---
title: improvisation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «improvisation» in the school dictionary: Making something up on the spot, without a script or plan — in music, drama or speech. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# improvisation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, whatever, we, Jazz musicians, tent pole, improvisation · **What happens:** make up, use, have, solve, lack, do · **To what, where:** something, spot, whatever, problem, proper things, speech

<!-- .vabout -->
«improvisation» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [improvisation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/improvisation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making something up on the spot, without a script or plan — in music, drama or speech.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvisation:m1:1
# text = Making something up on the spot, without a script or plan — in music, drama or speech.
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	spot	spot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	without	without	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	script	script	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make up** | gerund |  | something |  | the spot |  | without a script or plan | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme something=Pivot |

<!-- .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 -->
Using whatever you have to solve a problem quickly when you lack the proper things.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvisation:m2:1
# text = Using whatever you have to solve a problem quickly when you lack the proper things.
1	Using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	0	root	_	_
2	whatever	whatever	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	obj	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
10	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	lack	lack	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **have** | present | you | whatever |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **solve** | to-infinitive | whatever *not said here* | a problem |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |
| 4 | **lack** | present | you | the proper things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A piece of music, drama or speech made up in the moment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvisation:m3:1
# text = A piece of music, drama or speech made up in the moment.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make up** | participle |  | speech *not said here* |  |  | moment |  | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In drama we did an improvisation about getting lost at the zoo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvisation:x1:1
# text = In drama we did an improvisation about getting lost at the zoo.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	drama	drama	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	improvisation	improvisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	getting	get	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | we | a improvisation |  | drama |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent improvisation=Eventuality |
| 2 | **lose** | gerund · passive |  | a improvisation *not said here* |  | the zoo |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V PP.eventuality S\_ING»: at zoo=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jazz musicians are famous for improvisation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvisation:x2:1
# text = Jazz musicians are famous for improvisation.
1	Jazz	jazz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	musicians	musician	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	improvisation	improvisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Jazz musicians |  |  |  |  | for improvisation; famous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the tent pole broke, Dad's improvisation was a long branch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvisation:x3:1
# text = When the tent pole broke, Dad's improvisation was a long branch.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	5	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	tent	tent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	pole	pole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	improvisation	improvisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | the tent pole |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Dad's improvisation | a long branch |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The speech was pure improvisation; she had no notes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvisation:x4:1
# text = The speech was pure improvisation; she had no notes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	improvisation	improvisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	10	det	_	_
10	notes	note	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the speech | pure improvisation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | past | she | no notes |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Improv games help you think quickly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvisation:x5:1
# text = Improv games help you think quickly.
1	Improv	Improv	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Improv games | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our band's best song started as an improvisation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvisation:x6:1
# text = Our band's best song started as an improvisation.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	improvisation	improvisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | past | Our band's best song |  |  |  |  | as a improvisation | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **sing** |  | Our band |  |  |  |  |  | nom song «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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