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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 She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
end
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From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
file
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
fit
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From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
grooves
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From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
handbag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
improvise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
instrument
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
insufficient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
jagged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
Lois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
nail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
prevented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
sash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
screw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
screwdriver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
screwed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
screws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
slats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had found in her little handbag a small nail file.
snapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The snapping of the file was an easy matter, but when she came to fit the jagged end in the screws, she found both the instrument and her strength insufficient for the purpose.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows could be broken, but they were scarcely a foot wide.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She tried another screw with no better result, and finally gave up her task in despair.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The slats that prevented the windows opening had been screwed into the sash grooves, and Lois guessed that by breaking off the point of the file she would be able to improvise a screwdriver.
