The(definite article, referring to a specific old man [ðə]) old man(an elderly male [oʊld mæn]) settled himself(made himself comfortable; prepared himself [ˈsɛtəld hɪmˈsɛlf]) to steer(to control the direction of a boat or vehicle [tɪ stɪr]). He(referring to the old man [hi]) did not even watch(did not pay attention to [dɪd nɑt ˈivɪn wɔʧ]) the big shark(a large shark [ðə bɪg ʃɑrk]) sinking slowly(descending gradually beneath the surface [ˈsɪŋkɪŋ sˈloʊli]) in the water(within the body of water [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]), showing(revealing; displaying [ʃoʊɪŋ]) first life-size(initially appearing as its actual size [fərst life-size]), then small(becoming smaller in appearance [ðɛn smɔl]), then tiny(becoming very small in appearance [ðɛn ˈtaɪni]). That(referring to the shark's diminishing appearance [ðət]) always fascinated(consistently intrigued or captivated [ˈɔlˌweɪz ˈfæsəˌneɪtɪd]) the old man(the elderly male [ðə oʊld mæn]). But(however; nevertheless [bət]) he(referring to the old man [hi]) did not even watch(did not pay attention to [dɪd nɑt ˈivɪn wɔʧ]) it(referring to the shark [ɪt]) now(at this time; currently [naʊ]).
''I(first-person singular pronoun, referring to the speaker [aɪ]) have(possess; hold [hæv]) the gaff(a hooked pole for landing large fish [ðə gæf]) now(at this time [naʊ]),'' he(referring to the old man [hi]) said(uttered; spoke [sɛd]). ''But(however [bət]) it(referring to the gaff [ɪt]) will do(will be effective; will help [wɪl du]) no good(not effective; useless [noʊ gʊd]). I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) have(possess [hæv]) the two oars(two paddles used for rowing [ðə tu ɔrz]) and(conjunction, connecting items [ənd]) the tiller(a lever used to steer a boat [ðə ˈtɪlər]) and(conjunction [ənd]) the short club(a small, heavy stick used as a weapon [ðə ʃɔrt kləb]).''
Now(at this time; currently [naʊ]) they(referring to the sharks [ðeɪ]) have beaten(have defeated [hæv ˈbitən]) me(first-person singular pronoun, object form [mi]), he(referring to the old man [hi]) thought(considered; believed [θɔt]). I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) am(first-person singular form of 'to be' [æm]) too old(advanced in age to the point of being unable [tu oʊld]) to club(to strike with a club [tɪ kləb]) sharks(plural of shark [ʃɑrks]) to death(until they die [tɪ dɛθ]). But(however [bət]) I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) will try(will attempt [wɪl traɪ]) it(referring to fighting the sharks [ɪt]) as long as(for the duration that [ɛz lɔŋ ɛz]) I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) have(possess [hæv]) the oars(the paddles for rowing [ðə ɔrz]) and(conjunction [ənd]) the short club(the small, heavy stick [ðə ʃɔrt kləb]) and(conjunction [ənd]) the tiller(the lever for steering [ðə ˈtɪlər]).
He(referring to the old man [hi]) put(placed [pʊt]) his hands(the ends of his arms, below the wrists [hɪz hænz]) in the water(into the sea [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]) again(once more; another time [əˈgɛn]) to soak(to immerse in liquid [tɪ soʊk]) them(referring to his hands [ðɛm]). It(referring to the time of day [ɪt]) was getting late(was approaching the end of the day [wɑz ˈgɪtɪŋ leɪt]) in the afternoon(the period between noon and evening [ɪn ðə ˌæftərˈnun]) and(conjunction [ənd]) he(referring to the old man [hi]) saw(perceived with his eyes [sɔ]) nothing(not anything [ˈnəθɪŋ]) but(except; only [bət]) the sea(the ocean [ðə si]) and(conjunction [ənd]) the sky(the atmosphere above the earth [ðə skaɪ]). There(used to indicate existence or presence [ðɛr]) was(past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]) more wind(a greater amount of moving air [mɔr wɪnd]) in the sky(in the atmosphere [ɪn ðə skaɪ]) than(used for comparison [ðən]) there(used to indicate existence or presence [ðɛr]) had been(past perfect tense of 'to be' [hæd bɪn]), and(conjunction [ənd]) soon(in a short time [sun]) he(referring to the old man [hi]) hoped(wished; desired [hoʊpt]) that(conjunction, introducing a clause [ðət]) he(referring to the old man [hi]) would see(would perceive with his eyes [wʊd si]) land(the part of the earth's surface that is not permanently covered by water [lænd]).
''You're(Contraction of 'you are', indicating the state of being tired [jʊr]) tired(Feeling weary or in need of rest [taɪərd]), old man(A term used to address an elderly man, possibly implying weakness or frailty [oʊld mæn]),'' he(Refers to the person speaking [hi]) said(Past tense of 'say', indicating that the person spoke the words [sɛd]). ''You're(Contraction of 'you are', indicating the state of being tired [jʊr]) tired(Feeling weary or in need of rest [taɪərd]) inside(Implies that the tiredness is not just physical but also emotional or spiritual [ˌɪnˈsaɪd]).''
The(Definite article, referring to specific sharks [ðə]) sharks(A type of predatory fish [ʃɑrks]) did not hit(Past tense negative form of 'hit', meaning they did not strike or attack [dɪd nɑt hɪt]) him(Refers to a male person, likely the old man [ɪm]) again(Once more; another time [əˈgɛn]) until(Up to a specific time [ənˈtɪl]) just before(Very close to a particular time [ʤɪst ˌbiˈfɔr]) sunset(The time when the sun goes down below the horizon [ˈsənˌsɛt]).
The(Definite article, referring to a specific old man [ðə]) old man(A man who is advanced in age [oʊld mæn]) saw(Past tense of 'see', meaning he visually perceived [sɔ]) the brown fins(The brownish-colored appendages of the sharks used for swimming [ðə braʊn fɪnz]) coming(Moving towards the observer [ˈkəmɪŋ]) along(Moving in a line or path [əˈlɔŋ]) the wide trail(The broad path or wake in the water [ðə waɪd treɪl]) the fish(Referring to the marlin the old man is trying to catch [ðə fɪʃ]) must make(Implies that the fish inevitably creates this trail [məst meɪk]) in the water(Specifies the location of the trail [ɪn ðə ˈwɔtər]). They(Refers to the sharks [ðeɪ]) were not(Negative form of 'were', indicating they were not doing something [wər nɑt]) even quartering(Not even approaching at an angle to intercept the scent [ˈivɪn quartering]) on the scent(Following the smell or trail of something [ɔn ðə sɛnt]). They(Refers to the sharks [ðeɪ]) were headed(Moving in a specific direction [wər ˈhɛdɪd]) straight(In a direct line [streɪt]) for(Towards a specific location [fər]) the skiff(A small boat [ðə skɪf]) swimming(Propelling themselves through the water [sˈwɪmɪŋ]) side by side(Next to each other [saɪd baɪ saɪd]).
He(Refers to the old man [hi]) jammed(Pushed forcefully [ʤæmd]) the tiller(A lever used to steer a boat [ðə ˈtɪlər]), made(Secured or fastened [meɪd]) the sheet(A rope used to control the sail [ðə ʃit]) fast(Tightly or securely [fæst]) and(Conjunction connecting two actions [ənd]) reached(Extended his arm [riʧt]) under(Beneath [ˈəndər]) the stem(The forward part of the boat [ðə stɛm]) for(In search of [fər]) the club(A heavy stick used as a weapon [ðə kləb]). It(Refers to the club [ɪt]) was(Past tense of 'is', indicating its state [wɑz]) an oar handle(The part of an oar that is held by hand [ən ɔr ˈhændəl]) from(Originating from [frəm]) a broken oar(An oar that is no longer intact [ə ˈbroʊkən ɔr]) sawed off(Cut off with a saw [sɔd ɔf]) to(Up to a certain length [tɪ]) about(Approximately [əˈbaʊt]) two and a half feet(A measurement of length, approximately 75 centimeters [tu ənd ə hæf fit]) in length(Specifies the measurement is of length [ɪn lɛŋθ]). He(Refers to the old man [hi]) could only use(Was limited to using [kʊd ˈoʊnli juz]) it(Refers to the club [ɪt]) effectively(In a way that produces the desired result [ˈifɛktɪvli]) with one hand(Using only one hand [wɪθ wən hænd]) because of(Due to [bɪˈkəz əv]) the grip(The way it is held [ðə grɪp]) of the handle(Referring to how the handle is held [əv ðə ˈhændəl]) and(Conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]) he(Refers to the old man [hi]) took(Grasped or held [tʊk]) good hold(A firm grip [gʊd hoʊld]) of it(Referring to the club [əv ɪt]) with his right hand(Using his right hand [wɪθ hɪz raɪt hænd]), flexing(Bending or tightening [ˈflɛksɪŋ]) his hand(The hand of the old man [hɪz hænd]) on it(Referring to the club [ɔn ɪt]), as(While [ɛz]) he(Refers to the old man [hi]) watched(Observed [wɔʧt]) the sharks(Referring to the sharks [ðə ʃɑrks]) come(Approach [kəm]). They(Refers to the sharks [ðeɪ]) were(Past tense of 'are', indicating their state [wər]) both(Referring to two sharks [boʊθ]) galanos(A type of shark [gəˈlɑnoʊs]).
I(the speaker or writer [aɪ]) must(expressing necessity or obligation [məst]) let(allow or permit [lɛt]) the first one(referring to the first shark [ðə fərst wən]) get(reach or attain a certain condition [gɪt]) a good hold(a firm grip or grasp [ə gʊd hoʊld]) and(used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) hit(strike forcefully [hɪt]) him(referring to the shark [ɪm]) on(indicating a surface or position [ɔn]) the point of the nose(the very tip of the nose [ðə pɔɪnt əv ðə noʊz]) or(used to link alternatives [ər]) straight across(directly over [streɪt əˈkrɔs]) the top of the head(the highest part of the head [ðə tɔp əv ðə hɛd]), he thought(expressing his internal thought [hi θɔt]).
The two sharks(referring to two sharks [ðə tu ʃɑrks]) closed together(moved closer to each other [kloʊzd təˈgɛðər]) and(connecting two related events [ənd]) as(while or when [ɛz]) he(referring to the person observing the sharks [hi]) saw(perceived with his eyes [sɔ]) the one nearest him(the shark closest to him [ðə wən ˈnɪrəst ɪm]) open his jaws(widen its mouth [ˈoʊpən hɪz ʤɔz]) and(connecting two actions [ənd]) sink them(plunge its teeth [sɪŋk ðɛm]) into(indicating entry or insertion [ˈɪntu]) the silver side of the fish(the flank of the fish, reflecting light [ðə ˈsɪlvər saɪd əv ðə fɪʃ]), he(referring to the person [hi]) raised(lifted up [reɪzd]) the club(a heavy stick used as a weapon [ðə kləb]) high(to a great vertical extent [haɪ]) and(connecting two actions [ənd]) brought it down(lowered it forcefully [brɔt ɪt daʊn]) heavy(with great force [ˈhɛvi]) and(connecting two descriptive words [ənd]) slamming(striking with great force [sˈlæmɪŋ]) onto(upon or on [ˈɔntu]) the top of the shark's broad head(the upper part of the shark's wide head [ðə tɔp əv ðə sharks brɔd hɛd]). He(referring to the person [hi]) felt(experienced through touch [fɛlt]) the rubbery solidity(a firm but flexible texture [ðə ˈrəbəri səˈlɪdəti]) as(when or while [ɛz]) the club came down(the club was brought down [ðə kləb keɪm daʊn]). But(however or nevertheless [bət]) he(referring to the person [hi]) felt(experienced through touch [fɛlt]) the rigidity of bone(the hardness of the bone [ðə rɪˈʤɪdəti əv boʊn]) too(also or in addition [tu]) and(connecting two related events [ənd]) he(referring to the person [hi]) struck(hit forcefully [strək]) the shark(referring to the shark [ðə ʃɑrk]) once more(again or one more time [wəns mɔr]) hard(with great force [hɑrd]) across(from one side to the other [əˈkrɔs]) the point of the nose(the tip of the nose [ðə pɔɪnt əv ðə noʊz]) as(while [ɛz]) he(referring to the person [hi]) slid down(moved downwards [slɪd daʊn]) from(indicating separation or removal [frəm]) the fish(referring to the fish [ðə fɪʃ]).