The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway- page 19

The fish moved steadily and they travelled slowly on the calm water.

• The: definite article, referring to a specific fish [ðə]
• fish: aquatic animal [fɪʃ]
• moved: past tense of 'move', indicating movement [muvd]
• steadily: in a consistent and regular manner [ˈstɛdəli]
• and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
• they: pronoun, referring to the fish [ðeɪ]
• travelled: past tense of 'travel', indicating movement over a distance [ˈtrævəld]
• slowly: at a slow pace [sˈloʊli]
• on: preposition, indicating location or surface [ɔn]
• the calm water: water that is still and without waves [ðə kɑm ˈwɔtər]

The other baits were still in the water but there was nothing to be done.

• The: definite article, referring to specific baits [ðə]
• other: additional or remaining [ˈəðər]
• baits: something used to lure fish or animals [beɪts]
• were: past tense of 'be', indicating a state of being [wər]
• still: remaining in the same condition or place [stɪl]
• in: preposition, indicating location [ɪn]
• the water: the body of water being fished in [ðə ˈwɔtər]
• but: conjunction, introducing a contrasting statement [bət]
• there: used to indicate existence or presence [ðɛr]
• was: past tense of 'be', indicating a state of being [wɑz]
• nothing: not anything; no thing [ˈnəθɪŋ]
• to be done: something that can or should be done [tɪ bi dən]

''I wish I had the boy'' the old man said aloud. ''I'm being towed by a fish and I'm the towing bitt.

• I: first-person singular pronoun, the speaker [aɪ]
• wish: express a desire or hope for something [wɪʃ]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• had: past tense of 'have', indicating possession or presence [hæd]
• the boy: a young male person, specifically referring to someone the speaker wants with him [ðə bɔɪ]
• the: definite article, referring to a specific person [ðə]
• old: advanced in years; aged [oʊld]
• man: an adult male human [mæn]
• said: past tense of 'say', to utter words [sɛd]
• aloud: in a voice that can be heard [əˈlaʊd]
• I'm: contraction of 'I am', indicating the speaker's current state [əm]
• being: auxiliary verb, used to form continuous tenses [biɪŋ]
• towed: past participle of 'tow', being pulled by something [toʊd]
• by: preposition, indicating the agent or means [baɪ]
• a fish: an aquatic animal [ə fɪʃ]
• and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
• I'm: contraction of 'I am', indicating the speaker's current state [əm]
• the: definite article, referring to a specific item [ðə]
• towing: present participle of 'tow', the act of pulling [toʊɪŋ]
• bitt: a post or pair of posts on a ship for fastening ropes [bitt]

I could make the line fast.

• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• could: past tense of 'can', indicating possibility or ability [kʊd]
• make: to cause something to exist or happen [meɪk]
• the line: a rope or cord used for fishing [ðə laɪn]
• fast: securely fixed or attached [fæst]

But then he could break it.

• But: conjunction, introducing a contrasting statement [bət]
• then: at that time; also [ðɛn]
• he: pronoun, referring to the fish [hi]
• could: past tense of 'can', indicating possibility or ability [kʊd]
• break: to separate into pieces; to snap [breɪk]
• it: pronoun, referring to the line [ɪt]

I must hold him all I can and give him line when he must have it.

• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• must: expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
• hold: to grasp or support [hoʊld]
• him: pronoun, referring to the fish [ɪm]
• all: completely; entirely [ɔl]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• can: able to [kən]
• and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
• give: to provide or supply [gɪv]
• him: pronoun, referring to the fish [ɪm]
• line: fishing line [laɪn]
• when: at the time that [wɪn]
• he: pronoun, referring to the fish [hi]
• must: expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
• have: to possess or receive [hæv]
• it: pronoun, referring to the line [ɪt]

What I will do if he decides to go down, I don't know.

• What: used to ask for specific information [wət]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• will: auxiliary verb, expressing future tense [wɪl]
• do: to perform an action [du]
• if: conditional conjunction, introducing a condition [ɪf]
• he: pronoun, referring to the fish [hi]
• decides: third-person singular present of 'decide', to make a choice [ˌdɪˈsaɪdz]
• to: preposition, indicating direction or purpose [tɪ]
• go down: to descend into the water [goʊ daʊn]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• don't: contraction of 'do not', expressing negation [doʊnt]
• know: to be aware of something [noʊ]

What I'll do if he sounds and dies I don't know.

• What: used to ask for specific information [wət]
• I'll: contraction of 'I will', expressing future tense [aɪl]
• do: to perform an action [du]
• if: conditional conjunction, introducing a condition [ɪf]
• he: pronoun, referring to the fish [hi]
• sounds: to descend rapidly into the water [saʊnz]
• and: conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]
• dies: third-person singular present of 'die', to stop living [daɪz]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• don't: contraction of 'do not', expressing negation [doʊnt]
• know: to be aware of something [noʊ]

But I'll do something.

• But: conjunction, introducing a contrasting statement [bət]
• I'll: contraction of 'I will', expressing future tense [aɪl]
• do: to perform an action [du]
• something: an unspecified thing [ˈsəmθɪŋ]

There are plenty of things I can do.

• There: used to indicate existence or presence [ðɛr]
• are: plural present of 'be', indicating a state of being [ər]
• plenty: a large amount [ˈplɛnti]
• of: preposition, indicating quantity or origin [əv]
• things: objects or actions [θɪŋz]
• I: first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]
• can: able to [kən]
• do: to perform an action [du]

He held the line against his back and watched its slant in the water and the skiff moving steadily to the north-west.

• He: referring to a male person previously mentioned or known [hi]
• held: past tense of 'hold', meaning to grip or support [hɛld]
• the line: referring to the fishing line [ðə laɪn]
• against: in opposition to or in contact with [əˈgɛnst]
• his back: the rear part of his body [hɪz bæk]
• and: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• watched: past tense of 'watch', meaning to observe [wɔʧt]
• its slant: 'its' refers to the line; 'slant' means a sloping position [ɪts slænt]
• in the water: location of the slant [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]
• and: conjunction [ənd]
• the skiff: a small boat [ðə skɪf]
• moving: in the process of changing position [ˈmuvɪŋ]
• steadily: in a consistent and regular manner [ˈstɛdəli]
• to the north-west: direction; a point midway between north and west [tɪ ðə north-west]

This will kill him, the old man thought.

• This: referring to the current situation or the fish's actions [ðɪs]
• will kill: future tense of 'kill', meaning to cause death [wɪl kɪl]
• him: referring to the old man [ɪm]
• the old man: the elderly male character [ðə oʊld mæn]
• thought: past tense of 'think', meaning to have an opinion or belief [θɔt]

He can't do this forever.

• He: referring to the old man [hi]
• can't: contraction of 'cannot', meaning unable to [kænt]
• do: perform or carry out [du]
• this: referring to the current struggle or situation [ðɪs]
• forever: for all time; without end [fərˈɛvər]

But four hours later the fish was still swimming steadily out to sea, towing the skiff, and the old man was still braced solidly with the line across his back.

• But: conjunction introducing a contrasting statement [bət]
• four hours later: a period of time that has passed [fɔr aʊərz ˈleɪtər]
• the fish: the marine animal being caught [ðə fɪʃ]
• was still: remaining in the same state [wɑz stɪl]
• swimming: moving through water [sˈwɪmɪŋ]
• steadily: in a consistent and regular manner [ˈstɛdəli]
• out to sea: away from the shore and towards the open ocean [aʊt tɪ si]
• towing: pulling along behind [toʊɪŋ]
• the skiff: the small boat [ðə skɪf]
• and: conjunction [ənd]
• the old man: the elderly male character [ðə oʊld mæn]
• was still: remaining in the same state [wɑz stɪl]
• braced: supported or strengthened [breɪst]
• solidly: firmly and securely [ˈsɑlədli]
• with: accompanied by [wɪθ]
• the line: the fishing line [ðə laɪn]
• across: extending from one side to the other of [əˈkrɔs]
• his back: the rear part of his body [hɪz bæk]

''It was noon when I hooked him,'' he said. ''And I have never seen him.''

• It: Contraction of 'It is' [ɪt]
• was noon: the middle of the day; 12:00 PM [wɑz nun]
• when: at the time that [wɪn]
• I hooked: past tense of 'hook', meaning to catch with a hook [aɪ hʊkt]
• him: referring to the fish [ɪm]
• he: referring to the old man [hi]
• said: past tense of 'say', meaning to utter words [sɛd]
• And: conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]
• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• have never: at no time in the past [hæv ˈnɛvər]
• seen: past participle of 'see', meaning to perceive with the eyes [sin]
• him: referring to the fish [ɪm]

He had pushed his straw hat hard down on his head before he hooked the fish and it was cutting his forehead.

• He: referring to the old man [hi]
• had pushed: past perfect tense of 'push', meaning to exert force in order to move something away [hæd pʊʃt]
• his straw hat: a hat made of straw [hɪz strɔ hæt]
• hard: with great force or effort [hɑrd]
• down: in a downward direction [daʊn]
• on: positioned upon [ɔn]
• his head: the part of the body above the neck [hɪz hɛd]
• before: prior to [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• he hooked: past tense of 'hook', meaning to catch with a hook [hi hʊkt]
• the fish: the marine animal being caught [ðə fɪʃ]
• and: conjunction [ənd]
• it: referring to the hat [ɪt]
• was cutting: past continuous tense of 'cut', meaning to penetrate with a sharp edge [wɑz ˈkətɪŋ]
• his forehead: the part of the face above the eyes [hɪz ˈfɔrhɛd]

He was thirsty too and he got down on his knees and, being careful not to jerk on the line, moved as far into the bow as he could get and reached the water bottle with one hand.

• He: referring to the old man [hi]
• was thirsty: feeling a need to drink [wɑz ˈθərsti]
• too: also; in addition [tu]
• and: conjunction [ənd]
• he got down: past tense of 'get down', meaning to lower oneself [hi gɑt daʊn]
• on: supported by [ɔn]
• his knees: the joint between the thigh and the lower leg [hɪz niz]
• and: conjunction [ənd]
• being: in a state of [biɪŋ]
• careful: taking caution [ˈkɛrfəl]
• not to jerk: to avoid a sudden sharp movement [nɑt tɪ ʤərk]
• on the line: referring to the fishing line [ɔn ðə laɪn]
• moved: past tense of 'move', meaning to change position [muvd]
• as far: to the extent or degree of [ɛz fɑr]
• into the bow: the front part of the boat [ˈɪntu ðə boʊ]
• as: to the same degree or extent as [ɛz]
• he could get: the extent of his ability to reach [hi kʊd gɪt]
• and: conjunction [ənd]
• reached: past tense of 'reach', meaning to extend one's hand in order to touch or grasp something [riʧt]
• the water bottle: a container for holding water [ðə ˈwɔtər ˈbɑtəl]
• with one hand: using a single hand [wɪθ wən hænd]

He opened it and drank a little.

• He: referring to the old man [hi]
• opened: past tense of 'open', meaning to allow access [ˈoʊpənd]
• it: referring to the water bottle [ɪt]
• and: conjunction [ənd]
• drank: past tense of 'drink', meaning to swallow liquid [dræŋk]
• a little: a small amount [ə ˈlɪtəl]

Then he rested against the bow.

• Then: after that [ðɛn]
• he rested: past tense of 'rest', meaning to cease work or movement in order to relax [hi ˈrɛstɪd]
• against: in contact with [əˈgɛnst]
• the bow: the front part of the boat [ðə boʊ]

He rested sitting on the un-stepped mast and sail and tried not to think but only to endure.

• He rested: past tense of 'rest', meaning to cease work or movement in order to relax [hi ˈrɛstɪd]
• sitting: being in a seated position [ˈsɪtɪŋ]
• on: supported by [ɔn]
• the un-stepped mast: the mast that is not yet erected [ðə un-stepped mæst]
• and sail: the canvas used to catch the wind [ənd seɪl]
• and: conjunction [ənd]
• tried: past tense of 'try', meaning to make an attempt or effort [traɪd]
• not to think: to avoid engaging in conscious thought [nɑt tɪ θɪŋk]
• but: conjunction introducing a contrasting statement [bət]
• only: exclusively; merely [ˈoʊnli]
• to endure: to suffer patiently [tɪ ɪnˈdʊr]

Then he looked behind him and saw that no land was visible.

• Then: at that time; next [ðɛn]
• he: refers to a male person or animal previously mentioned or known [hi]
• looked: past tense of 'look', meaning to turn one's eyes in a specific direction [lʊkt]
• behind him: at the back of the person being referred to [bɪˈhaɪnd ɪm]
• and: used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]
• saw: past tense of 'see', meaning to perceive with the eyes [sɔ]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• no land: absence of any land [noʊ lænd]
• was visible: could be seen [wɑz ˈvɪzəbəl]

That makes no difference, he thought.

• That: referring to the previous statement [ðət]
• makes no difference: is not important; does not matter [meɪks noʊ ˈdɪfərəns]
• he: referring to the same male person as before [hi]
• thought: past tense of 'think', meaning to have an opinion or belief [θɔt]

I can always come in on the glow from Havana.

• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• can: expresses ability or possibility [kən]
• always: at all times; on all occasions [ˈɔlˌweɪz]
• come in: to arrive or enter [kəm ɪn]
• on: supported by [ɔn]
• the glow: a steady radiance of light or heat [ðə gloʊ]
• from: indicating the origin or source [frəm]
• Havana: referring to the city of Havana, likely used as a point of reference for navigation [həˈvænə]

There are two more hours before the sun sets and maybe he will come up before that.

• There: used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛr]
• are: present tense of 'be' [ər]
• two more hours: an additional two hours [tu mɔr aʊərz]
• before: earlier than [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• the sun: the star that provides light and heat to Earth [ðə sən]
• sets: goes down below the horizon [sɛts]
• and: connecting words or clauses [ənd]
• maybe: perhaps; possibly [ˈmeɪbi]
• he: referring to the fish [hi]
• will come up: will rise to the surface [wɪl kəm əp]
• before: earlier than [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• that: referring to the sunset [ðət]

If he doesn't maybe he will come up with the moon.

• If: introducing a conditional clause [ɪf]
• he: referring to the fish [hi]
• doesn't: contraction of 'does not' [ˈdəzənt]
• maybe: perhaps; possibly [ˈmeɪbi]
• he: referring to the fish [hi]
• will come up: will rise to the surface [wɪl kəm əp]
• with: in the company of; along with [wɪθ]
• the moon: the natural satellite of Earth [ðə mun]

If he does not do that maybe he will come up with the sunrise.

• If: introducing a conditional clause [ɪf]
• he: referring to the fish [hi]
• does not: negative form of 'do' [dɪz nɑt]
• do that: referring to coming up with the moon [du ðət]
• maybe: perhaps; possibly [ˈmeɪbi]
• he: referring to the fish [hi]
• will come up: will rise to the surface [wɪl kəm əp]
• with: in the company of; along with [wɪθ]
• the sunrise: the time when the sun appears above the horizon in the morning [ðə ˈsənˌraɪz]

I have no cramps and I feel strong.

• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• have no cramps: do not have muscle spasms [hæv noʊ kræmps]
• and: connecting words or clauses [ənd]
• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• feel: experience a particular sensation or emotion [fil]
• strong: having the power to move heavy weights or perform physically demanding tasks [strɔŋ]

It is he that has the hook in his mouth.

• It: referring to the situation [ɪt]
• is he: emphasizing that it is the fish [ɪz hi]
• that: introduces a relative clause [ðət]
• has: possesses [həz]
• the hook: a curved piece of metal used for catching fish [ðə hʊk]
• in his mouth: inside the fish's mouth [ɪn hɪz maʊθ]

But what a fish to pull like that.

• But: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said before [bət]
• what a fish: expressing admiration or surprise at the size or strength of the fish [wət ə fɪʃ]
• to pull: to exert force on so as to move towards oneself [tɪ pʊl]
• like that: in that manner; to that extent [laɪk ðət]

He must have his mouth shut tight on the wire.

• He: referring to the fish [hi]
• must: expressing necessity or obligation [məst]
• have: to possess [hæv]
• his mouth: the opening through which the fish eats [hɪz maʊθ]
• shut tight: closed firmly and securely [ʃət taɪt]
• on: in contact with [ɔn]
• the wire: the fishing line [ðə waɪər]

I wish I could see him.

• I wish: expressing a desire or hope [aɪ wɪʃ]
• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• could see: were able to see [kʊd si]
• him: referring to the fish [ɪm]

I wish I could see him only once to know what I have against me.

• I wish: expressing a desire or hope [aɪ wɪʃ]
• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• could see: were able to see [kʊd si]
• him: referring to the fish [ɪm]
• only once: just one time [ˈoʊnli wəns]
• to know: in order to understand [tɪ noʊ]
• what: the thing or things that [wət]
• I: the speaker or writer [aɪ]
• have: possess [hæv]
• against me: opposing or competing with me [əˈgɛnst mi]