---
title: ahem — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ahem» in the school dictionary: A written sound like a small cough, made to get people's attention, to show you are about to speak, or to show you don't approve of something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ahem

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** attention, written sound, you, people, birthday, Ahem · **What happens:** write, make, get, show, be, speak · **To what, where:** written sound, attention, you, writing, joke, next week · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ahem» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [ahem in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ahem.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A written sound like a small cough, made to get people's attention, to show you are about to speak, or to show you don't approve of something.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:m1:1
# text = A written sound like a small cough, made to get people's attention, to show you are about to speak, or to show you don't approve of something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nsubj	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cough	cough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	iobj	_	_
19	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	about	about	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	20	parataxis	_	_
27	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	30	nsubj	_	_
28	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	30	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	30	advmod	_	_
30	approve	approve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	26	ccomp	_	_
31	of	of	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
32	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	30	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a written sound like a small cough *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | people's attention |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **show** | to-infinitive | people's attention *not said here* |  | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent you=Recipient |
| 5 | **is** | present | a written sound like a small cough |  |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | a written sound like a small cough *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 7 | **show** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 8 | **not** **approve** | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  | of something | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 9 | **attend** |  | people |  |  |  |  |  | nom attention «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: humorous — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used in writing to point out a joke or a hint: «My birthday is next week, ahem.».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:m2:1
# text = Used in writing to point out a joke or a hint: «My birthday is next week, ahem.».
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	point	point	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	hint	hint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
17	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  | writing |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **point out** | to-infinitive |  | a joke or a hint |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent joke=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | My birthday | next week and ahem |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Ahem!» said the Mouse with an important air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:x1:1
# text = «Ahem!» said the Mouse with an important air.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Ahem | the Mouse |  |  |  | with a important air | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent mouse=Theme with air=Manner |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher said «Ahem» and the class went quiet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:x2:1
# text = The teacher said «Ahem» and the class went quiet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher | Ahem |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent ahem=Topic |
| 2 | **go** | past | the class |  |  |  |  | quiet *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Ahem, I think you're sitting in my seat.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:x3:1
# text = «Ahem, I think you're sitting in my seat.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	ccomp	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	seat	seat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* *in a quote* | present | I | Ahem *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Agent ahem=Attribute clause=Theme |
| 2 | **sit** *in a quote* | present · progressive | you |  |  | my seat |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent in seat=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Somebody (ahem) forgot to feed the cat.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:x4:1
# text = «Somebody (ahem) forgot to feed the cat.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Somebody	somebody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	feed	feed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **forget** *in a quote* | past | Somebody |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **feed** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | Somebody *not said here* |  | the cat |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad cleared his throat: «Ahem! Dinner is ready.»

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Dad cleared his throat: «Ahem!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:x5:1
# text = Dad cleared his throat: «Ahem!
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cleared	clear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	throat	throat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clear** | past | Dad | Dad's throat |  |  |  | Ahem *obl* | vn clear-10.3-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent throat=Source |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Dinner is ready.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:x5:2
# text = Dinner is ready.»
1	Dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Ahem!» coughed the butler at the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:x6:1
# text = «Ahem!» coughed the butler at the door.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	coughed	cough	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	butler	butler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cough** | past | Ahem | the butler |  | the door |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent butler=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Ahem! ahem!” said the Rocket angrily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ahem:x7:1
# text = “Ahem! ahem!” said the Rocket angrily.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
4	ahem	ahem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Rocket	rocket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	angrily	angrily	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Ahem and ahem | the Rocket |  |  |  | angrily *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent rocket=Topic |

<!-- 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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