English Sentence Analyser

Use this page to analyse and learn English text. You can copy text into the box below or get a random sentence from our database. Press the Analyse button to get translations of the text and words.

I
1. pron. The speaker or writer, referred to as the grammatical subject, of a sentence.
(audio, Here I am, sir.ogg, Audio)
2. pron. (nonstandard, hypercorrection) The speaker or writer, referred to as the grammatical object, of a sentence.
3. n. (metaphysics) The ego.
4. n. (US, roadway) Interstate.
5. n. (grammar) (abbreviation of instrumental case)
6. pron. nonstandard spelling of I
was
1. v. first-person singular past of be.
2. v. third-person singular past of be.
be
1. v. (intransitive, now literary) To exist; to have real existence.
2. v. (with there, or dialectally it, as dummy subject) To exist.
There is just one woman in town who can help us. (or, dialectally:) It is just one woman in town who can help us.
3. v. (intransitive) To occupy a place.
The cup is on the table.
4. v. (intransitive) To occur, to take place.
When will the meeting be?
5. v. (intransitive, in perfect tenses, without predicate) Elliptical form of "be here", "go to and return from" or similar.
The postman has been today, but my tickets have still not yet come.
I have been to Spain many times.
Moscow, huh? I've never been, but it sounds fascinating.
6. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to indicate that the subject and object are the same.
Knowledge is bliss.
Hi, I’m Jim.
7. v. (transitive, copulative, mathematics) Used to indicate that the values on either side of an equation are the same.
3 times 5 is fifteen.
8. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to indicate that the subject plays the role of the predicate nominal.
François Mitterrand was president of France from 1981 to 1995.
9. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to connect a noun to an adjective that describes it.
The sky is blue.
10. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to indicate that the subject has the qualities described by a noun or noun phrase.
The sky is a deep blue today.
11. v. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the passive voice.
The dog was drowned by the boy.
12. v. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form the continuous forms of various tenses.
The woman is walking.
I shall be writing to you soon.
We liked to chat while we were eating.
13. v. (archaic, auxiliary) Used to form the perfect aspect with certain intransitive verbs, most of which indicate motion. Often still used for "to go".
14. v. (transitive, auxiliary) Used to form future tenses, especially the future periphrastic.
I am to leave tomorrow.
I would drive you, were I to obtain a car.
15. v. (transitive, copulative) Used to link a subject to a measurement.
This building is three hundred years old.
I am 75 kilograms.
He’s about 6 feet tall.
16. v. (transitive, copulative, with a cardinal numeral) Used to state the age of a subject in years.
I’m 20. (= I am 20 years old.)
17. v. (with a dummy subject) it Used to indicate the time of day.
It is almost eight. (= It is almost eight o’clock.)
It’s 8:30 read eight-thirty in Tokyo.
What time is it there? It’s night.
18. v. (With since) Used to indicate passage of time since the occurrence of an event.
It has been three years since my grandmother died. (similar to My grandmother died three years ago, but emphasizes the intervening period)
It had been six days since his departure, when I received a letter from him.
19. v. (often, impersonal, with it as a dummy subject) Used to indicate weather, air quality, or the like.
It is hot in Arizona, but it is not usually humid.
Why is it so dark in here?
20. v. (dynamic/lexical "be", especially in progressive tenses, conjugated non-suppletively in the present tense, see usage notes) To exist or behave in a certain way.
"What do we do?" "We be ourselves.".
Why is he being nice to me?
literally
1. adv. (speech act) word for word; not figuratively; not as an idiom or metaphor
When I saw on the news that there would be no school tomorrow because of the snowstorm, I literally jumped for joy, and hit my head on the ceiling fan.
2. adv. (degree, proscribed) Used non-literally as an intensifier for figurative statements: virtually, so to speak (often considered incorrect; see usage notes)
He was so surprised, he literally jumped twenty feet in the air.
3. adv. (colloquial) Used as a generic downtoner: just, merely.
You literally put it in the microwave for five minutes and it's done.
used
1. v. simple past tense and past participle of use
You used me!
2. v. (intransitive, as an auxiliary verb, now only in past tense) to perform habitually; to be accustomed to doing something
He used to live here, but moved away last year.
3. adj. That is or has or have been used.
The ground was littered with used syringes left behind by drug abusers.
4. adj. That has or have previously been owned by someone else.
He bought a used car.
5. adj. Familiar through use; usual; accustomed.
I got used to this weather.
use
1. n. The act of using.
the use of torture has been condemned by the United Nations; there is no use for your invention
2. n. (followed by "of") Usefulness, benefit.
What's the use of a law that nobody follows?
3. n. A function; a purpose for which something may be employed.
This tool has many uses.
4. n. Occasion or need to employ; necessity.
I have no further use for these textbooks.
5. n. (obsolete, rare) Interest for lent money; premium paid for the use of something; usury.
6. n. (archaic) Continued or repeated practice; usage; habit.
7. n. (obsolete) Common occurrence; ordinary experience.
8. n. (religion) The special form of ritual adopted for use in any diocese.
the Sarum, or Canterbury, use; the Hereford use; the York use; the Roman use; etc.
9. n. (forging) A slab of iron welded to the side of a forging, such as a shaft, near the end, and afterward drawn down, by hammering, so as to lengthen the forging.
10. v. To utilize or employ.
11. v. To employ; to apply; to utilize.
Use this knife to slice the bread.
We can use this mathematical formula to solve the problem.
12. v. (transitive, often with up) To expend; to consume by employing.
I used the money they allotted me.
We should use up most of the fuel.
She used all the time allotted to complete the test.
13. v. To exploit.
You never cared about me; you just used me!
14. v. To consume (alcohol, drugs, etc), especially regularly.
He uses cocaine. I have never used drugs.
15. v. (intransitive) To consume a previously specified substance, especially a drug to which one is addicted.
Richard began experimenting with cocaine last year; now he uses almost every day.
16. v. (transitive, with auxiliary "could") To benefit from; to be able to employ or stand.
I could use a drink. My car could use a new coat of paint.
17. v. To accustom; to habituate. (Now common only in participial form. Note: This usage uses the nounal pronunciation of the word rather than the typically verbal one.)
soldiers who are used to hardships and danger (still common)
to use the soldiers to hardships and danger (now rare)
18. v. (reflexive, obsolete, with "to") To become accustomed, to accustom oneself.
19. v. (intransitive, now rare, literary) To habitually do; to be wont to do.
20. v. (intransitive, now rare, literary) To habitually employ; to be wont to employ.
21. v. (intransitive, past tense with infinitive) To habitually do. See used to.
I used to get things done.
22. v. (dated) To behave toward; to act with regard to; to treat.
to use an animal cruelly
23. v. (reflexive, obsolete) To behave, act, comport oneself.
by
1. prep. Near or next to.
The mailbox is by the bus stop.
2. prep. At some time before (the given time), or before the end of a given time interval.
Be back by ten o'clock! We will send it by the first week of July.
3. prep. Indicates the actor in a clause with its verb in the passive voice: Through the action or presence of.
The matter was decided by the chairman. The boat was swamped by the water. He was protected by his body armour.
4. prep. Indicates the creator of a work: Existing through the authorship etc. of.
There are many well-known plays by William Shakespeare
5. prep. Indicates the cause of a condition or event: Through the action of, caused by, responsibility for; by dint of.
6. prep. Indicates a means: Involving/using the means of.
I avoided the guards by moving only when they weren't looking.
7. prep. Indicates a source of light used as illumination.
The electricity was cut off, so we had to read by candlelight.
8. prep. Indicates an authority, rule, or permission followed.
I sorted the items by category. By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.
9. prep. Indicates the amount of some progression: With a change of.
Our stock is up by ten percent.
10. prep. In the formulae X by X and by Xs, indicates a steady progression, one X after another.
We went through the book page by page. We crawled forward by inches.
11. prep. Indicates a referenced source: According to.
He cheated by his own admission.
12. prep. Indicates an oath: With the authority of.
By Jove! I think she's got it! By all that is holy, I'll put an end to this.
13. prep. Used to separate dimensions when describing the size of something.
It is easy to invert a 2-by-2 matrix. The room was about 4 foot by 6 foot. The bricks used to build the wall measured 10 by 20 by 30 cm.
14. prep. (horse breeding) Designates a horse's male parent (sire); cf. out of.
She's a lovely little filly, by Big Lad, out of Damsel in Distress.
15. adv. Along a path which runs by the speaker.
I watched as it passed by.
16. adv. In the vicinity, near.
There was a shepherd close by.
The shop is hard by the High Street.
17. adv. To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.
I'll stop by on my way home from work.
We're right near the lifeguard station. Come by before you leave.
18. adv. Aside, away.
The women spent much time after harvest putting jams by for winter and spring.
19. adj. Out of the way, subsidiary.
20. n. (card games) A pass
21. interj. alternative spelling of bye
the
1. art. Definite grammatical article that implies necessarily that an entity it articulates is presupposed; something already mentioned, or completely specified later in that same sentence, or assumed already
I’m reading the book. (Compare I’m reading a book.)
The street in front of your house. (Compare A street in Paris.)
The men and women watched the man give the birdseed to the bird.
2. art. Used before a noun modified by a restrictive relative clause, indicating that the noun refers to a single referent defined by the relative clause.
The street that runs through my hometown.
3. art. Used before an object considered to be unique, or of which there is only one at a time.
No one knows how many galaxies there are in the universe.
God save the Queen!
4. art. Used before a superlative or an ordinal number modifying a noun, to indicate that the noun refers to a single item.
That was the best apple pie ever.
5. art. Added to a superlative or an ordinal number to make it into a substantive.
That apple pie was the best.
6. art. Introducing a singular term to be taken generically: preceding a name of something standing for a whole class.
7. art. Used before an adjective, indicating all things (especially persons) described by that adjective.
Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.
8. art. Used to indicate a certain example of (a noun) which is usually of most concern or most common or familiar.
No one in the whole country had seen it before.
I don't think I'll get to it until the morning.
9. art. Used before a body part (especially of someone previously mentioned), as an alternative to a possessive pronoun.
A stone hit him on the head. (= “A stone hit him on his head.”)
10. art. When stressed, indicates that it describes an object which is considered to be best or exclusively worthy of attention.
That is the hospital to go to for heart surgery.
11. adv. 1=With a comparative ormore and a verb phrase, establishes a parallel with one or more other such comparatives.
The hotter the better.
The more I think about it, the weaker it looks.
The more money donated, the more books purchased, and the more happy children.
It looks weaker and weaker, the more I think about it.
12. adv. 1=With a comparative, and often withfor it, indicates a result more like said comparative. This can be negated withnone.
It was a difficult time, but I’m the wiser for it.
It was a difficult time, and I’m none the wiser for it.
I'm much the wiser for having had a difficult time like that.
dialogue
1. n. A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals.
Bill and Melinda maintained a dialogue via email over the course of their long-distance relationship.
2. n. (authorship) In a dramatic or literary presentation, the verbal parts of the script or text; the verbalizations of the actors or characters.
The movie had great special effects, but the dialogue was lackluster.
3. n. (philosophy) A literary form, where the presentation resembles a conversation.
A literary historian, she specialized in the dialogues of ancient Greek philosophers.
4. n. (computing) A dialogue box.
Once the My Computer dialogue opens, select Local Disk (C:), then right click and scroll down.
5. v. (informal, business) To discuss or negotiate so that all parties can reach an understanding.
Pearson wanted to dialogue with his overseas counterparts about the new reporting requirements.
6. v. (obsolete) To take part in a dialogue; to dialogize.
and
1. conj. As a coordinating conjunction; expressing two elements to be taken together or in addition to each other.
2. conj. Used simply to connect two noun phrases, adjectives or adverbs.
3. conj. Simply connecting two clauses or sentences.
4. conj. Introducing a clause or sentence which follows on in time or consequence from the first.
5. conj. (obsolete) Yet; but.
6. conj. Used to connect certain numbers: connecting units when they precede tens (not dated); connecting tens and units to hundreds, thousands etc. (now often
7. conj. (now colloquial, or literary) Used to connect more than two elements together in a chain, sometimes to stress the number of elements.
8. conj. Connecting two identical elements, with implications of continued or infinite repetition.
9. conj. Introducing a parenthetical or explanatory clause.
10. conj. Introducing the continuation of narration from a previous understood point; also used alone as a question: ‘and so what?’.
11. conj. (now regional or somewhat colloquial) Used to connect two verbs where the second is dependent on the first: ‘to’. Used especially after come,
12. conj. Introducing a qualitative difference between things having the same name; "as well as other".
13. conj. Used to combine numbers in addition; plus (with singular or plural verb).
14. conj. Expressing a condition.:
15. conj. (now US dialect) If; provided that.
16. conj. (obsolete) As if, as though.
17. n. (enm, music, often informal) In rhythm, the second half of a divided beat.
18. n. (UK dialectal) Breath.
19. n. (UK dialectal) Sea smoke; steam fog.
20. v. (UK dialectal, intransitive) To breathe; whisper; devise; imagine.
then
1. adv. (temporal location) At that time.
He was happy then.
2. adv. (temporal location) Soon afterward.
He fixed it, then left.
Turn left, then right, then right again, then keep going until you reach the service station.
3. adv. (sequence) Next in order; in addition.
There are three green ones, then a blue one.
4. adv. (conjunctive) In that case.
If it’s locked, then we’ll need the key.
Is it 12 o'clock already? Then it's time for me to leave.
You don't like potatoes? What do you want me to cook, then?
5. adv. (sequence) At the same time; on the other hand.
That’s a nice shirt, but then, so is the other one.
6. adv. (dialect) Used to contradict an assertion.
7. adj. Being so at that time.
8. n. That time
It will be finished before then.
cast
1. v. (physical) To move, or be moved, away.
2. v. (now somewhat literary) To throw.
3. v. To throw forward (a fishing line, net etc.) into the sea.
4. v. Specifically, to throw down or aside.
5. v. (of an animal) To throw off (the skin) as a process of growth; to shed the hair or fur of the coat.
6. v. To cause (a horse or other large animal) to lie down with its legs underneath it.
7. v. (obsolete except in set phrases) To remove, take off (clothes).
8. v. (nautical) To heave the lead and line in order to ascertain the depth of water.
9. v. (obsolete) To vomit.
10. v. (archaic) To throw up, as a mound, or rampart.
11. v. (archaic) To throw out or emit; to exhale.
12. v. To direct (one's eyes, gaze etc.).
13. v. (dated) To add up (a column of figures, accounts etc.); cross-cast refers to adding up a row of figures.
14. v. (social) To predict, to decide, to plan.
15. v. (astrology) To calculate the astrological value of (a horoscope, birth etc.).
16. v. (obsolete) To plan, intend.
17. v. To assign (a role in a play or performance).
The director cast the part carefully.
18. v. To assign a role in a play or performance to (an actor).
The director cast John Smith as King Lear.
19. v. To consider; to turn or revolve in the mind; to plan.
to cast about for reasons
20. v. (archaic) To impose; to bestow; to rest.
21. v. (archaic) To defeat in a lawsuit; to decide against; to convict.
to be cast in damages
22. v. To turn (the balance or scale); to overbalance; hence, to make preponderate; to decide.
a casting voice
23. v. To perform, bring forth (a magical spell or enchantment).
24. v. To throw (light etc.) on or upon something, or in a given direction.
25. v. (archaic) To give birth to (a child) prematurely; to miscarry.
26. v. To shape (molten metal etc.) by pouring into a mould; to make (an object) in such a way.
27. v. (printing, dated) To stereotype or electrotype.
28. v. To twist or warp (of fabric, timber etc.).
29. v. (nautical) To bring the bows of a sailing ship on to the required tack just as the anchor is weighed by use of the headsail; to bring (a ship) round.
30. v. To deposit (a ballot or voting paper); to formally register (one's vote).
31. v. (computing) To change a variable type from, for example, integer to real, or integer to text.
Casting is generally an indication of bad design.
32. v. (hunting) Of dogs, hunters: to spread out and search for a scent.
33. v. (medicine) To set (a bone etc.) in a cast.
34. v. (Wicca) To open a circle in order to begin a spell or meeting of witches.
35. n. An act of throwing.
36. n. Something which has been thrown, dispersed etc.
37. n. A small mass of earth "thrown off" or excreted by a worm.
The area near the stream was covered with little bubbly worm casts.
38. n. The collective group of actors performing a play or production together. Contrasted with crew.
He’s in the cast of Oliver.
The cast was praised for a fine performance.
39. n. The casting procedure.
The men got into position for the cast, two at the ladle, two with long rods, all with heavy clothing.
40. n. An object made in a mould.
The cast would need a great deal of machining to become a recognizable finished part.
41. n. A supportive and immobilising device used to help mend broken bones.
The doctor put a cast on the boy’s broken arm.
42. n. The mould used to make cast objects.
A plaster cast was made from his face.
43. n. (hawking) The number of hawks (or occasionally other birds) cast off at one time; a pair.
44. n. A squint.
45. n. Visual appearance.
Her features had a delicate cast to them.
46. n. The form of one's thoughts, mind etc.
a cast of mind, a mental tendency.
47. n. An animal, especially a horse, that is unable to rise without assistance.
48. n. Animal and insect remains which have been regurgitated by a bird.
49. n. A group of crabs.
off
1. adv. In a direction away from the speaker or object.
He drove off in a cloud of smoke.
2. adv. Into a state of non-operation; into a state of non-existence.
Please switch off the light when you leave.
die off
3. adv. So as to be removed or separated.
He bit off more than he could chew.
Some branches were sawn off.
4. adj. Inoperative, disabled.
All the lights are off.
5. adj. Rancid, rotten.
This milk is off!
6. adj. (cricket) In, or towards the half of the field away from the batsman's legs; the right side for a right-handed batsman.
7. adj. Less than normal, in temperament or in result.
sales are off this quarter
8. adj. Circumstanced (as in well off, better off, poorly off).
9. adj. Started on the way.
off to see the wizard
And they're off! Whatsmyname takes an early lead, with Remember The Mane behind by a nose.
10. adj. Far; off to the side.
the off horse or ox in a team, in distinction from the nigh or near horse
11. adj. Designating a time when one is not strictly attentive to business or affairs, or is absent from a post, and, hence, a time when affairs are not urgent.
He took an off day for fishing. an off year in politics; the off season
12. adj. (of a dish on a menu) Presently unavailable.
— I'll have the chicken please.
— Sorry, chicken's off today.
13. adj. Right-hand (in relation to the side of a horse or a vehicle).
14. prep. Used to indicate movement away from a position on
I took it off the table.
Come off the roof!
15. prep. (colloquial) Out of the possession of.
He didn't buy it off him. He stole it off him.
16. prep. Away from or not on.
He's off the computer, but he's still on the phone.
Keep off the grass.
17. prep. Disconnected or subtracted from.
We've been off the grid for three days now.
He took 20% off the list price.
18. prep. Distant from.
We're just off the main road.
The island is 23 miles off the cape.
19. prep. No longer wanting or taking.
He's been off his feed since Tuesday.
He's off his meds again.
20. prep. Placed after a number (of products or parts, as if a unit), in commerce or engineering(topics, en, Engineering).
Tantalum bar 6 off 3/8" Dia × 12" — Atom, Great Britain Atomic Energy Authority, 1972
samples submitted … 12 off Thermistors type 1K3A531 … — BSI test report for shock and vibration testing, 2000
I'd like to re-order those printer cartridges, let's say 5-off.
21. v. (transitive, slang) To kill.
He got in the way so I had him offed.
22. v. (transitive, Singapore, Philippines) To switch off.
Can you off the light?
23. n. (rare) Beginning; starting point.
He has been very obviously an untrustworthy narrator right from the off.
like
1. v. (transitive, archaic) To please.
2. v. To enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of.
I like hamburgers
I like skiing in winter
I like the Seattle Mariners this season
3. v. (obsolete) To derive pleasure of, by or with someone or something.
4. v. To prefer and maintain (an action) as a regular habit or activity.
I like to go to the dentist every six months
She likes to keep herself physically fit
we like to keep one around the office just in case
5. v. (obsolete) To have an appearance or expression; to look; to seem to be (in a specified condition).
6. v. (archaic) To come near; to avoid with difficulty; to escape narrowly.
He liked to have been too late.
7. v. To find attractive; to prefer the company of; to have mild romantic feelings for.
I really like Sandra but don't know how to tell her.
8. v. (obsolete) To liken; to compare.
9. v. (Internet, transitive) To show support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet by marking it with a vote.
I liked my friend's last status on Facebook.
I can't stand Bloggs' tomato ketchup, but I liked it on Facebook so I could enter a competition.
10. n. (usually plural) Something that a person likes (prefers).
Tell me your likes and dislikes.
11. n. (internet) An individual vote showing support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet.
12. adj. Similar.
My partner and I have like minds.
13. adj. (obsolete) Likely; probable.
14. adv. (informal) For example, such as: to introduce an example or list of examples.
There are lots of birds, like ducks and gulls, in this park.
15. adv. (archaic, colloquial) Likely.
16. adv. (obsolete) In a like or similar manner.
17. n. (sometimes as the likes of) Someone similar to a given person, or something similar to a given object; a comparative; a type; a sort.
There were bowls full of sweets, chocolates and the like.
It was something the likes of which I had never seen before.
18. n. (golf) The stroke that equalizes the number of strokes played by the opposing player or side.
to play the like
19. conj. (colloquial) As, the way.
20. conj. As if; as though.
It looks like you've finished the project.
It seemed like you didn't care.
21. prep. Similar to, reminiscent of.
These hamburgers taste like leather.
22. part. (colloquial, Scotland, Geordie, Teesside, Scouse) A delayed filler.
He was so angry, like.
23. part. (colloquial) A mild intensifier.
She was, like, sooooo happy.
24. part. (colloquial) indicating approximation or uncertainty
There were, like, twenty of them.
And then he, like, got all angry and left the room.
25. part. (colloquial, slang) When preceded by any form of the verb to be, used to mean “to say” or “to think”; used to precede an approximate quotation or paraphrase.
I was like, “Why did you do that?” and he's like, “I don't know.”
26. interj. (Liverpool, Geordie) Used to place emphasis upon a statement.
divint ye knaa, like?
some
1. pron. A certain number, at least one.
Some enjoy spicy food, others prefer it milder.
2. pron. An indefinite quantity.
Can I have some of them?
3. pron. An indefinite amount, a part.
please give me some of the cake; everyone is wrong some of the time
4. det. A certain proportion of, at least one.
Some people like camping.
5. det. An unspecified quantity or number of.
Would you like some grapes?
6. det. An unspecified amount of (something un).
Would you like some water?
After some persuasion, he finally agreed.
7. det. A certain, an unspecified or unknown.
I've just met some guy who said he knew you.
The sequence S converges to zero for some initial value v.
8. det. A considerable quantity or number of; approximately.
He had edited the paper for some years.
9. det. (informal) A remarkable.
He is some acrobat!
10. adv. Of a measurement: approximately, roughly
I guess he must have weighed some 90 kilos.
Some 30,000 spectators witnessed the feat.
Some 4,000 acres of land were flooded.
worthless
1. adj. Not having worth and use, without value, inconsequential.
Lies are as important as truth, for without lies, the truth is worthless.
The committee's decision is worthless and not going to be acted upon.
Don't be a worthless slouch! Go get yourself a job.
trollop
1. n. A woman of a vulgar and discourteous disposition.
2. n. (derogatory) A strumpet; a whore.
3. v. to act in a sluggish or slovenly manner
4. v. (Scottish) to dangle soggily: become bedraggled
5. v. to behave like a trollop
6. v. A gait performed by a horse which falls between a trot and a gallop. Also known as a canter.

Dictionary entries from Wiktionary