---
title: conversation — English dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «conversation» in the English dictionary: A conversation is a talk between two or more people in which they share ideas, news or feelings. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# conversation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** conversation, people, Making, you, I, our · **What happens:** be, share, make, mean, talk, have · **To what, where:** talk, ideas, conversation, long conversation, party, football · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«conversation» in the English dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 11 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: [conversation in the English dictionary](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/conversation/).

## Everyday, meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A conversation is a talk between two or more people in which they share ideas, news or feelings.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:m1:1
# text = A conversation is a talk between two or more people in which they share ideas, news or feelings.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	between	between	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	conj	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	obl	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	share	share	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
15	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a conversation | a talk |  |  |  | between two people | tree rules |
| 2 | **share** | present | people | ideas and news or feelings |  |  |  | in two people | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
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.

## Everyday, meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Making conversation" means talking politely to someone, often just to be friendly.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:m2:1
# text = "Making conversation" means talking politely to someone, often just to be friendly.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
3	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	politely	politely	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
12	just	just	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	cop	_	_
15	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** *in a quote* | gerund |  | conversation |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset conversation=Product |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Making |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **talk** *not said to happen* | gerund | Making *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to someone; politely *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to someone=Co-Agent |
| 4 | **is** | to-infinitive | Making *not said here* |  |  |  |  | friendly, often *property* | tree rules |

## Early Modern English, meaning 1 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Talk between two or more people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:m3:1
# text = Talk between two or more people.
1	Talk	talk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	between	between	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	conj	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | between two people | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I had a long conversation with my grandma on the phone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x1:1
# text = I had a long conversation with my grandma on the phone.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | I | a long conversation |  |  |  | with my grandma on the phone | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conversation=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please do not interrupt our conversation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x2:1
# text = Please do not interrupt our conversation.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	interrupt	interrupt	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **interrupt** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | our conversation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **converse** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom conversation «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two girls were deep in conversation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x3:1
# text = The two girls were deep in conversation.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	girls	girl	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the two girls |  |  | conversation |  | deep *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrote a conversation between a fox and a crow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x4:1
# text = We wrote a conversation between a fox and a crow.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	crow	crow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | We | a conversation |  |  |  | between a fox and a crow | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conversation=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the party he tried to make conversation with the new boy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x5:1
# text = At the party he tried to make conversation with the new boy.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | he |  |  | the party |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | conversation |  |  |  | with the new boy | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset conversation=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class had a conversation about kindness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x6:1
# text = Our class had a conversation about kindness.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Our class | a conversation |  |  |  | about kindness | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conversation=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The conversation turned to football.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x7:1
# text = The conversation turned to football.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the conversation |  |  | football |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme to football=Trajectory |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They had a long conversation together about different things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x8:1
# text = They had a long conversation together about different things.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	together	together	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | They | a long conversation |  |  |  | about different things; together *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conversation=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This was the end of their conversation.

<!-- .note -->
From Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x9:1
# text = This was the end of their conversation.
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | This | the end |  |  |  | of their conversation | tree rules |
| 2 | **converse** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom conversation «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 10 {#x10}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They had a long conversation together about different things.

<!-- .note -->
From More English Fairy Tales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x10:1
# text = They had a long conversation together about different things.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	together	together	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | They | a long conversation |  |  |  | about different things; together *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conversation=Patient |

## Example 11 {#x11}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Just then, the conversation was interrupted by approaching footsteps.

<!-- .note -->
From The Adventures of Pinocchio.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:conversation:x11:1
# text = Just then, the conversation was interrupted by approaching footsteps.
1	Just	just	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	interrupted	interrupt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	approaching	approach	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	footsteps	footstep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interrupt** | past · passive |  | the conversation |  |  | then |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **approach** | gerund |  | footsteps |  |  |  |  | vn confront-98 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent footstep=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the English dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader, each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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