---
title: interpret — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «interpret» in the school dictionary: To interpret something is to explain or decide what it means: interpret a poem, interpret a graph. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# interpret

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, someone, they, you, bar chart, I · **What happens:** interpret, be, decide, mean, say, speak · **To what, where:** something, poem, graph, one language, music, own way · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«interpret» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [interpret in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/interpret.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To interpret something is to explain or decide what it means: interpret a poem, interpret a graph.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:m1:1
# text = To interpret something is to explain or decide what it means: interpret a poem, interpret a graph.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	interpret	interpret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	explain	explain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	decide	decide	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	obj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	interpret	interpret	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	interpret	interpret	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	graph	graph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpret** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | explain *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **decide** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **mean** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 5 | **interpret** | infinitive |  | a poem |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent poem=Theme |
| 6 | **interpret** | infinitive |  | a graph |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent graph=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 -->
To interpret is to translate aloud what someone says from one language into another as they speak.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:m2:1
# text = To interpret is to translate aloud what someone says from one language into another as they speak.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	interpret	interpret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	translate	translate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
9	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	into	into	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	nmod	_	_
15	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	speak	speak	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpret** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | aloud, translate *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | someone |  |  | one language into another |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |
| 4 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To interpret music, a role or a dance is to perform it in your own way.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:m3:1
# text = To interpret music, a role or a dance is to perform it in your own way.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	interpret	interpret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	advcl	_	_
3	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	role	role	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dance	dance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	perform	perform	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
16	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpret** | to-infinitive |  | music and a role or a dance |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent music=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | your own way |  | perform *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you interpret what this bar chart shows?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:x1:1
# text = Can you interpret what this bar chart shows?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	interpret	interpret	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	obj	_	_
5	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
6	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	chart	chart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpret** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP to be ADJ»: agent=Agent clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **show** | present | this bar chart |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent what=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I interpreted her smile as a yes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:x2:1
# text = I interpreted her smile as a yes.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	interpreted	interpret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	yes	yes	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 | **interpret** | past | I | her smile |  |  |  | as a yes | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent smile=Theme as yes=Attribute |
| 2 | **smile** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom smile «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A teacher interpreted for the new pupil from Poland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:x3:1
# text = A teacher interpreted for the new pupil from Poland.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	interpreted	interpret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Poland	Poland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpret** | past | a teacher |  |  |  |  | for the new pupil from Poland | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People interpret this poem in many different ways.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:x4:1
# text = People interpret this poem in many different ways.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	interpret	interpret	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ways	way	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpret** | present | People | this poem |  | many different ways |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent poem=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientist interpreted the results carefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:x5:1
# text = The scientist interpreted the results carefully.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scientist	scientist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	interpreted	interpret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpret** | past | the scientist | the results |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent result=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each pianist interprets the music a little differently.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:x6:1
# text = Each pianist interprets the music a little differently.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	pianist	pianist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	interprets	interpret	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
8	differently	differently	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpret** | present | each pianist | the music |  |  |  | a little *obl:unmarked* | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent music=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He interpreted the silence as anger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:x7:1
# text = He interpreted the silence as anger.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	interpreted	interpret	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	silence	silence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	anger	anger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **interpret** | past | He | the silence |  |  |  | as anger | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent silence=Theme as anger=Attribute |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Flower understood this, in her way, as we interpret everything in our way.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:interpret:x8:1
# text = The Flower understood this, in her way, as we interpret everything in our way.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Flower	Flower	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	understood	understand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	interpret	interpret	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
13	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	12	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **understand** | past | the Flower | this |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer this=Stimulus |
| 2 | **interpret** | present | we | everything |  | our way |  |  | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent everything=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->
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