---
title: firmly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «firmly» in the school dictionary: Firmly means strongly and steadily, so that something does not move or come loose. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# firmly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, clear serious way, you, your, Mum, that · **What happens:** mean, not move, come, show, not change, mind · **To what, where:** way, mind, rope, bleeding, that, lid · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«firmly» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [firmly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/firmly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Firmly means strongly and steadily, so that something does not move or come loose.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:m1:1
# text = Firmly means strongly and steadily, so that something does not move or come loose.
1	Firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	strongly	strongly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	steadily	steadily	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	12	mark	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nsubj	_	_
10	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
15	loose	loose	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | firmly, strongly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **move** | present · do-support | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **come** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | loose *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Firmly means in a clear, serious way that shows you mean it and will not change your mind.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:m2:1
# text = Firmly means in a clear, serious way that shows you mean it and will not change your mind.
1	Firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	mean	mean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
18	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
19	mind	mind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in a clear serious way; firmly *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in way=Attribute |
| 2 | **show** | present | a clear serious way |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **mean** | present | you | way |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 4 | **not** **change** | future | a clear serious way *not said here* | your mind |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mind=Patient |
| 5 | **mind** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom mind «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hold the rope firmly with both hands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:x1:1
# text = Hold the rope firmly with both hands.
1	Hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | imperative | you *not said here* | the rope |  |  |  | with both hands; firmly *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rope=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Press firmly on the cut to stop the bleeding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:x2:1
# text = Press firmly on the cut to stop the bleeding.
1	Press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	bleeding	bleeding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  | the bleeding |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality bleeding=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum said «No» firmly, and that was that.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:x3:1
# text = Mum said «No» firmly, and that was that.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Mum |  |  |  |  | firmly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | that | that |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Make sure the lid is firmly closed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:x4:1
# text = Make sure the lid is firmly closed.
1	Make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lid	lid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
6	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **close** | present · passive |  | the lid |  |  |  | firmly *property* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tent pegs were pushed firmly into the ground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:x5:1
# text = The tent pegs were pushed firmly into the ground.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tent	tent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	pegs	peg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	pushed	push	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | past · passive |  | the tent pegs |  | the ground |  | firmly *property* | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme into ground=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I firmly believe that honesty is best.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:x6:1
# text = I firmly believe that honesty is best.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	honesty	honesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | I |  |  |  |  | firmly *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | honesty |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plant the seeds and press the soil down firmly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:x7:1
# text = Plant the seeds and press the soil down firmly.
1	Plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
5	press	press	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	down	down	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
9	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press down** | present | Plant | the soil |  |  |  | firmly *property* | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent soil=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She shook my hand firmly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:x8:1
# text = She shook my hand firmly.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shook	shake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | past | She | my hand |  |  |  | firmly *property* | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He turned round anew, firmly convinced that he was seriously ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:firmly:x9:1
# text = He turned round anew, firmly convinced that he was seriously ill.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	round	round	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	anew	anew	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	convinced	convinced	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	seriously	seriously	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn round** | past | He |  |  |  |  | anew, round *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | past | he |  |  |  |  | ill, seriously *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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