---
title: improvise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «improvise» in the school dictionary: To make or do something without planning, using whatever is available. 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/I/improvise/)

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

# improvise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** whatever, We, actors, She, He · **What happens:** make, do, use, be, make up, act · **To what, where:** something, music, spot, ball, lines, tune

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make or do something without planning, using whatever is available.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvise:m1:1
# text = To make or do something without planning, using whatever is available.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	without	without	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	planning	planning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
10	whatever	whatever	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	available	available	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **do** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | without planning | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **use** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | whatever |  |  |  |  | available *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
To make up music, words or acting on the spot, without a script.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvise:m2:1
# text = To make up music, words or acting on the spot, without a script.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	acting	act	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	spot	spot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	without	without	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	script	script	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make up** | to-infinitive |  | music and words |  |  |  | without a script | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme music=Pivot |
| 2 | **act** | gerund |  |  |  | the spot |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on spot=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had no ball, so we improvised with rolled-up socks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvise:x1:1
# text = We had no ball, so we improvised with rolled-up socks.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	improvised	improvise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
10	rolled	roll	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	socks	sock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | no ball |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ball=Patient |
| 2 | **improvise** | past | we |  |  |  |  | with rolled up socks | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **roll** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The actors had to improvise when they forgot their lines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvise:x2:1
# text = The actors had to improvise when they forgot their lines.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	actors	actor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	improvise	improvise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
9	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the actors |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **improvise** | to-infinitive | the actors *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **forget** | past | actors *= actor* | actors's lines |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She improvised a tune on the piano.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvise:x3:1
# text = She improvised a tune on the piano.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	improvised	improvise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	piano	piano	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **improvise** | past | She | a tune |  | the piano |  |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tune=Result |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He improvised a splint from two rulers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvise:x4:1
# text = He improvised a splint from two rulers.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	improvised	improvise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	splint	splint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	rulers	ruler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **improvise** | past | He | a splint |  | two rulers |  |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP PP.material»: agent=Agent splint=Result from ruler=Material |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We improvised a tent with a blanket and chairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvise:x5:1
# text = We improvised a tent with a blanket and chairs.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	improvised	improvise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tent	tent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	blanket	blanket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	chairs	chair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **improvise** | past | We | a tent |  |  |  | with a blanket and chairs | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tent=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In drama we improvised a scene at the bus stop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:improvise:x6:1
# text = In drama we improvised a scene at the bus stop.
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	improvised	improvise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	stop	stop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **improvise** | past | we | a scene |  | drama |  | at the bus stop | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent scene=Result |

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