---
title: cursive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cursive» in the school dictionary: Joined-up handwriting, in which the letters of a word are connected by flowing strokes: «We are learning cursive». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cursive/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/) / cursive

# cursive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, letters, Grandma, children, you, Joining · **What happens:** join, connect, flow, learn, letter, write · **To what, where:** letters, Joined up handwriting, strokes, word, cursive, old postcard · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Joined-up handwriting, in which the letters of a word are connected by flowing strokes: «We are learning cursive».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cursive:m1:1
# text = Joined-up handwriting, in which the letters of a word are connected by flowing strokes: «We are learning cursive».
1	Joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	handwriting	handwriting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	obl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	connected	connect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl:relcl	_	_
15	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	flowing	flow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	22	advcl	_	_
17	strokes	stroke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
21	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux	_	_
22	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	_
23	cursive	cursive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **connect** | present · passive |  | the letters of a word |  | Joined up handwriting |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 3 | **flow** | gerund | We *not said here* | strokes |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location stroke=Theme |
| 4 | **learn** *in a quote* | present · progressive | We |  |  |  |  | cursive *property* | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **letter** |  |  | a word |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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: adjective — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Written with joined, flowing letters: «cursive writing», «a cursive font».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cursive:m2:1
# text = Written with joined, flowing letters: «cursive writing», «a cursive font».
1	Written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	flowing	flow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	cursive	cursive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	cursive	cursive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	font	font	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | with joined flowing letters and cursive writing | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **join** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **flow** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We practise cursive every morning in Year 3.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cursive:x1:1
# text = We practise cursive every morning in Year 3.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	practise	practise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	cursive	cursive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Year	Year	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | present | We |  |  |  | in Year; morning |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma's letters are in beautiful cursive.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cursive:x2:1
# text = Grandma's letters are in beautiful cursive.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cursive	cursive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Grandma's letters |  |  |  |  | cursive *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **letter** |  | Grandma |  |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some children find cursive faster than printing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cursive:x3:1
# text = Some children find cursive faster than printing.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	cursive	cursive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	faster	fast	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
6	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	printing	printing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | present | some children |  |  |  |  | cursive, fast *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you read the cursive on this old postcard?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cursive:x4:1
# text = Can you read the cursive on this old postcard?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cursive	cursive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	postcard	postcard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | can | you | the cursive |  | this old postcard |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cursive=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The invitation was printed in a curly cursive font.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cursive:x5:1
# text = The invitation was printed in a curly cursive font.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	invitation	invitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	printed	print	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	curly	curly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	cursive	cursive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	font	font	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **print** | past · passive |  | the invitation |  | a curly cursive font |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in font=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Joining the letters is the trick to cursive writing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cursive:x6:1
# text = Joining the letters is the trick to cursive writing.
1	Joining	join	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	cursive	cursive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | gerund |  | the letters |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Joining | the trick |  |  |  | to cursive writing | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My teacher says neat cursive helps spelling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cursive:x7:1
# text = My teacher says neat cursive helps spelling.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	neat	neat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cursive	cursive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	nsubj	_	_
6	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | My teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **help** | present | neat cursive | spelling |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spelling=Beneficiary |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [curse](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curse/)
- next →: [curt](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curt/)
- ↑ back to [C in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/)