---
title: drummer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «drummer» in the school dictionary: A drummer is a person who plays the drums, for example in a band, orchestra or marching band. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# drummer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** drummer, person, drummer boy, brother, She, He · **What happens:** be, play, march, beat, travel, keep · **To what, where:** person, drums, band, drum, soldiers, drummer

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A drummer is a person who plays the drums, for example in a band, orchestra or marching band.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:m1:1
# text = A drummer is a person who plays the drums, for example in a band, orchestra or marching band.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	drummer	drummer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	marching	march	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	conj	_	_
20	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a drummer | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | present | a person | the drums |  | a band |  | for example | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent drum=Theme for example=Eventuality |
| 3 | **march** | gerund | a drummer *not said here* | band |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme band=Trajectory |

<!-- .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: older use — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A drummer boy beat a drum for marching soldiers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:m2:1
# text = A drummer boy beat a drum for marching soldiers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	drummer	drummer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	beat	beat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	drum	drum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	marching	march	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
9	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | past | a drummer boy | a drum |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location drum=Theme |
| 2 | **march** | gerund | a drummer boy *not said here* | soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme soldier=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: US, old-fashioned — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A travelling salesman.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:m3:1
# text = A travelling salesman.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	travelling	travel	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	salesman	salesman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **travel** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother is the drummer in the school band.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:x1:1
# text = My brother is the drummer in the school band.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	drummer	drummer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My brother | the drummer |  | the school band |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The drummer kept a steady beat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:x2:1
# text = The drummer kept a steady beat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	drummer	drummer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	kept	keep	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	steady	steady	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	beat	beat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the drummer | a steady beat |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beat=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The drummer counted «one, two, three, four» before the song.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:x3:1
# text = The drummer counted «one, two, three, four» before the song.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	drummer	drummer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	counted	count	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
13	before	before	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | past | the drummer | one |  |  | before the song | four *obl* | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old battles, a drummer boy marched with the soldiers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:x4:1
# text = In old battles, a drummer boy marched with the soldiers.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	battles	battle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	drummer	drummer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	marched	march	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **march** | past | a drummer boy |  |  | old battles |  | with the soldiers | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in battle=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wants to be a drummer when she grows up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:x5:1
# text = She wants to be a drummer when she grows up.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	drummer	drummer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **is a** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | a drummer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **grow up** | present | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He marches to the beat of a different drummer; he does things his own way.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:x6:1
# text = He marches to the beat of a different drummer; he does things his own way.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	marches	march	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	beat	beat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	drummer	drummer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
13	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
14	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
15	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **march** | present | He |  |  |  |  | to the beat of a different drummer *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme to beat=Result |
| 2 | **do** | present | he | things |  |  |  | his own way *obl:unmarked* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The drummer beat a roll--a roll of joy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:drummer:x7:1
# text = The drummer beat a roll--a roll of joy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	drummer	drummer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	beat	beat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	roll	roll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	roll	roll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	joy	joy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **beat** | past | the drummer | a roll and a roll of joy |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location roll=Theme |
| 2 | **roll** |  |  | joy |  |  |  |  | nom roll «event transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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