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The Brave Little Tailor
The Brave Little Tailor

Chapter IV

Chapter 4, section 1: ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee? There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’ The duck came to
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?
There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’
The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.
‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’
The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Brave Little Tailor

Chapter IV

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?
Line 2
There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’
Line 3
The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.
Line 4
‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’
Line 5
The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?”

Collocations
Little duckA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
duck littleA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 76

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

afar

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

back

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

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

bridge

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

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

came

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

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

dostauxiliary verbUS /dɑːst/

an old form of “do”, used with “thou”

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

duck

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

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

familiar

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

father's

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

forest

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

Gretel

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

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

Hansel

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

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

heavy

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

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

house

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

lengthnounUS /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

LittlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

more

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

once

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

other

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

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

plank

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

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

repliednounUS /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

safely

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

saw

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

seated

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

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

see

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

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

sight

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

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

sister

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

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

sit

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

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

TakenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

theepronounUS /ðiː/

an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

There's

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

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

thydeterminerUS /ðaɪ/

an old word for “your”, speaking to one person

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him.

too

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

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

waiting

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

From this reading ‘Little duck, little duck, dost thou see, Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?

walked

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and had walked for a short time, the forest seemed to be more and more familiar to them, and at length they saw from afar their father’s house.

white

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

From this reading There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight, Take us across on thy back so white.’

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Gretel, ‘that will be too heavy for the little duck; she shall take us across, one after the other.’