---
title: drama — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «drama» in the school dictionary: A play for the theatre, TV or radio; a story acted out by people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# drama

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, We, school, lot, dog, it · **What happens:** act out, teach, argue, not want, have, put · **To what, where:** story, subject, school, drama, informal drama queen, scratch · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«drama» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [drama in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/drama.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A play for the theatre, TV or radio; a story acted out by people.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:m1:1
# text = A play for the theatre, TV or radio; a story acted out by people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	theatre	theatre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	radio	radio	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
13	acted	act	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
14	out	out	ADP	RP	_	13	compound:prt	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act out** | participle |  | a story *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «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 -->
The subject of acting and performing plays, as taught in school: «drama class».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:m2:1
# text = The subject of acting and performing plays, as taught in school: «drama class».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	acting	acting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	performing	performing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	plays	play	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	taught	teach	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | participle · passive |  | the subject of acting and performing plays |  | school |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S»: subject=Recipient clause=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An exciting, unusual or upsetting event or situation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:m3:1
# text = An exciting, unusual or upsetting event or situation.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
2	exciting	exciting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	unusual	unusual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	upsetting	upsetting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
7	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Unnecessary fuss, arguing and gossip between people: «I don't want any drama.».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:m4:1
# text = Unnecessary fuss, arguing and gossip between people: «I don't want any drama.».
1	Unnecessary	unnecessary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	fuss	fuss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	arguing	argue	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	gossip	gossip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	appos	_	_
15	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	16	det	_	_
16	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **want** *in a quote* | present · do-support | I | any drama |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot drama=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We have drama on Tuesday afternoons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:x1:1
# text = We have drama on Tuesday afternoons.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	Tuesday	Tuesday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	afternoons	afternoon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | We | drama |  |  |  | on Tuesday afternoons | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drama=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school is putting on a drama about a shipwreck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:x2:1
# text = The school is putting on a drama about a shipwreck.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	putting	put	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	shipwreck	shipwreck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | present · progressive | the school |  |  | a drama about a shipwreck |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent on drama=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a lot of drama when the dog ran off with the turkey.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:x3:1
# text = There was a lot of drama when the dog ran off with the turkey.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	off	off	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	turkey	turkey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a lot of drama |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **run off** | past | the dog |  |  |  |  | with the turkey | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent with turkey=Material |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(informal) Don't be such a drama queen, it's only a scratch.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:x4:1
# text = (informal) Don't be such a drama queen, it's only a scratch.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
7	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	10	det:predet	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
14	only	only	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	scratch	scratch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present · do-support |  | such informal drama queen |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | it | a scratch |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(slang) There's always drama in that group chat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:x5:1
# text = (slang) There's always drama in that group chat.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
6	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	7	advmod	_	_
7	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
10	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	chat	chat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | drama in that group chat | slang *not said here* |  | there |  |  | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot slang=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(Australia) «Can you pass the salt?» «No drama.»

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* (Australia) «Can you pass the salt?»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:x6:1
# text = (Australia) «Can you pass the salt?»
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	pass	pass	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** *in a quote* | can | you | the salt |  |  |  | Australia *vocative* | vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme salt=Trajectory |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* «No drama.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:x6:2
# text = «No drama.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My mum likes watching crime dramas.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:x7:1
# text = My mum likes watching crime dramas.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	likes	like	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	watching	watch	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	dramas	drama	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | My mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **watch** *not said to happen* | gerund | My mum *not said here* | crime dramas |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drama=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A whole life drama is unfolding itself before her inward gaze.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drama:x8:1
# text = A whole life drama is unfolding itself before her inward gaze.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	unfolding	unfold	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obj	_	_
8	before	before	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	inward	inward	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	gaze	gaze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **unfold** | present · progressive | a whole life drama | drama |  |  | before her inward gaze |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent itself=Patient |
| 2 | **gaze** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom gaze «act intransitive»: 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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