---
title: cello — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cello» in the school dictionary: A cello is a large musical instrument with four strings, played with a bow while sitting down with the cello held between the knees. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# cello

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** cello, She, brother, You, cellist · **What happens:** be, play, sit down, hold, have, practise · **To what, where:** large musical instrument, cello, knees, school orchestra, deep warm sound, four strings

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cello is a large musical instrument with four strings, played with a bow while sitting down with the cello held between the knees.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cello:m1:1
# text = A cello is a large musical instrument with four strings, played with a bow while sitting down with the cello held between the knees.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cello	cello	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	parataxis	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	bow	bow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	advcl	_	_
18	down	down	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
19	with	with	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	cello	cello	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
22	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	21	acl	_	_
23	between	between	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	knees	knee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a cello | a large musical instrument |  |  |  | with four strings | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | with a bow | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with bow=Theme |
| 3 | **sit down** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | with the cello; down *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **hold** | participle |  | the cello *not said here* |  | the knees |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between knee=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
She plays the cello in the school orchestra.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cello:x1:1
# text = She plays the cello in the school orchestra.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cello	cello	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | present | She | the cello |  | the school orchestra |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cello=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cello has a deep, warm sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cello:x2:1
# text = The cello has a deep, warm sound.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cello	cello	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the cello | a deep warm sound |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cello is bigger than a violin but smaller than a double bass.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cello:x3:1
# text = A cello is bigger than a violin but smaller than a double bass.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cello	cello	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	violin	violin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	conj	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	double	double	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	bass	bass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a cello |  |  |  |  | than a violin; big *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | a cello *not said here* |  |  |  |  | than a double bass | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother practises the cello every evening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cello:x4:1
# text = My brother practises the cello every evening.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	practises	practise	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	cello	cello	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | present | My brother | the cello |  |  | evening |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You play the cello sitting down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cello:x5:1
# text = You play the cello sitting down.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cello	cello	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	sitting	sit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	down	down	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | present | You | the cello |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cello=Theme |
| 2 | **sit down** | gerund | the cello *not said here* |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cellist tuned all four strings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cello:x6:1
# text = The cellist tuned all four strings.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cellist	cellist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tuned	tune	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
5	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tune** | past | the cellist | all four strings |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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