---
title: describe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «describe» in the school dictionary: To say or write what someone or something is like: how it looks, sounds, feels, smells or behaves. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# describe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, it, step, you, person, we · **What happens:** say, write, be, look, sound, feel · **To what, where:** step, shape, circle, favourite place, five senses, person · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«describe» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [describe in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/describe.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say or write what someone or something is like: how it looks, sounds, feels, smells or behaves.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:m1:1
# text = To say or write what someone or something is like: how it looks, sounds, feels, smells or behaves.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	obj	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	feels	feel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	smells	smell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	ccomp	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	behaves	behave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **write** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | like *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **look** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 5 | **sound** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 6 | **feel** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-2 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 7 | **smell** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 8 | **behave** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: 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 tell what happened, step by step.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:m2:1
# text = To tell what happened, step by step.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	nsubj	_	_
4	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** | past |  | step by step |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **step** |  | step |  |  |  |  |  | nom step «act transitive»: by=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To draw or make a shape or line (formal maths: describe a circle).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:m3:1
# text = To draw or make a shape or line (formal maths: describe a circle).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	draw	draw	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	circle	circle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **make** | imperative | you *not said here* | a shape or line and formal maths |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset shape=Product |
| 3 | **describe** | infinitive |  | a circle |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent circle=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Describe your favourite place using all five senses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:x1:1
# text = Describe your favourite place using all five senses.
1	Describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
6	all	all	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	senses	sens	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | imperative | you *not said here* | your favourite place |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent place=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | you *not said here* | five senses |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sens=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you describe the person who took the bike?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:x2:1
# text = Can you describe the person who took the bike?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can | you | the person |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 2 | **take** | past | the person | the bike |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Describe what happened when we added vinegar to the baking soda.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:x3:1
# text = Describe what happened when we added vinegar to the baking soda.
1	Describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	_
3	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	added	add	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	vinegar	vinegar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	baking	baking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	soda	soda	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **add** *speech: assert* | past | we | vinegar |  |  |  | to the baking soda | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent vinegar=Patient to soda=Co-Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The book describes life on a farm long ago.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:x4:1
# text = The book describes life on a farm long ago.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	_
9	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | the book | life |  | a farm |  | ago *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent life=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Describe this shape: it has four equal sides and four right angles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:x5:1
# text = Describe this shape: it has four equal sides and four right angles.
1	Describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
7	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
8	equal	equal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	sides	side	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
12	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	angles	angle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | imperative | you *not said here* | this shape |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent shape=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | shape | four equal sides and four right angles |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent side=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I can't describe how happy I was!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:x6:1
# text = I can't describe how happy I was!
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
6	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **describe** | can | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | I |  |  |  |  | happy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He described the castle as dark and cold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:x7:1
# text = He described the castle as dark and cold.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	described	describe	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | past | He | the castle |  |  |  | as dark | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent castle=Theme as dark=Attribute |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a pleasure to hear Alfred describe anything.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:describe:x8:1
# text = It was a pleasure to hear Alfred describe anything.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	expl	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pleasure	pleasure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
7	Alfred	Alfred	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past |  | a pleasure |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hear** | to-infinitive |  | Alfred |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **describe** | infinitive | Alfred *not said here* | anything |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent anything=Theme |

<!-- 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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