---
title: charades — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «charades» in the school dictionary: A party game where one player acts out a word, film, book or song title without speaking, and the others try to guess it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# charades

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** one player, song title, party game, everyone, meeting, We · **What happens:** act out, speak, try, guess, see through, be · **To what, where:** word, player, silly pretence, charade, charades, favourite party game · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A party game where one player acts out a word, film, book or song title without speaking, and the others try to guess it.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charades:m1:1
# text = A party game where one player acts out a word, film, book or song title without speaking, and the others try to guess it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
4	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	7	advmod	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	acts	act	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
18	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
19	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	nsubj	_	_
24	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	guess	guess	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	24	xcomp	_	_
27	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	24	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act out** | present | one player | a word and film |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V PP.predicate»: agent=Agent word=Eventuality |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | song title *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **try** | present | a party game |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **guess** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a party game *not said here* | player |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

<!-- .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: charade, a charade, charades — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A silly pretence that everyone can see through, as in «the meeting was a charade».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charades:m2:1
# text = A silly pretence that everyone can see through, as in «the meeting was a charade».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	pretence	pretence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	7	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
8	through	through	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	charade	charade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see through** | can | everyone | a silly pretence *not said here* |  |  |  | through *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer pretence=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | past | the meeting |  |  | a charade |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We played charades after Christmas dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charades:x1:1
# text = We played charades after Christmas dinner.
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	charades	charade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	after	after	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | We | charades |  |  | after Christmas dinner |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent charade=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In charades, you must not speak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charades:x2:1
# text = In charades, you must not speak.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	charades	charade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **speak** *speech: other* | must | you |  |  | charades |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I acted out «Frozen» in charades.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charades:x3:1
# text = I acted out «Frozen» in charades.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	acted	act	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Frozen	freeze	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	charades	charade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act out** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **freeze** *in a quote* | participle | I *not said here* |  |  | charades |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Charades is my favourite party game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charades:x4:1
# text = Charades is my favourite party game.
1	Charades	charade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
4	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Charades | my favourite party game |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His kindness was just a charade to get our sweets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charades:x5:1
# text = His kindness was just a charade to get our sweets.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	just	just	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	charade	charade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | His kindness | a charade |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | our sweets |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer sweet=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold up two fingers in charades to show two words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:charades:x6:1
# text = Hold up two fingers in charades to show two words.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	charades	charade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold up** | imperative | you *not said here* | two fingers |  | charades |  |  | vn support-15.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot finger=Theme |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | two words |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent word=Recipient |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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