊ dɪd]) the shape(the external form or outline [ðə ʃeɪp]) of the clouds(visible masses of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere [əv ðə klaʊdz]) over the land(above the ground or earth [ˈoʊvər ðə lænd]). But(conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]) the bird(a feathered animal [ðə bərd]) was(past tense of 'be' [wɑz]) almost out of sight(nearly invisible [ˈɔlˌmoʊst aʊt əv saɪt]) now(at the present time [naʊ]) and(conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) nothing(not anything; no single thing [ˈnəθɪŋ]) showed(past tense of 'show', meaning to be visible [ʃoʊd]) on the surface(the outermost layer or top part [ɔn ðə ˈsərfəs]) of the water(the body of water [əv ðə ˈwɔtər]) but(except; only [bət]) some patches(small areas or spots [səm ˈpæʧɪz]) of yellow(a bright color [əv ˈjɛloʊ]), sun-bleached(faded or lightened by the sun [sun-bleached]) Sargasso weed(a type of brown seaweed [sɑrˈgæsoʊ wid]) and(conjunction used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) the purple(a color between red and blue [ðə ˈpərpəl]), formalized(given a definite form or structure [ˈfɔrməˌlaɪzd]), iridescent(displaying a play of lustrous colors like those of the rainbow [ˌɪrəˈdɛsənt]), gelatinous bladder(a sac-like structure with a jelly-like consistency [ʤəˈlætənəs ˈblædər]) of a Portuguese man-of-war(a marine hydrozoan with a venomous sting [əv ə ˈpɔrʧəˌgiz man-of-war]) floating(resting or moving on the surface of a liquid without sinking [ˈfloʊtɪŋ]) dose beside(near or close to [doʊs ˌbiˈsaɪd]) the boat(a small vessel for traveling on water [ðə boʊt]). It(referring to the Portuguese man-of-war [ɪt]) turned(past tense of 'turn', meaning to change direction or orientation [tərnd]) on its side(onto one of its lateral surfaces [ɔn ɪts saɪd]) and then(after that [ənd ðɛn]) righted itself(returned to an upright position [ˈraɪtɪd ˌɪtˈsɛlf]). It(referring to the Portuguese man-of-war [ɪt]) floated(past tense of 'float', meaning to rest or move on the surface of a liquid without sinking [ˈfloʊtɪd]) cheerfully(in a happy or optimistic way [ˈʧɪrfəli]) as a bubble(like a globule of air or gas in a liquid [ɛz ə ˈbəbəl]) with(having; possessing [wɪθ]) its long deadly purple filaments(long, thin, poisonous threads of purple color [ɪts lɔŋ ˈdɛdli ˈpərpəl ˈfɪləmənts]) trailing(hanging or dragging behind [ˈtreɪlɪŋ]) a yard(a unit of length equal to 3 feet [ə jɑrd]) behind it(at the back of it [bɪˈhaɪnd ɪt]) in the water(in the body of water [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]).