''They(Quotation marks indicating the start of dialogue or internal thought, followed by the pronoun 'They' referring to unspecified individuals [ðeɪ]) must have taken(Expressing a deduction or strong possibility about a past action [məst hæv ˈteɪkən]) a quarter of him(Referring to a significant portion (one-fourth) of the fish [ə kˈwɔrtər əv ɪm]) and of the best meat(Indicates that the portion taken was of high quality [ənd əv ðə bɛst mit]),'' (Quotation marks indicating the end of the quoted section)he said aloud(Indicates that the character spoke audibly [hi sɛd əˈlaʊd]). ''I wish(Expressing a desire or hope [aɪ wɪʃ]) it were a dream(Wishing the current situation was unreal [ɪt wər ə drim]) and that I had never hooked him(Expressing regret for catching the fish [ənd ðət aɪ hæd ˈnɛvər hʊkt ɪm]). I'm sorry(Expressing remorse or regret [əm ˈsɑri]) about it(Referring to the situation with the fish [əˈbaʊt ɪt]), fish(Addressing the fish directly [ fɪʃ]). It makes everything wrong(Expressing the feeling that the situation has negatively impacted everything [ɪt meɪks ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ rɔŋ]).'' (Quotation marks indicating the end of the quoted section)He stopped(Indicates a pause in the character's actions [hi stɑpt]) and he did not want to look at the fish now(Expressing the character's reluctance to face the reality of the situation [ənd hi dɪd nɑt wɔnt tɪ lʊk æt ðə fɪʃ naʊ]). Drained of blood(Describing the fish's condition after losing blood [dreɪnd əv bləd]) and awash(Covered with water [ənd əˈwɑʃ]) he looked the colour of the silver backing of a minor(Describing the fish's appearance, comparing it to silver [hi lʊkt ðə ˈkələr əv ðə ˈsɪlvər ˈbækɪŋ əv ə ˈmaɪnər]) and his stripes still showed(Despite the fish's condition, its stripes were still visible [ənd hɪz straɪps stɪl ʃoʊd]).
''I shouldn't have gone out so far, fish(Expressing regret for venturing too far out to sea, addressing the fish directly [aɪ ˈʃʊdənt hæv gɔn aʊt soʊ fɑr fɪʃ]),'' (Quotation marks indicating the end of the quoted section)he said(Indicates who is speaking [hi sɛd]). ''Neither for you nor for me(Expressing that the decision was detrimental to both the speaker and the fish [ˈniðər fər ju nɔr fər mi]). I'm sorry, fish(Expressing remorse and apologizing to the fish [əm ˈsɑri fɪʃ]).''
Now(Indicates a transition to a new thought or action [naʊ]), he said to himself(Indicates internal dialogue [ hi sɛd tɪ hɪmˈsɛlf]). Look to the lashing on the knife(Instructing to examine the binding on the knife [lʊk tɪ ðə ˈlæʃɪŋ ɔn ðə naɪf]) and see if it has been cut(Checking if the lashing has been damaged [ənd si ɪf ɪt həz bɪn kət]). Then get your hand in order(Prepare your hand for the task ahead [ðɛn gɪt jʊr hænd ɪn ˈɔrdər]) because there still is more to come(Anticipating further challenges or difficulties [bɪˈkəz ðɛr stɪl ɪz mɔr tɪ kəm]).
''I wish I had a stone for the knife(Expresses a desire to possess a sharpening stone for the knife. 'I wish' indicates a longing for something not currently possessed. [aɪ wɪʃ aɪ hæd ə stoʊn fər ðə naɪf]),'' the old man said(Attribution of the preceding statement to an elderly male. [ðə oʊld mæn sɛd]) after he had checked the lashing on the oar butt(Indicates the sequence of events; the old man spoke after inspecting the rope securing the oar to its base. 'Lashing' refers to the rope or cord used to fasten or bind something. 'Oar butt' is the thicker end of the oar. [ˈæftər hi hæd ʧɛkt ðə ˈlæʃɪŋ ɔn ðə ɔr bət]). ''I should have brought a stone(Expresses regret for not bringing a sharpening stone. 'Should have brought' indicates a missed opportunity or a past action that would have been beneficial. [aɪ ʃʊd hæv brɔt ə stoʊn]).'' You should have brought many things, he thought(Internal monologue expressing the belief that more items should have been brought along. [ju ʃʊd hæv brɔt ˈmɛni θɪŋz hi θɔt]). But you did not bring them, old man(Reinforces the fact that the items were not brought, addressing himself as 'old man'. [bət ju dɪd nɑt brɪŋ ðɛm oʊld mæn]). Now is no time to think of what you do not have(Admonishes against dwelling on what is lacking. [naʊ ɪz noʊ taɪm tɪ θɪŋk əv wət ju du nɑt hæv]). Think of what you can do with what there is(Encourages focusing on the available resources and potential actions. [θɪŋk əv wət ju kən du wɪθ wət ðɛr ɪz]).
''You give me much good counsel(Acknowledgement of receiving helpful advice. 'Counsel' refers to advice or guidance. [ju gɪv mi məʧ gʊd ˈkaʊnsəl]),'' he said aloud(Indicates that the statement was spoken audibly. [hi sɛd əˈlaʊd]). ''I'm tired of it(Expresses weariness or annoyance with the advice. 'I'm' is a contraction of 'I am'. [əm taɪərd əv ɪt]).''
He held the tiller under his arm(Describes the action of holding the steering lever beneath his arm. 'Tiller' is a lever used to steer a boat. [hi hɛld ðə ˈtɪlər ˈəndər hɪz ɑrm]) and soaked both his hands in the water(Describes the action of immersing his hands in the water. 'Soaked' means to be thoroughly wet. [ənd soʊkt boʊθ hɪz hænz ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]) as the skiff drove forward(Indicates that the small boat was moving ahead. 'Skiff' is a light rowing boat. 'Drove forward' means to move ahead with force or momentum. [ɛz ðə skɪf droʊv ˈfɔrwərd]).
''God knows how much that last one took(Expresses uncertainty about the quantity or extent of something, invoking divine knowledge. 'God knows' is an idiom indicating uncertainty or emphasis. 'Took' implies consumption or removal. [gɑd noʊz haʊ məʧ ðət læst wən tʊk]),'' he said(Attribution of the preceding statement to a male speaker. [hi sɛd]).
''But(Indicates a contrast or contradiction to a previous statement. The single quotes might indicate reported speech or thought. [bət]) she's(Contraction of 'she is', referring to a previously mentioned entity, likely the fish. [ʃiz]) much lighter(Significantly less heavy, indicating a loss of substance or weight. [məʧ ˈlaɪtər]) now.'' He(Refers to a male person, in this context, the protagonist. [hi]) did not want(Expressed a lack of desire or willingness. [dɪd nɑt wɔnt]) to think of(To consider or dwell on a particular subject. [tɪ θɪŋk əv]) the mutilated(Severely damaged or disfigured, often by violence. [ðə mˈjutəˌleɪtɪd]) under-side(The bottom surface or part. [under-side]) of the fish. He knew that each of(Every single one of a group or set. [ðət iʧ əv]) the jerking bumps(Sudden, erratic movements or impacts. 'Bumps' likely refers to the sharks bumping into the fish. [ðə ˈʤərkɪŋ bəmps]) of the shark(Referring to the sharks attacking the fish. [əv ðə ʃɑrk]) had been(Indicates a past action or state. [hæd bɪn]) meat torn away(Flesh ripped off, indicating the damage inflicted by the sharks. [mit tɔrn əˈweɪ]) and that(Connects two related clauses or ideas. [ənd ðət]) the fish(Referring to the marlin the old man caught. [ðə fɪʃ]) now made(Currently creates or produces. [naʊ meɪd]) a trail(A path or line left behind. [ə treɪl]) for all sharks(Intended for or attracting all sharks. [fər ɔl ʃɑrks]) as wide as(Having the same width or extent as. [ɛz waɪd ɛz]) a highway(A major road or route, implying a large and obvious path. [ə ˈhaɪˌweɪ]) through the sea.
He(Referring to a male person, in this context, the protagonist. [hi]) was(Past tense of the verb 'to be'. [wɑz]) a fish(Referring to the marlin. [ə fɪʃ]) to keep(Sufficient to provide for. [tɪ kip]) a man(Referring to the protagonist. [ə mæn]) all winter(Throughout the entire winter season. [ɔl ˈwɪntər]), he thought(Indicates the character's internal monologue. [hi θɔt]) Don't think(Imperative, meaning 'do not think'. [doʊnt θɪŋk]) of that. Just rest and try(Make an effort. [ənd traɪ]) to get(To reach a state or condition. [tɪ gɪt]) your hands(Referring to the protagonist's hands. [jʊr hænz]) in shape(In good condition or form. [ɪn ʃeɪp]) to defend(To protect from harm or attack. [tɪ dɪˈfɛnd]) what is left(The remaining portion. [wət ɪz lɛft]) of him. The blood smell from my hands(Originating from the protagonist's hands. [frəm maɪ hænz]) means nothing(Is of no significance or importance. [minz ˈnəθɪŋ]) now(At the present time. [naʊ]) with all that scent(Considering the strong odor. [wɪθ ɔl ðət sɛnt]) in the water. Besides they(Referring to the speaker's hands. [ðeɪ]) do not bleed(Do not lose blood. [du nɑt blid]) much. There is nothing cut(No wound or injury. [ˈnəθɪŋ kət]) that means(Which signifies or indicates. [ðət minz]) anything. The bleeding may keep(Might prevent. [meɪ kip]) the left(Referring to the left hand. [ðə lɛft]) from cramping.
What(used to ask for information about something [wət]) can(used to express possibility or ability [kən]) I(the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]) think of(to have an opinion about something or someone [θɪŋk əv]) now(at the present time; at this moment [naʊ])? he(referring to a male person or character [hi]) thought(past tense of 'think'; to have an opinion or belief [θɔt]). Nothing(not anything; no single thing [ˈnəθɪŋ]). I(the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]) must(expressing necessity or obligation [məst]) think of(to have an opinion about something or someone [θɪŋk əv]) nothing(not anything; no single thing [ˈnəθɪŋ]) and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) wait(to remain inactive or in a state of expectancy [weɪt]) for(expressing purpose or reason [fər]) the next ones(referring to the subsequent sharks or events [ðə nɛkst wənz]). I(the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]) wish(to want something that is unlikely to happen [wɪʃ]) it(referring to a previously mentioned thing or situation [ɪt]) had really been(expressing a past unreal condition [hæd ˈrɪli bɪn]) a dream(a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep [ə drim]), he(referring to a male person or character [hi]) thought(past tense of 'think'; to have an opinion or belief [θɔt]). But(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something previously said [bət]) who knows(an expression indicating uncertainty or lack of knowledge [hu noʊz])? It(referring to a previously mentioned thing or situation [ɪt]) might have turned out(expressing a possibility in the past [maɪt hæv tərnd aʊt]) well(in a good or satisfactory way [wɛl]).
The next shark(The subsequent shark; referring to the shark that appeared after the previous one [ðə nɛkst ʃɑrk]) that came(which arrived or approached [ðət keɪm]) was(past tense of 'be'; used to indicate existence or a state of being [wɑz]) a single shovelnose(one shark of the shovelnose species [ə ˈsɪŋgəl shovelnose]). He(referring to the shark [hi]) came(moved towards the speaker or a specified place [keɪm]) like(similar to; in the same way as [laɪk]) a pig(a domestic animal with a stout body and a blunt snout [ə pɪg]) to the trough(to a long, narrow open container used to hold food or water for animals [tɪ ðə trɔf]) if(introducing a conditional clause [ɪf]) a pig(a domestic animal with a stout body and a blunt snout [ə pɪg]) had(past tense of 'have'; to possess or hold [hæd]) a mouth(the opening in the face through which food is taken [ə maʊθ]) so wide(of great width; very broad [soʊ waɪd]) that(introducing a clause of result [ðət]) you(the person being addressed [ju]) could(past tense of 'can'; expressing possibility or ability in the past [kʊd]) put(to place something in a particular position [pʊt]) your head(the part of the body above the neck [jʊr hɛd]) in it(inside the shark's mouth [ɪn ɪt]). The old man(The elderly man; referring to a specific older male character [ðə oʊld mæn]) let(allowed [lɛt]) him(referring to the shark [ɪm]) hit(to strike or come into contact with force [hɪt]) the fish(the marlin [ðə fɪʃ]) and then(after that; subsequently [ənd ðɛn]) drove(past tense of 'drive'; to push or force something into a particular place [droʊv]) the knife(a tool with a blade used for cutting [ðə naɪf]) on the oar(using the oar as leverage or support [ɔn ðə ɔr]) don into(expressing movement or direction toward something [ˈɪntu]) his brain(the organ of the body in the head that controls functions, movements, sensations, and thoughts [hɪz breɪn]). But(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something previously said [bət]) the shark(a large marine fish with a cartilaginous skeleton, a prominent dorsal fin, and tooth-like scales [ðə ʃɑrk]) jerked backwards(moved suddenly and quickly in a backward direction [ʤərkt ˈbækwərdz]) as(while; at the same time as [ɛz]) he(referring to the shark [hi]) rolled(turned over or rotated [roʊld]) and(used to connect words or phrases [ənd]) the knife blade(the cutting part of the knife [ðə naɪf bleɪd]) snapped(broke suddenly and completely [snæpt]).