---
title: brainstem — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «brainstem» in the school dictionary: The bottom part of the brain that joins it to the spinal cord and controls automatic actions like breathing, heartbeat, swallowing and sleeping. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# brainstem

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bottom part, brainstem, you, your, Messages, model brain · **What happens:** join, swallow, sleep, control, breathe, travel · **To what, where:** brain, breathing, brainstem, heart beating, bottom, it · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«brainstem» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 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: [brainstem in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/brainstem.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bottom part of the brain that joins it to the spinal cord and controls automatic actions like breathing, heartbeat, swallowing and sleeping.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brainstem:m1:1
# text = The bottom part of the brain that joins it to the spinal cord and controls automatic actions like breathing, heartbeat, swallowing and sleeping.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bottom	bottom	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	joins	join	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	spinal	spinal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	cord	cord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	controls	control	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
16	automatic	automatic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	breathing	breathing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	heartbeat	heartbeat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
23	swallowing	swallow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	conj	_	_
24	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	sleeping	sleep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | present | the bottom part of the brain | brain |  |  |  | to the spinal cord and controls | tree rules |
| 2 | **swallow** | gerund | the bottom part of the brain *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn hiccup-40.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **sleep** | gerund | the bottom part of the brain *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The brainstem controls your breathing even when you sleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brainstem:x1:1
# text = The brainstem controls your breathing even when you sleep.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	brainstem	brainstem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	controls	control	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	breathing	breathing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	even	even	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	sleep	sleep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | present | the brainstem | your breathing |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent breathing=Theme |
| 2 | **sleep** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **breathe** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom breathing «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Messages travel through the brainstem to the spinal cord.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brainstem:x2:1
# text = Messages travel through the brainstem to the spinal cord.
1	Messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	travel	travel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	brainstem	brainstem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	spinal	spinal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	cord	cord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | present | Messages |  |  | the brainstem |  | to the spinal cord | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to cord=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The brainstem keeps your heart beating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brainstem:x3:1
# text = The brainstem keeps your heart beating.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	brainstem	brainstem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	beating	beating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | the brainstem | your heart beating |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beating=Theme |
| 2 | **beat** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom beating «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our model brain had a brainstem at the bottom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brainstem:x4:1
# text = Our model brain had a brainstem at the bottom.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	brainstem	brainstem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bottom	bottom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You do not have to think to breathe; your brainstem does it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brainstem:x5:1
# text = You do not have to think to breathe; your brainstem does it.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	breathe	breathe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	brainstem	brainstem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** | present · do-support | You |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | You *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **breathe** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **do** | present | your brainstem | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The brainstem connects the brain to the rest of the body.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:brainstem:x6:1
# text = The brainstem connects the brain to the rest of the body.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	brainstem	brainstem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	connects	connect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rest	rest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **connect** | present | the brainstem | the brain |  |  |  | to the rest of the body | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent brain=Patient to rest=Co-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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