---
title: expression — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «expression» in the school dictionary: A word or phrase with a special meaning; a saying. 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/E/expression/)

<!-- 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/) / [E](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/) / expression

# expression

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** face, group, you, expression, She, Painting · **What happens:** show, equal, read, hit, be, mean · **To what, where:** feeling, feelings, sign, sack, expression, bed · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«expression» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [expression in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/expression.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A word or phrase with a special meaning; a saying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:m1:1
# text = A word or phrase with a special meaning; a saying.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	saying	saying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The look on a person's face that shows feeling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:m2:1
# text = The look on a person's face that shows feeling.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a person's face | feeling |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent feeling=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Showing feelings or ideas in words, art or music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:m3:1
# text = Showing feelings or ideas in words, art or music.
1	Showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | gerund |  | feelings or ideas |  |  |  | in words | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent feeling=Patient in word=Topic |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A group of numbers, letters and signs such as 3 + 4 or 2x − 5, without an equals sign.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:m4:1
# text = A group of numbers, letters and signs such as 3 + 4 or 2x − 5, without an equals sign.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	11	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nmod	_	_
12	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	13	cc	_	_
13	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	x	x	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
17	−	−	SYM	SYM	_	15	dep	_	_
18	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	17	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
21	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	nsubj	_	_
22	equals	equal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
23	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	22	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **equal** | present | a group of numbers and letters and signs such 3 | sign |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reading with feeling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:m5:1
# text = Reading with feeling.
1	Reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | with feeling | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"read with expression".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:m5e:1
# text = "read with expression".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with expression | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Hit the sack" is an expression meaning go to bed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:x1:1
# text = "Hit the sack" is an expression meaning go to bed.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Hit	hit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	csubj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sack	sack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | the sack |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme sack=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a expression |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** | gerund | a expression *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **go** *not said to happen* | infinitive | a expression *not said here* |  |  | bed |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to bed=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She had a worried expression on her face.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:x2:1
# text = She had a worried expression on her face.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	face	face	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 | **have** | past | She | a worried expression |  | her face |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent expression=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the poem aloud with expression.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:x3:1
# text = Read the poem aloud with expression.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the poem |  |  |  | with expression; aloud *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent poem=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Simplify the expression 3a + 2a.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:x4:1
# text = Simplify the expression 3a + 2a.
1	Simplify	simplify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	3a	3a	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	6	cc	_	_
6	2a	2a	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Ord	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **simplify** | imperative | you *not said here* | the expression 3a + 2a |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Work out the value of the expression 4 × 5 − 2.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:x5:1
# text = Work out the value of the expression 4 × 5 − 2.
1	Work	work	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	value	value	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	flat	_	_
9	×	×	SYM	SYM	_	10	case	_	_
10	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nmod	_	_
11	−	−	SYM	SYM	_	12	case	_	_
12	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work out** | imperative | you *not said here* | the value of the expression × 5 − 2 |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent value=Topic |
| 2 | **value** |  |  | the expression × 5 − 2 |  |  |  |  | nom value «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Painting is a form of expression.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:x6:1
# text = Painting is a form of expression.
1	Painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Painting | a form |  |  |  | of expression | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He used a rude expression and got told off.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:x7:1
# text = He used a rude expression and got told off.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	got	get	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	conj	_	_
9	off	off	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | He | a rude expression |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent expression=Patient |
| 2 | **tell off** *speech: assert* | past · passive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V» |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I spat!" cried the General's lady; "what an expression!

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expression:x8:1
# text = "I spat!" cried the General's lady; "what an expression!
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spat	spat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	General	General	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	lady	lady	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	parataxis	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spat** *in a quote* | present | the General's lady *= lady* |  |  |  |  |  | vn battle-36.4 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | the General's lady |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- 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: [expressed](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expressed/)
- next →: [expressive](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/expressive/)
- ↑ back to [E in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/)