describe Who acts: something, it, step, you, person, we · What happens: say, write, be, look, sound, feel · To what, where: step, shape, circle, favourite place, five senses, person · Speech: someone speaks here
«describe» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: describe in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 To say or write what someone or something is like: how it looks, sounds, feels, smells or behaves.
The tree, 18 words mark cc conj obj nsubj cc nsubj cop conj punct advmod nsubj parataxis punct conj punct conj punct ccomp cc conj punct root To PART say VERB or CCONJ write VERB what PRON someone PRON or CCONJ something PRON is AUX like ADJ : PUNCT how ADV it PRON looks VERB , PUNCT sounds VERB , PUNCT feels VERB , PUNCT smells VERB or CCONJ behaves VERB . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 say mark 2 say say VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 3 or or CCONJ _ 4 write cc 4 write write VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 2 say conj 5 what what PRON PronType=Int 4 write obj 6 someone someone PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 5 what nsubj 7 or or CCONJ _ 10 like cc 8 something something PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 10 like nsubj 9 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 10 like cop 10 like like ADJ Degree=Pos 5 what conj 11 : : PUNCT _ 14 looks punct 12 how how ADV PronType=Int 14 looks advmod 13 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 14 looks nsubj 14 looks look VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 2 say parataxis 15 , , PUNCT _ 16 sounds punct 16 sounds sound VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 14 looks conj 17 , , PUNCT _ 18 feels punct 18 feels feel VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 14 looks conj 19 , , PUNCT _ 20 smells punct 20 smells smell VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 18 feels ccomp 21 or or CCONJ _ 22 behaves cc 22 behaves behave VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 20 smells conj 23 . . PUNCT _ 2 say punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 say speech: assert to-infinitive vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent 2 write infinitive vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme 3 is present something like property tree rules 4 look present it vn stimulus_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus 5 sound present vn stimulus_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus 6 feel present vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme 7 smell present vn smell_emission-43.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme 8 behave present vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.
Meaning 2 To tell what happened, step by step.
mark nsubj ccomp punct obl case nmod punct root To PART tell VERB what PRON happened VERB , PUNCT step NOUN by ADP step NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 tell mark 2 tell tell VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 3 what what PRON PronType=Int 4 happened nsubj 4 happened happen VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 2 tell ccomp 5 , , PUNCT _ 6 step punct 6 step step NOUN Number=Sing 4 happened obl 7 by by ADP _ 8 step case 8 step step NOUN Number=Sing 6 step nmod 9 . . PUNCT _ 2 tell punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 tell speech: assert to-infinitive vn transfer_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 happen past step by step vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme 3 step step nom step «act transitive»: by=agent
Meaning 3 To draw or make a shape or line (formal maths: describe a circle).
The tree, 13 words mark advcl cc det obj cc conj punct amod conj punct parataxis det obj punct punct root To PART draw VERB or CCONJ make VERB a DET shape NOUN or CCONJ line NOUN ( PUNCT formal ADJ maths NOUN : PUNCT describe VERB a DET circle NOUN ) PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 To to PART _ 2 draw mark 2 draw draw VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 4 make advcl 3 or or CCONJ _ 4 make cc 4 make make VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 5 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 6 shape det 6 shape shape NOUN Number=Sing 4 make obj 7 or or CCONJ _ 8 line cc 8 line line NOUN Number=Sing 6 shape conj 9 ( ( PUNCT _ 11 maths punct 10 formal formal ADJ Degree=Pos 11 maths amod 11 maths math NOUN Number=Plur 8 line conj 12 : : PUNCT _ 13 describe punct 13 describe describe VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 4 make parataxis 14 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 15 circle det 15 circle circle NOUN Number=Sing 13 describe obj 16 ) ) PUNCT _ 13 describe punct 17 . . PUNCT _ 4 make punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 draw to-infinitive you not said here vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent 2 make imperative you not said here a shape or line and formal maths vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset shape=Product 3 describe infinitive a circle vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent circle=Theme
Example 1 Describe your favourite place using all five senses.
nmod:poss amod obj advcl advmod nummod obj punct root Describe VERB your PRON favourite ADJ place NOUN using VERB all ADV five NUM senses NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Describe describe VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 your your PRON Case=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 4 place nmod:poss 3 favourite favourite ADJ Degree=Pos 4 place amod 4 place place NOUN Number=Sing 1 Describe obj 5 using use VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 1 Describe advcl 6 all all ADV _ 7 five advmod 7 five five NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 8 senses nummod 8 senses sens NOUN Number=Plur 5 using obj 9 . . PUNCT _ 1 Describe punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 describe imperative you not said here your favourite place vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent place=Theme 2 use gerund you not said here five senses vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sens=Patient
Example 2 Can you describe the person who took the bike?
aux nsubj det obj nsubj acl:relcl det obj punct root Can AUX you PRON describe VERB the DET person NOUN who PRON took VERB the DET bike NOUN ? PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Can can AUX VerbForm=Fin 3 describe aux 2 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 3 describe nsubj 3 describe describe VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 4 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 5 person det 5 person person NOUN Number=Sing 3 describe obj 6 who who PRON PronType=Rel 7 took nsubj 7 took take VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 5 person acl:relcl 8 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 9 bike det 9 bike bike NOUN Number=Sing 7 took obj 10 ? ? PUNCT _ 3 describe punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 describe can you the person vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent person=Theme 2 take past the person the bike vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Theme
Example 3 Describe what happened when we added vinegar to the baking soda.
nsubj ccomp mark nsubj advcl obj case det compound obl punct root Describe VERB what PRON happened VERB when SCONJ we PRON added VERB vinegar NOUN to ADP the DET baking NOUN soda NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Describe describe VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 what what PRON PronType=Int 3 happened nsubj 3 happened happen VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 1 Describe ccomp 4 when when SCONJ _ 6 added mark 5 we we PRON Case=Nom Number=Plur Person=1 PronType=Prs 6 added nsubj 6 added add VERB Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=1 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 happened advcl 7 vinegar vinegar NOUN Number=Sing 6 added obj 8 to to ADP _ 11 soda case 9 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 11 soda det 10 baking baking NOUN Number=Sing 11 soda compound 11 soda soda NOUN Number=Sing 6 added obl 12 . . PUNCT _ 1 Describe punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 describe imperative you not said here vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme 2 happen past vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme 3 add speech: assert past we vinegar to the baking soda vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent vinegar=Patient to soda=Co-Patient
Example 4 The book describes life on a farm long ago.
det nsubj obj case det obl advmod advmod punct root The DET book NOUN describes VERB life NOUN on ADP a DET farm NOUN long ADV ago ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 The the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 2 book det 2 book book NOUN Number=Sing 3 describes nsubj 3 describes describe VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 life life NOUN Number=Sing 3 describes obj 5 on on ADP _ 7 farm case 6 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 7 farm det 7 farm farm NOUN Number=Sing 3 describes obl 8 long long ADV Degree=Pos 9 ago advmod 9 ago ago ADV _ 3 describes advmod 10 . . PUNCT _ 3 describes punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 describe present the book life a farm ago property vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent life=Theme
Example 5 Describe this shape: it has four equal sides and four right angles.
det obj punct nsubj parataxis nummod amod obj cc nummod amod conj punct root Describe VERB this DET shape NOUN : PUNCT it PRON has VERB four NUM equal ADJ sides NOUN and CCONJ four NUM right ADJ angles NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Describe describe VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 this this DET Number=Sing PronType=Dem 3 shape det 3 shape shape NOUN Number=Sing 1 Describe obj 4 : : PUNCT _ 6 has punct 5 it it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 6 has nsubj 6 has have VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 1 Describe parataxis 7 four four NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 9 sides nummod 8 equal equal ADJ Degree=Pos 9 sides amod 9 sides side NOUN Number=Plur 6 has obj 10 and and CCONJ _ 13 angles cc 11 four four NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 13 angles nummod 12 right right ADJ Degree=Pos 13 angles amod 13 angles angle NOUN Number=Plur 9 sides conj 14 . . PUNCT _ 1 Describe punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 describe imperative you not said here this shape vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent shape=Theme 2 have present shape four equal sides and four right angles vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent side=Patient
Example 6 I can't describe how happy I was!
nsubj aux advmod advmod ccomp nsubj cop punct root I PRON ca AUX n't PART describe VERB how ADV happy ADJ I PRON was AUX ! PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 4 describe nsubj 2 ca can AUX VerbForm=Fin 4 describe aux 3 n't not PART Polarity=Neg 4 describe advmod 4 describe describe VERB VerbForm=Inf root root 5 how how ADV PronType=Int 6 happy advmod 6 happy happy ADJ Degree=Pos 4 describe ccomp 7 I I PRON Case=Nom Number=Sing Person=1 PronType=Prs 6 happy nsubj 8 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 6 happy cop 9 ! ! PUNCT _ 4 describe punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 not describe can I vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S_ING»: agent=Agent 2 is past I happy property tree rules
Example 7 He described the castle as dark and cold.
nsubj det obj case obl cc conj punct root He PRON described VERB the DET castle NOUN as ADP dark ADJ and CCONJ cold ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 He he PRON Case=Nom Gender=Masc Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 2 described nsubj 2 described describe VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 3 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 4 castle det 4 castle castle NOUN Number=Sing 2 described obj 5 as as ADP _ 6 dark case 6 dark dark ADJ Degree=Pos 2 described obl 7 and and CCONJ _ 8 cold cc 8 cold cold ADJ Degree=Pos 6 dark conj 9 . . PUNCT _ 2 described punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 describe past He the castle as dark vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent castle=Theme as dark=Attribute
Example 8 It was a pleasure to hear Alfred describe anything.
expl cop det mark csubj obj xcomp obj punct root It PRON was AUX a DET pleasure NOUN to PART hear VERB Alfred PROPN describe VERB anything PRON . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 It it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 4 pleasure expl 2 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 4 pleasure cop 3 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 4 pleasure det 4 pleasure pleasure NOUN Number=Sing root root 5 to to PART _ 6 hear mark 6 hear hear VERB VerbForm=Inf 4 pleasure csubj 7 Alfred Alfred PROPN Number=Sing 6 hear obj 8 describe describe VERB VerbForm=Inf 6 hear xcomp 9 anything anything PRON Number=Sing PronType=Ind 8 describe obj 10 . . PUNCT _ 4 pleasure punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a past a pleasure tree rules 2 hear to-infinitive Alfred tree rules 3 describe infinitive Alfred not said here anything vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S_ING»: agent=Agent anything=Theme
Text: the school dictionary of Mova's schools (world/data/dictionary-schools/), written for Mova. Trees: Mova's own parse — the en model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. Frames: Mova's frames reader (prag), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.
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