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Chapter 9, section 1: Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died. Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he c
Context Illustration Reading 1/78 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died.
Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.
There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.
And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe.
He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts

Chapter IX

Reading 1/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died.
Line 2
Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.
Line 3
There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.
Line 4
And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe.
Line 5
He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.”

Distressed adjective US /dɪˈstrɛst/

suffering from pain, danger, or serious difficulty

From this reading “Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe.

axe

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

From this reading And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe.

back

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

bed

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

Big

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

From this reading And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe.

bring

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

came

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

From this reading And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe.

chair

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

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

corner

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

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

died

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

From this reading Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died.

distressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɛst/

suffering from pain, danger, or serious difficulty

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

door

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

From this reading And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe.

going

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

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

grandmother

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

From this reading Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

head

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

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

just

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

From this reading Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died.

Klaus

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

From this reading Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died.

Klaus's

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

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

knew

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

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

laid

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

lay

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

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

LittlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died.

much

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

night

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

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

often

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

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

opened

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

From this reading And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

sat

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

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

slept

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

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

There

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

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

try

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

unkind

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

up

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

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

very

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

warm

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

well

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

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

whole

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

From this reading There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done before.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe.

woman

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

From this reading Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He knew quite well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be.