---
title: fife — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fife» in the school dictionary: A fife is a small, high-sounding flute without keys, played mainly in military marching bands, often with drums. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fife

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fife, boy, St Andrews, We, music teacher, Ivan · **What happens:** sound, be, play, lead, go, camp · **To what, where:** small sounding flute, military marching bands, region, eastern Scotland, Andrews Fife, fife

<!-- .vabout -->
«fife» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [fife in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fife.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fife is a small, high-sounding flute without keys, played mainly in military marching bands, often with drums.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fife:m1:1
# text = A fife is a small, high-sounding flute without keys, played mainly in military marching bands, often with drums.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fife	fife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	sounding	sound	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	flute	flute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	without	without	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	keys	key	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
15	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	military	military	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
18	marching	marching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	bands	band	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	often	often	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
22	with	with	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a fife | a small sounding flute |  |  |  | without keys | tree rules |
| 3 | **play** | participle |  | a small sounding flute *not said here* |  | military marching bands and drums |  | mainly *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fife is a region in eastern Scotland, between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay; St Andrews is in Fife.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fife:m2:1
# text = Fife is a region in eastern Scotland, between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Tay; St Andrews is in Fife.
1	Fife	fife	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	region	region	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	eastern	eastern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	between	between	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Firth	firth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	11	nmod	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Firth	firth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	Tay	Tay	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
20	St	St	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	Andrews	Andrews	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
22	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
24	Fife	Fife	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Fife | a region and the Firth and the Firth of Tay and Andrews Fife |  | eastern Scotland |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | Fife *not said here* |  |  | Andrews Fife |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boy played a fife in the marching band.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fife:x1:1
# text = The boy played a fife in the marching band.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	played	play	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	fife	fife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	marching	marching	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | the boy | a fife |  | the marching band |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fife=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fife sounds higher than a flute.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fife:x2:1
# text = A fife sounds higher than a flute.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fife	fife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	higher	high	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	xcomp	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	flute	flute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | a fife |  |  |  |  | high *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fife and drum music led the soldiers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fife:x3:1
# text = Fife and drum music led the soldiers.
1	Fife	fife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
3	drum	drum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
5	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | Fife and drum music | the soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent soldier=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
St Andrews is a famous town in Fife.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fife:x4:1
# text = St Andrews is a famous town in Fife.
1	St	St	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Andrews	Andrews	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Fife	Fife	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | St Andrews | a famous town |  | Fife |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We went camping on the coast of Fife.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fife:x5:1
# text = We went camping on the coast of Fife.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	camping	camp	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	coast	coast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Fife	fife	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 | **go** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **camp** | gerund | We *not said here* |  |  | the coast of Fife |  |  | vn odge-46-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our music teacher showed us a wooden fife.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fife:x6:1
# text = Our music teacher showed us a wooden fife.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fife	fife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Our music teacher | a wooden fife | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient fife=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ivan began playing on his fife, and forthwith they all fell a-dancing.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fife:x7:1
# text = Ivan began playing on his fife, and forthwith they all fell a-dancing.
1	Ivan	Ivan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	fife	fife	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
9	forthwith	forthwith	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
12	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	dancing	dancing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | Ivan |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **play** | gerund | Ivan *not said here* |  |  | Ivan's fife |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fall** | past | they | a dancing |  |  |  | forthwith *property* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient dancing=Result |

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**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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