---
title: actually — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «actually» in the school dictionary: Actually means «in fact» or «really», what is true. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# actually

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fact, you, your, Sun, name, my · **What happens:** mean, be, use, correct, say, sound · **To what, where:** fact, someone, something, mind, Sam, fox · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«actually» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [actually in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/actually.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Actually means «in fact» or «really», what is true.

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:m1:1
# text = Actually means «in fact» or «really», what is true.
1	Actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	fact	fact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	really	really	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  | fact |  |  |  | actually *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fact=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | fact |  |  |  |  | true *property* | 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Actually is used when you correct someone or say something surprising.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:m2:1
# text = Actually is used when you correct someone or say something surprising.
1	Actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	correct	correct	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	surprising	surprising	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  | actually *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V» |
| 2 | **correct** *speech: disagree* | present | you | someone |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent someone=Patient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Actually is used to sound polite or soft when you disagree or change your mind.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:m3:1
# text = Actually is used to sound polite or soft when you disagree or change your mind.
1	Actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	sound	sound	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	disagree	disagree	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
14	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  | actually *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **sound** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | polite *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **disagree** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **change** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your mind |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 5 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Sun looks small, but actually it is enormous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:x1:1
# text = The Sun looks small, but actually it is enormous.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Sun	Sun	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	enormous	enormous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | the Sun |  |  |  |  | small *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | present | Sun |  |  |  |  | actually, enormous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Actually, my name is Sam, not Tom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:x2:1
# text = Actually, my name is Sam, not Tom.
1	Actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | my name | Sam and Tom |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **name** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Did you actually see the fox?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:x3:1
# text = Did you actually see the fox?
1	Did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fox	fox	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 | **see** | past · do-support | you | the fox |  |  |  | actually *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer fox=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I thought it would be hard, but it was actually easy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:x4:1
# text = I thought it would be hard, but it was actually easy.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	expl	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	expl	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | would |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | actually, easy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Actually, I'd rather have juice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:x5:1
# text = Actually, I'd rather have juice.
1	Actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'd	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	rather	rather	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | would | I | juice |  |  |  | actually *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent juice=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What actually happened at the party?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:x6:1
# text = What actually happened at the party?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	_
2	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | past |  |  |  | the party |  | actually *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme at party=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whales are actually mammals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:x7:1
# text = Whales are actually mammals.
1	Whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mammals	mammal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Whales | mammals |  |  |  | actually *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He actually finished the whole book in one day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:x8:1
# text = He actually finished the whole book in one day.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	finished	finish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **finish** | past | He | the whole book |  |  | day | actually *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Affector book=Eventuality |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And he found that he actually had hind legs!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:actually:x9:1
# text = And he found that he actually had hind legs!
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
8	hind	hind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | past | he | hind legs |  |  |  | actually *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leg=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->

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