Chapter I
Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me. I do not know. I never heard of things like them happening to any one else. But I am not sorry they did happen. I am in secret deeply and strangely glad.
The White People
Chapter I
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1 / 5
Perhaps
the
things
which
happened
could
only
have
happened
to
me.
I
do
not
know.
I
never
heard
of
things
like
them
happening
to
any
one
else.
But
I
am
not
sorry
they
did
happen.
I
am
in
secret
deeply
and
strangely
glad.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Line 1
Perhaps
the
things
which
happened
could
only
have
happened
to
me.
Line 2
I
do
not
know.
/aɪ duː nɑːt know/
Line 3
I
never
heard
of
things
like
them
happening
to
any
one
else.
Line 4
But
I
am
not
sorry
they
did
happen.
Line 5
I
am
in
secret
deeply
and
strangely
glad.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Could
modal verb
US /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.”
Have
auxiliary verb
US /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.”
Know
noun
US /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I do not know.”
Never
noun
US /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.”
One
pronoun
US /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.”
Perhaps
noun
US /perhaps/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.”
Secret
noun
US /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading “I am in secret deeply and strangely glad.”
Strangely
noun
US /ˈstrangely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “I am in secret deeply and strangely glad.”
All words in this reading · 35
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But I am not sorry they did happen.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I am in secret deeply and strangely glad.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I am not sorry they did happen.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.
deeply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am in secret deeply and strangely glad.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But I am not sorry they did happen.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I do not know.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am in secret deeply and strangely glad.
happen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I am not sorry they did happen.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.
happening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I do not know.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I am in secret deeply and strangely glad.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I do not know.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I do not know.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading I am in secret deeply and strangely glad.
sorry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I am not sorry they did happen.
strangelynounUS /ˈstrangely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I am in secret deeply and strangely glad.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I never heard of things like them happening to any one else.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But I am not sorry they did happen.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Perhaps the things which happened could only have happened to me.