---
title: communicate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «communicate» in the school dictionary: To communicate means to share ideas, feelings or information with others by talking, writing, signs or gestures. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# communicate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** They, door, Dolphins, We, Deaf people, you · **What happens:** communicate, mean, share, talk, understand, join · **To what, where:** ideas, each, Communicating rooms, sign language, answer, thinking · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«communicate» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [communicate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/communicate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To communicate means to share ideas, feelings or information with others by talking, writing, signs or gestures.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:m1:1
# text = To communicate means to share ideas, feelings or information with others by talking, writing, signs or gestures.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	communicate	communicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
13	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	gestures	gesture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **communicate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **share** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | ideas and feelings or information |  |  |  | with others | tree rules |
| 4 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To communicate can mean to understand each other well: «They communicate well.».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:m2:1
# text = To communicate can mean to understand each other well: «They communicate well.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	communicate	communicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	6	obj	_	_
8	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	fixed	_	_
9	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	communicate	communicate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
14	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **communicate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **understand** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | each |  |  |  | well *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer each=Stimulus |
| 4 | **communicate** *in a quote* | present | They |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Communicating rooms are joined by a door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:m3:1
# text = Communicating rooms are joined by a door.
1	Communicating	communicate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	rooms	room	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	door	door	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 | **communicate** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **join** | present · passive | a door | Communicating rooms |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dolphins communicate with clicks and whistles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:x1:1
# text = Dolphins communicate with clicks and whistles.
1	Dolphins	dolphin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	communicate	communicate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	clicks	click	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	whistles	whistle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **communicate** | present | Dolphins |  |  |  |  | with clicks and whistles | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V PP.co-agent PP.theme whether S»: agent=Agent with click=Co-Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We communicate with Gran by video call.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:x2:1
# text = We communicate with Gran by video call.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	communicate	communicate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Gran	Gran	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	call	call	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 | **communicate** | present | We |  |  |  |  | with Gran; by video call | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V PP.co-agent PP.theme whether S»: agent=Agent with gran=Co-Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deaf people may communicate using sign language.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:x3:1
# text = Deaf people may communicate using sign language.
1	Deaf	deaf	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	communicate	communicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **communicate** | may | Deaf people |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | Deaf people *not said here* | sign language |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent language=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Explain your answer to communicate your thinking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:x4:1
# text = Explain your answer to communicate your thinking.
1	Explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	communicate	communicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	ccomp	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	thinking	thinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | your answer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **communicate** | to-infinitive |  | your thinking |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thinking=Topic |
| 3 | **answer** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |
| 4 | **think** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom thinking «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team must communicate to win.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:x5:1
# text = The team must communicate to win.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	communicate	communicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **communicate** | must | the team |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **win** | to-infinitive | the team *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bees communicate by dancing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:x6:1
# text = Bees communicate by dancing.
1	Bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	communicate	communicate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	dancing	dance	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **communicate** | present | Bees |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **dance** | gerund | Bees *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I should be obliged if the sender would communicate with me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:communicate:x7:1
# text = I should be obliged if the sender would communicate with me.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	obliged	oblige	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sender	sender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	communicate	communicate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oblige** | should · passive |  | I |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **communicate** *a condition, not said to happen* | would | the sender |  |  |  |  | with me | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V PP.co-agent PP.theme whether S»: agent=Agent with i=Co-Agent |

<!-- 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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