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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 "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
ass
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From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
bells
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From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
bit
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From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
bleak
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From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
breakfast
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From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
unpleasantly cold
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
cold
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From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
comfortless
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From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
common
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From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
cover
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From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
Damer
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From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What shall we do? for I fear we shall be lost.'
driving
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From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
edge
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From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
fable
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From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
fall
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From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
fear
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From this reading What shall we do? for I fear we shall be lost.'
foals
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From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
following
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From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
heard
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From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
herbage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading What shall we do? for I fear we shall be lost.'
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
loiteringverbUS /ˈlɔɪtərɪŋ/
standing or moving slowly without a clear purpose
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
looking
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From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
lost
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From this reading What shall we do? for I fear we shall be lost.'
Miss
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From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading What shall we do? for I fear we shall be lost.'
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
shed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
sheep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
shepherd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
themes
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From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
tinkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ass turned her head, for she heard the tinkling of bells, and saw a shepherd driving sheep from the common.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What shall we do? for I fear we shall be lost.'
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
winds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'This is a comfortless life!' said the ass; 'the winds are chilly, the snow will soon fall, and we have not a shed to cover us!
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "One bleak, cold winter morning, an ass and her foals were loitering upon the edge of a wild common; not a tree was to be seen, and scarcely a bit of herbage for their breakfast to be found.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With some surprise, Miss Damer, in looking over the themes, read the following fable:
