---
title: castanets — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «castanets» in the school dictionary: A small musical instrument of two shell-shaped pieces of hard wood (or plastic), held in the hand and clicked together to make a sharp rhythm, used especially in Spanish dancing and flamenco. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# castanets

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dancer, We, Castanets, you, He, little sister · **What happens:** shape, hold, click, make, use, spin · **To what, where:** two shaped pieces, hand, sharp rhythm, Spanish dancing, castanets, music lesson

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A small musical instrument of two shell-shaped pieces of hard wood (or plastic), held in the hand and clicked together to make a sharp rhythm, used especially in Spanish dancing and flamenco.

<!-- fold The tree, 33 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:castanets:m1:1
# text = A small musical instrument of two shell-shaped pieces of hard wood (or plastic), held in the hand and clicked together to make a sharp rhythm, used especially in Spanish dancing and flamenco.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
7	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	plastic	plastic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	clicked	click	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	conj	_	_
25	together	together	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
26	to	to	PART	TO	_	27	mark	_	_
27	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	advcl	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
29	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	30	amod	_	_
30	rhythm	rhythm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
32	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	30	acl	_	_
33	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	36	advmod	_	_
34	in	in	ADP	IN	_	36	case	_	_
35	Spanish	Spanish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	36	amod	_	_
36	dancing	dancing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	obl	_	_
37	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	38	cc	_	_
38	flamenco	flamenco	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	36	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **hold** | participle |  | two shaped pieces of hard wood *not said here* |  | the hand |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in hand=Location |
| 3 | **click** | past |  |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a sharp rhythm |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rhythm=Product |
| 5 | **use** | participle |  | a sharp rhythm *not said here* |  | Spanish dancing and flamenco |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «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 dancer clicked her castanets as she spun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:castanets:x1:1
# text = The dancer clicked her castanets as she spun.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dancer	dancer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	clicked	click	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	castanets	castanet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	spun	spin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **click** | past | the dancer | dancer's castanets |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location castanet=Theme |
| 2 | **spin** | past | dancer |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We played castanets in the music lesson.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:castanets:x2:1
# text = We played castanets in the music lesson.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	castanets	castanet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	lesson	lesson	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 | **play** | past | We | castanets |  | the music lesson |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent castanet=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Castanets are percussion instruments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:castanets:x3:1
# text = Castanets are percussion instruments.
1	Castanets	castanet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	instruments	instrument	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 | Castanets | percussion instruments |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Click, clack went the castanets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:castanets:x4:1
# text = Click, clack went the castanets.
1	Click	click	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	clack	clack	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
4	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	castanets	castanet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **click** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **clack** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **go** | past |  | the castanets |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location castanet=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He kept the beat with a pair of castanets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:castanets:x5:1
# text = He kept the beat with a pair of castanets.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	beat	beat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	castanets	castanet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | He | the beat |  |  |  | with a pair of castanets | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beat=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Castanets are often used in Spanish music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:castanets:x6:1
# text = Castanets are often used in Spanish music.
1	Castanets	castanet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	Spanish	Spanish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · passive |  | Castanets |  | Spanish music |  | often *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My little sister loves the castanets in the music box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:castanets:x7:1
# text = My little sister loves the castanets in the music box.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	castanets	castanet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | My little sister | the castanets |  | the music box |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer castanet=Stimulus |

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**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.

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