Chapter II · Boyhood Days

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The “L” stood for nothing.

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Most of the slaves had only one name.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Most of the slaves had only one name.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Most of the slaves had only one name.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The “L” stood for nothing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Most of the slaves had only one name.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The “L” stood for nothing.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

at the time that

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.