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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence.
aside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
become
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From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
certainly
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From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
awkward in movement or handling things
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
confidencenounUS /ˈconfidence/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
earn
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From this reading Would Gregor’s elderly mother now have to go and earn money?
earned
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From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
elderly
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From this reading Would Gregor’s elderly mother now have to go and earn money?
emergencies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
enable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would Gregor’s elderly mother now have to go and earn money?
Gregor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would Gregor’s elderly mother now have to go and earn money?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Would Gregor’s elderly mother now have to go and earn money?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
healthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence.
holiday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
lacking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
lot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
maintain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would Gregor’s elderly mother now have to go and earn money?
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Would Gregor’s elderly mother now have to go and earn money?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
self
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His father was healthy but old, and lacking in self confidence.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
strain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
touched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That’s to say, it was money that should not really be touched but set aside for emergencies; money to live on had to be earned.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
weight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the five years that he had not been working—the first holiday in a life that had been full of strain and no success—he had put on a lot of weight and become very slow and clumsy.
Wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Would Gregor’s elderly mother now have to go and earn money?
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This money, however, was certainly not enough to enable the family to live off the interest; it was enough to maintain them for, perhaps, one or two years, no more.
