---
title: dabble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dabble» in the school dictionary: To try an activity a little, as a hobby, without being very serious about it, as in «dabble in painting». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dabble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** dad, We, Mallards, ducks, She, he · **What happens:** try, be, dabble, move, splash, feed · **To what, where:** activity, painting, hands, water, bit, food · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To try an activity a little, as a hobby, without being very serious about it, as in «dabble in painting».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:m1:1
# text = To try an activity a little, as a hobby, without being very serious about it, as in «dabble in painting».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	activity	activity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hobby	hobby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	15	cop	_	_
14	very	very	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
16	about	about	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
20	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
21	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	dabble	dabble	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	15	parataxis	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | to-infinitive |  | a activity |  |  |  | a little *obl:unmarked* | vn try-61.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent activity=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | about hobby; serious *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **dabble** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  | painting |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 move your hands or feet gently in water, splashing a bit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:m2:1
# text = To move your hands or feet gently in water, splashing a bit.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	splashing	splash	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | to-infinitive |  | your hands or feet |  | water |  | gently *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |
| 2 | **splash** | gerund |  | a bit |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bit=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To feed by tipping forward to reach food in shallow water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:m3:1
# text = To feed by tipping forward to reach food in shallow water.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	feed	feed	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	tipping	tip	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Ger	2	advcl	_	_
5	forward	forward	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	shallow	shallow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feed** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **tip** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | forward *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **reach** | to-infinitive |  | food |  | shallow water |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent food=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My dad dabbles in photography at weekends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:x1:1
# text = My dad dabbles in photography at weekends.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	dabbles	dabble	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	photography	photography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	weekends	weekend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dabble** | present | My dad |  |  | photography | weekend |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We dabbled our toes in the cool stream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:x2:1
# text = We dabbled our toes in the cool stream.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dabbled	dabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	toes	toe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	stream	stream	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 | **dabble** | past | We | our toes |  | the cool stream |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mallards are dabbling ducks that tip upside down to feed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:x3:1
# text = Mallards are dabbling ducks that tip upside down to feed.
1	Mallards	mallard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	dabbling	dabble	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	tip	tip	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	upside	upside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	down	down	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	feed	feed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dabble** | present · progressive | Mallards | ducks |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tip down** | present | ducks | upside |  |  |  | down *property* | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent upside=Theme |
| 3 | **feed** | to-infinitive | ducks *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn gorge-39.6 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She dabbled with the guitar before choosing the drums.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:x4:1
# text = She dabbled with the guitar before choosing the drums.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dabbled	dabble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	guitar	guitar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	choosing	choose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dabble** | past | She |  |  |  |  | with the guitar | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | gerund | She *not said here* | the drums |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drum=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wizard had dabbled in magic he did not understand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:x5:1
# text = The wizard had dabbled in magic he did not understand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	dabbled	dabble	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	magic	magic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dabble** | past · perfect · passive |  | the wizard |  | magic |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **understand** | past · do-support | he | magic *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer magic=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I only dabble in cooking, but I can make pancakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:x6:1
# text = I only dabble in cooking, but I can make pancakes.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	dabble	dabble	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cooking	cooking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
11	pancakes	pancake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dabble** | present | I |  |  | cooking |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | can | I | pancakes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pancake=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then, going a little farther, Ceres would, perhaps, come to a fountain, gushing out of a pebbly hollow in the earth, and would dabble with her hand in the water.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dabble:x7:1
# text = Then, going a little farther, Ceres would, perhaps, come to a fountain, gushing out of a pebbly hollow in the earth, and would dabble with her hand in the water.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obl	_	_
6	farther	far	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	Ceres	Ceres	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
9	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	perhaps	perhaps	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
13	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	fountain	fountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	gushing	gush	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
19	out	out	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	pebbly	pebbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	hollow	hollow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
24	in	in	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
29	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	30	aux	_	_
30	dabble	dabble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
31	with	with	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
32	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	33	nmod:poss	_	_
33	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	obl	_	_
34	in	in	ADP	IN	_	36	case	_	_
35	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	36	det	_	_
36	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | gerund | Ceres *not said here* |  |  |  | then | far *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | would | Ceres |  |  | a fountain |  | perhaps *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to fountain=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **gush** | gerund | Ceres *not said here* |  |  | a pebbly hollow in the earth |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme out hollow=Location |
| 4 | **dabble** | would | Ceres *not said here* |  |  | the water |  | with Ceres's hand | 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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