---
title: gruff — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gruff» in the school dictionary: Low, deep and rough. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gruff

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** they, Badger, Goats Gruff, Grandpa, guard, voice · **What happens:** speak, be, say, cross, sound, answer · **To what, where:** way, gruff voice, bridge, cold, water · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Low, deep and rough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gruff:m1:1
# text = Low, deep and rough.
1	Low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rather unfriendly or impatient in the way they speak, though maybe kind underneath.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gruff:m2:1
# text = Rather unfriendly or impatient in the way they speak, though maybe kind underneath.
1	Rather	rather	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	unfriendly	unfriendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	impatient	impatient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	speak	speak	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	though	though	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
12	maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
14	underneath	underneath	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | they | the way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Who's there?» said Badger in a gruff voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gruff:x1:1
# text = «Who's there?» said Badger in a gruff voice.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	Badger	Badger	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	gruff	gruff	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | there *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: ask* | past | Badger |  |  | a gruff voice |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in voice=Manner |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Three Billy Goats Gruff crossed the bridge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gruff:x2:1
# text = The Three Billy Goats Gruff crossed the bridge.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	Three	Three	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	Billy	Billy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Goats	Goat	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	5	compound	_	_
5	Gruff	Gruff	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	crossed	cross	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | past | the Goats Gruff | the bridge |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bridge=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa sounds gruff, but he's really very kind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gruff:x3:1
# text = Grandpa sounds gruff, but he's really very kind.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	gruff	gruff	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	really	really	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | Grandpa |  |  |  |  | gruff *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | present | Grandpa |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guard answered gruffly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gruff:x4:1
# text = The guard answered gruffly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	gruffly	gruffly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | the guard |  |  |  |  | gruffly *property* | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His voice was gruff from his cold.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gruff:x5:1
# text = His voice was gruff from his cold.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	gruff	gruff	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	cold	cold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His voice |  |  | his cold |  | gruff *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Come in, then,» said the gruff old man.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gruff:x6:1
# text = «Come in, then,» said the gruff old man.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
3	in	in	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	gruff	gruff	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come in** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  | then |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the gruff old man |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Ahas!” said a gruff voice across the water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gruff:x7:1
# text = “Ahas!” said a gruff voice across the water.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ahas	aha	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	gruff	gruff	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	across	across	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Ahas | a gruff voice |  | the water |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent voice=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 -->

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