---
title: convulsive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «convulsive» in the school dictionary: Convulsive movements are sudden, violent shakes of the body that a person cannot control. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# convulsive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Convulsive movements, person, Convulsive laughter, whole body, baby, they · **What happens:** be, not control, shake, have, call, cry · **To what, where:** violent shakes, convulsive fit, ambulance, funeral, vet, whole family · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Convulsive movements are sudden, violent shakes of the body that a person cannot control.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convulsive:m1:1
# text = Convulsive movements are sudden, violent shakes of the body that a person cannot control.
1	Convulsive	convulsive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	movements	movement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	violent	violent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	shakes	shake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	obj	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
14	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	control	control	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Convulsive movements |  |  |  |  | violent shakes of the body *obl*; sudden *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **control** | can | a person | violent shakes of the body |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Convulsive laughter or sobbing is so strong that the whole body shakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convulsive:m2:1
# text = Convulsive laughter or sobbing is so strong that the whole body shakes.
1	Convulsive	convulsive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	sobbing	sobbing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	shakes	shake	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Convulsive laughter or sobbing |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **shake** | present | the whole body |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby had a convulsive fit during a high fever, so they called an ambulance.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convulsive:x1:1
# text = The baby had a convulsive fit during a high fever, so they called an ambulance.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	convulsive	convulsive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	fit	fit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	during	during	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	fever	fever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	called	call	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
15	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	ambulance	ambulance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the baby | a convulsive fit |  |  | during a high fever |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fit=Patient |
| 2 | **call** | past | they | a ambulance |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent ambulance=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He shook with convulsive laughter at the joke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convulsive:x2:1
# text = He shook with convulsive laughter at the joke.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shook	shake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	convulsive	convulsive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	joke	joke	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 | **shake** | past | He |  |  |  |  | with convulsive laughter; at the joke | vn body\_internal\_states-40.6 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer at joke=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She cried with convulsive sobs at the funeral.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convulsive:x3:1
# text = She cried with convulsive sobs at the funeral.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	convulsive	convulsive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sobs	sob	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	funeral	funeral	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 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | She |  |  | the funeral |  | with convulsive sobs | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location with sob=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A convulsive seizure can last a minute or two.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convulsive:x4:1
# text = A convulsive seizure can last a minute or two.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	convulsive	convulsive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	seizure	seizure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	last	last	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | can | a convulsive seizure |  |  |  | minute |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog's convulsive shaking worried the vet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convulsive:x5:1
# text = The dog's convulsive shaking worried the vet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	convulsive	convulsive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	shaking	shaking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	worried	worry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	vet	vet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **worry** | past | the dog's convulsive shaking | the vet |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus vet=Experiencer |
| 2 | **shake** |  | the dog |  |  |  |  |  | nom shaking «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His convulsive cough kept the whole family awake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:convulsive:x6:1
# text = His convulsive cough kept the whole family awake.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	convulsive	convulsive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cough	cough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	awake	awake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | His convulsive cough | the whole family |  |  |  | awake *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent family=Theme |
| 2 | **cough** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom cough «state transitive»: poss=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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