The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway- page 40

If the boy was here he would wet the coils of line, he thought.

• If: used to introduce a conditional clause [ɪf]
• the boy: a male child or young man [ðə bɔɪ]
• was: past tense of 'be', linking the subject to the description [wɑz]
• here: in or at this place [hir]
• he: refers to a male person or animal already mentioned or known [hi]
• would: expressing a conditional or possible event or situation [wʊd]
• wet: covered or saturated with water or another liquid [wɛt]
• the coils: a length of something wound or arranged in a spiral or sequence of rings [ðə kɔɪlz]
• of line: a length of cord or rope used for a particular purpose [əv laɪn]
• he: refers to a male person or animal already mentioned or known [hi]
• thought: past tense of 'think', meaning to have a particular belief or idea [θɔt]

Yes.

• Yes: used to express affirmation or agreement [jɛs]

If the boy were here.

• If: used to introduce a conditional clause [ɪf]
• the boy: a male child or young man [ðə bɔɪ]
• were: past subjunctive of 'be', used to express a hypothetical or conditional situation [wər]
• here: in or at this place [hir]

If the boy were here.

• If: used to introduce a conditional clause [ɪf]
• the boy: a male child or young man [ðə bɔɪ]
• were: past subjunctive of 'be', used to express a hypothetical or conditional situation [wər]
• here: in or at this place [hir]

The line went out and out and out but it was slowing now and he was making the fish earn each inch of it.

• The line: refers to the fishing line [ðə laɪn]
• went out: means the line was being pulled away from the boat or fisherman, indicating the fish was moving away [wɛnt aʊt]
• and out: repetition to emphasize the extent to which the line was being pulled out [ənd aʊt]
• and out: further emphasizes the continuous pulling of the line [ənd aʊt]
• but: indicates a contrast or change in the situation [bət]
• it: refers to the fish [ɪt]
• was slowing: means the fish's movement was decreasing in speed [wɑz sloʊɪŋ]
• now: indicates the present time or current situation [naʊ]
• and: connects two related events or conditions [ənd]
• he: refers to the fisherman [hi]
• was making: implies he was causing or forcing something to happen [wɑz ˈmeɪkɪŋ]
• the fish: refers to the fish he was trying to catch [ðə fɪʃ]
• earn: means the fish had to struggle or work hard [ərn]
• each inch: emphasizes the small increments of line the fish was gaining [iʧ ɪnʧ]
• of it: refers to the line [əv ɪt]

Now he got his head up from the wood and out of the slice of fish that his cheek had crushed.

• Now: indicates a change in the sequence of events [naʊ]
• he: refers to the fisherman [hi]
• got: past tense of 'get', meaning he moved or lifted [gɑt]
• his head up: refers to the fisherman lifting his head [hɪz hɛd əp]
• from the wood: indicates the fisherman's head was resting on a wooden part of the boat [frəm ðə wʊd]
• and: connects two actions [ənd]
• out of: meaning to move away from something [aʊt əv]
• the slice of fish: refers to a piece of fish, possibly used as bait or part of the fish he caught [ðə slaɪs əv fɪʃ]
• that: introduces a relative clause [ðət]
• his cheek: refers to the fisherman's cheek [hɪz ʧik]
• had crushed: means his cheek had pressed against and damaged the fish [hæd krəʃt]

Then he was on his knees and then he rose slowly to his feet.

• Then: indicates the next event in the sequence [ðɛn]
• he: refers to the fisherman [hi]
• was on his knees: indicates the fisherman was kneeling [wɑz ɔn hɪz niz]
• and: connects two actions [ənd]
• then: indicates the next event in the sequence [ðɛn]
• he: refers to the fisherman [hi]
• rose: past tense of 'rise', meaning he stood up [roʊz]
• slowly: indicates the action was performed at a slow pace [sˈloʊli]
• to his feet: meaning he stood up [tɪ hɪz fit]

He was ceding line but more slowly all he time. He worked back to where he could feel with his foot the coils of line that he could not see.

• He: refers to the fisherman [hi]
• was ceding: means he was allowing the line to be pulled out by the fish [wɑz ˈsidɪŋ]
• line: refers to the fishing line [laɪn]
• but: indicates a contrast [bət]
• more slowly: indicates the rate at which he was allowing the line to be pulled out was decreasing [mɔr sˈloʊli]
• he: refers to the fisherman [hi]
• worked back: means he moved back [wərkt bæk]
• to where: indicates the location [tɪ wɛr]
• he: refers to the fisherman [hi]
• could feel: means he was able to sense by touch [kʊd fil]
• with his foot: indicates he was using his foot to feel [wɪθ hɪz fʊt]
• the coils of line: refers to the loops of fishing line [ðə kɔɪlz əv laɪn]
• that: introduces a relative clause [ðət]
• he: refers to the fisherman [hi]
• could not see: means he was unable to see the line [kʊd nɑt si]

There was plenty of line still and now the fish had to pull the friction of all that new line through the water.

• There: indicates existence [ðɛr]
• was: past tense of 'is', indicating existence [wɑz]
• plenty of line: means there was a large amount of fishing line available [ˈplɛnti əv laɪn]
• still: indicates that the line was still available [stɪl]
• and: connects two related events or conditions [ənd]
• now: indicates the present time or current situation [naʊ]
• the fish: refers to the fish he was trying to catch [ðə fɪʃ]
• had to pull: means the fish was required to exert force to pull [hæd tɪ pʊl]
• the friction: refers to the resistance caused by the line moving through the water [ðə ˈfrɪkʃən]
• of all that new line: refers to the large amount of line that had been let out [əv ɔl ðət nu laɪn]
• through the water: indicates the medium through which the line was being pulled [θru ðə ˈwɔtər]

Yes, he thought.

• Yes: affirmative response or agreement [jɛs]
• he thought: indicates the character is thinking internally [ hi θɔt]

And now he has jumped more than a dozen times and filled the sacks along his back with air and he cannot go down deep to die where I cannot bring him up.

• And now: introduces a new development or consequence [ənd naʊ]
• he has jumped: indicates the fish has leaped out of the water [hi həz ʤəmpt]
• more than a dozen times: emphasizes the frequency of the fish's jumping [mɔr ðən ə ˈdəzən taɪmz]
• and filled the sacks along his back with air: describes the physical action of the fish, possibly referring to air bladders [ənd fɪld ðə sæks əˈlɔŋ hɪz bæk wɪθ ɛr]
• and he cannot go down deep to die: explains the consequence of the fish's actions; it can't descend to the depths to die [ənd hi ˈkænɑt goʊ daʊn dip tɪ daɪ]
• where I cannot bring him up: specifies the reason the fish can't die deep; the speaker can't retrieve it [wɛr aɪ ˈkænɑt brɪŋ ɪm əp]

He will start circling soon and then I must work on him.

• He will start circling soon: predicts the fish's next action [hi wɪl stɑrt ˈsərkəlɪŋ sun]
• and then I must work on him: indicates the speaker's plan to deal with the fish [ənd ðɛn aɪ məst wərk ɔn ɪm]

I wonder what started him so suddenly?

• I wonder what started him so suddenly: expresses the speaker's curiosity about the fish's behavior [aɪ ˈwəndər wət ˈstɑrtɪd ɪm soʊ ˈsədənli]

Could it have been hunger that made him desperate, or was he frightened by something in the night?

• Could it have been hunger that made him desperate: proposes a possible reason for the fish's behavior [kʊd ɪt hæv bɪn ˈhəŋgər ðət meɪd ɪm ˈdɛspərɪt]
• or was he frightened by something in the night: presents another possible reason for the fish's behavior [ ər wɑz hi ˈfraɪtənd baɪ ˈsəmθɪŋ ɪn ðə naɪt]

Maybe he suddenly felt fear.

• Maybe he suddenly felt fear: suggests a third possible reason [ˈmeɪbi hi ˈsədənli fɛlt fɪr]

But he was such a calm, strong fish and he seemed so fearless and so confident.

• But he was such a calm, strong fish: contrasts the fish's current behavior with its usual demeanor [bət hi wɑz səʧ ə kɑm strɔŋ fɪʃ]
• and he seemed so fearless and so confident: further emphasizes the fish's typical characteristics [ənd hi simd soʊ ˈfɪrləs ənd soʊ ˈkɑnfədənt]

It is strange.

• It is strange: expresses the speaker's bewilderment at the situation [ɪt ɪz streɪnʤ]

''You better be fearless and confident yourself, old man,'' he said. ''You're holding him again but you cannot get line.

• You better be fearless and confident yourself, old man: encouragement to remain brave and self-assured [ju ˈbɛtər bi ˈfɪrləs ənd ˈkɑnfədənt ˈjɔrsɛlf oʊld mæn]
• he said: indicates who is speaking [hi sɛd]
• You're holding him again but you cannot get line: describes the current situation of the fishing; the speaker is holding the fish but cannot reel it in [jʊr ˈhoʊldɪŋ ɪm əˈgɛn bət ju ˈkænɑt gɪt laɪn]

The old man held him with his left hand and his shoulders now and stooped down and scooped up water in his right hand to get the crushed dolphin flesh off of his face.

• The: Definite article, referring to a specific old man [ðə]
• old: Advanced in years; having lived for a long time [oʊld]
• man: Adult male human [mæn]
• held: Past tense of 'hold', meaning to grasp or support [hɛld]
• him: Referring to another male, likely the boy or someone else previously mentioned [ɪm]
• with: Preposition indicating accompaniment or means [wɪθ]
• his: Possessive pronoun, referring to the old man's [hɪz]
• left: The side of the body that is typically weaker or less coordinated [lɛft]
• hand: The part of the body at the end of the arm, used for grasping [hænd]
• and: Conjunction, connecting two similar elements [ənd]
• his: Possessive pronoun, referring to the old man's [hɪz]
• shoulders: The part of the body between the neck and the upper arm [ˈʃoʊldərz]
• now: At the present time [naʊ]
• and: Conjunction, connecting two actions [ənd]
• stooped: Past tense of 'stoop', meaning to bend the body forward and downward [stupt]
• down: In a downward direction [daʊn]
• and: Conjunction, connecting two actions [ənd]
• scooped: Past tense of 'scoop', meaning to take something up with a quick, curved movement [skupt]
• up: In an upward direction [əp]
• water: A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid [ˈwɔtər]
• in: Preposition indicating location or containment [ɪn]
• his: Possessive pronoun, referring to the old man's [hɪz]
• right: The side of the body that is typically stronger or more coordinated [raɪt]
• hand: The part of the body at the end of the arm, used for grasping [hænd]
• to: Preposition indicating purpose [tɪ]
• get: To obtain or acquire [gɪt]
• the: Definite article, referring to a specific [ðə]
• crushed: Past participle of 'crush', meaning to press or squeeze forcefully [krəʃt]
• dolphin: A marine mammal of the family Delphinidae [ˈdɑlfən]
• flesh: The soft substance of the body of a living animal or human being [flɛʃ]
• off: Away from; removed from [ɔf]
• of: Preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]
• his: Possessive pronoun, referring to the old man's [hɪz]
• face: The front part of the head [feɪs]

He was afraid that it might nauseate him and he would vomit and lose his strength.

• He: Pronoun referring to the old man [hi]
• was: Past tense of 'be' [wɑz]
• afraid: Feeling fear or apprehension [əˈfreɪd]
• that: Conjunction introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]
• it: Pronoun referring to the dolphin flesh [ɪt]
• might: Past tense of 'may', expressing possibility [maɪt]
• nauseate: To cause (someone) to feel sick to the stomach [ˈnɔziˌeɪt]
• him: Pronoun referring to the old man [ɪm]
• and: Conjunction, connecting two possible outcomes [ənd]
• he: Pronoun referring to the old man [hi]
• would: Auxiliary verb expressing a conditional or future action [wʊd]
• vomit: To eject matter from the stomach through the mouth [ˈvɑmət]
• and: Conjunction, connecting two possible outcomes [ənd]
• lose: To be deprived of or cease to have [luz]
• his: Possessive pronoun, referring to the old man's [hɪz]
• strength: The quality or state of being physically strong [strɛŋθ]

When his face was cleaned he washed his right hand in the water over the side and then let it stay in the salt water while he watched the first light come before the sunrise.

• When: Conjunction indicating time [wɪn]
• his: Possessive pronoun, referring to the old man's [hɪz]
• face: The front part of the head [feɪs]
• was: Past tense of 'be' [wɑz]
• cleaned: Past participle of 'clean', meaning to remove dirt or impurities [klind]
• he: Pronoun referring to the old man [hi]
• washed: Past tense of 'wash', meaning to clean with water [wɑʃt]
• his: Possessive pronoun, referring to the old man's [hɪz]
• right: The side of the body that is typically stronger or more coordinated [raɪt]
• hand: The part of the body at the end of the arm, used for grasping [hænd]
• in: Preposition indicating location or containment [ɪn]
• the: Definite article, referring to a specific [ðə]
• water: A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid [ˈwɔtər]
• over: Above or across [ˈoʊvər]
• the: Definite article, referring to a specific [ðə]
• side: A surface or edge of something [saɪd]
• and: Conjunction, connecting two actions [ənd]
• then: At that time; after that [ðɛn]
• let: Past tense of 'let', meaning to allow [lɛt]
• it: Pronoun referring to the right hand [ɪt]
• stay: To remain in a particular place or condition [steɪ]
• in: Preposition indicating location or containment [ɪn]
• the: Definite article, referring to a specific [ðə]
• salt: A white crystalline substance that gives seawater its characteristic taste [sɔlt]
• water: A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid [ˈwɔtər]
• while: Conjunction indicating time [waɪl]
• he: Pronoun referring to the old man [hi]
• watched: Past tense of 'watch', meaning to look at or observe [wɔʧt]
• the: Definite article, referring to a specific [ðə]
• first: Coming before all others in time or order [fərst]
• light: The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible [laɪt]
• come: To move or travel toward or into a place [kəm]
• before: Preposition indicating time or order [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• the: Definite article, referring to a specific [ðə]
• sunrise: The time when the sun appears above the horizon in the morning [ˈsənˌraɪz]

He's headed almost east, he thought.

• He's: Contraction of 'He is' [hiz]
• headed: Moving in a specified direction [ˈhɛdɪd]
• almost: Nearly; not quite [ˈɔlˌmoʊst]
• east: The direction toward the point of the horizon where the sun rises [ist]
• he: Pronoun referring to someone, likely the fish [hi]
• thought: Past tense of 'think', meaning to have an opinion or belief [θɔt]

That means he is tired and going with the current.

• That: Pronoun referring to the fish heading east [ðət]
• means: To signify or indicate [minz]
• he: Pronoun referring to the fish [hi]
• is: Present tense of 'be' [ɪz]
• tired: Feeling or showing a need for sleep or rest [taɪərd]
• and: Conjunction, connecting two conditions [ənd]
• going: Moving or traveling [goʊɪŋ]
• with: Preposition indicating accompaniment or means [wɪθ]
• the: Definite article, referring to a specific [ðə]
• current: A body of water or air moving in a definite direction [ˈkɑrənt]

Soon he will have to circle.

• Soon: In or after a short time [sun]
• he: Pronoun referring to the fish [hi]
• will: Auxiliary verb expressing future tense [wɪl]
• have: To possess or be obliged [hæv]
• to: Preposition indicating purpose [tɪ]
• circle: To move in a circular direction [ˈsərkəl]

Then our true work begins.

• Then: At that time; after that [ðɛn]
• our: Possessive pronoun, referring to a group including the speaker [ɑr]
• true: Genuine; real [tru]
• work: Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result [wərk]
• begins: To start; to come into existence [bɪˈgɪnz]

After he judged that his right hand had been in the water long enough he took it out and looked at it.

• After: Following in time or sequence [ˈæftər]
• he: Referring to a male person previously mentioned [hi]
• judged: Formed an opinion or estimation about [ʤəʤd]
• that: Introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]
• his: Belonging to him [hɪz]
• right hand: The hand on the right side of his body [raɪt hænd]
• had been: Past perfect tense of 'to be', indicating a state in the past [hæd bɪn]
• in the water: Submerged or located within water [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]
• long enough: For a sufficient duration [lɔŋ ɪˈnəf]
• he: Referring to the same male person [hi]
• took it out: Removed his hand from the water [tʊk ɪt aʊt]
• and: Conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• looked at it: Examined his hand visually [lʊkt æt ɪt]