---
title: action — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «action» in the school dictionary: An action is something that someone does, like running, jumping or cooking. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# action

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** action, someone, We, action figure, Sam, Ben · **What happens:** be, do, run, jump, cook, mean · **To what, where:** something, things, action, exciting events, film, small toy person · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«action» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [action in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/action.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An action is something that someone does, like running, jumping or cooking.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:m1:1
# text = An action is something that someone does, like running, jumping or cooking.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	obj	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
7	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	running	run	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	jumping	jump	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	cooking	cook	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a action | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Eventuality |
| 3 | **run** | gerund | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **jump** | gerund | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **cook** | gerund | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Action means doing things, not just talking: «We need action!».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:m2:1
# text = Action means doing things, not just talking: «We need action!».
1	Action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
13	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Action |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | gerund | Action *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 3 | **not** **talk** | gerund | Action *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **need** *in a quote* | present | We | action |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot action=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Action is exciting events in a film or a game: «an action film».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:m3:1
# text = Action is exciting events in a film or a game: «an action film».
1	Action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
15	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Action | exciting events |  | a film or a game |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An action figure is a small toy person, often a hero.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:m4:1
# text = An action figure is a small toy person, often a hero.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	figure	figure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a action figure | a small toy person and a hero |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every action in the story changes how many apples Sam has.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:x1:1
# text = Every action in the story changes how many apples Sam has.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | present | every action in the story | many apples |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent apple=Patient |
| 2 | **have** | present | Sam | many apples *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent apple=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ben has 15 action figures.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:x2:1
# text = Ben has 15 action figures.
1	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	figures	figure	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Ben | 15 action figures |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent figure=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He buys 3 more action figures.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:x3:1
# text = He buys 3 more action figures.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	buys	buy	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
5	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	figures	figure	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | present | He | 3 more action figures |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent figure=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Count the action that happens last.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:x4:1
# text = Count the action that happens last.
1	Count	count	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	last	last	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | imperative | you *not said here* | the action |  |  |  |  | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent action=Theme |
| 2 | **happen** | present | the action |  |  |  |  | last *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Jump» and «run» are action words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:x5:1
# text = «Jump» and «run» are action words.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Jump	jump	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	run	run	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | run | action words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We took action to clean up the playground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:x6:1
# text = We took action to clean up the playground.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	clean	clean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	playground	playground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | We | action |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent action=Theme |
| 2 | **clean up** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the playground |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent playground=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I watched the firefighters in action.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:x7:1
# text = I watched the firefighters in action.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	firefighters	firefighter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | I | the firefighters |  | action |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent firefighter=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kind actions make friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:x8:1
# text = Kind actions make friends.
1	Kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Kind actions | friends |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset friend=Product |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is quite remarkable how one good action always breeds another.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:action:x9:1
# text = It is quite remarkable how one good action always breeds another.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	remarkable	remarkable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	10	advmod	_	_
10	breeds	breed	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
11	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | remarkable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **breed** | present | one good action | another |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**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.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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