---
title: learn — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «learn» in the school dictionary: To learn is to come to know something new, or to get a new skill: learn to swim. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# learn

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** heart, we, Ella, I, you, our · **What happens:** learn, be, know, get, swim, find out · **To what, where:** something, new skill, adjective, much knowledge, study, 4 new words · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«learn» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [learn in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/learn.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To learn is to come to know something new, or to get a new skill: learn to swim.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:m1:1
# text = To learn is to come to know something new, or to get a new skill: learn to swim.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
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	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
18	learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | come *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **know** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |
| 4 | **get** | to-infinitive |  | a new skill |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer skill=Stimulus |
| 5 | **learn** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 6 | **swim** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «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 -->
To learn something by heart is to remember it word for word.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:m2:1
# text = To learn something by heart is to remember it word for word.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | heart |  |  |  |  | remember *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To learn about something is to find out about it: we learned about volcanoes.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:m3:1
# text = To learn about something is to find out about it: we learned about volcanoes.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
14	about	about	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	volcanoes	volcano	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | about something | tree rules |
| 3 | **find out** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about it | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |
| 4 | **learn** | past | we |  |  |  |  | about volcanoes | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about volcano=Topic |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Learned (as an adjective) means having much knowledge gained from study and reading.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:m4:1
# text = Learned (as an adjective) means having much knowledge gained from study and reading.
1	Learned	learn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	knowledge	knowledge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	gained	gain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | participle |  | a adjective |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent adjective=Topic |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **have** *not said to happen* | gerund |  | much knowledge |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent knowledge=Patient |
| 4 | **gain** | participle |  | much knowledge *not said here* |  | study and reading |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
First, a little revision of what we learned before …

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:x1:1
# text = First, a little revision of what we learned before …
1	First	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	revision	revision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	before	before	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	…	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | we |  |  |  |  | before *property* | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Today we learn to divide.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:x2:1
# text = Today we learn to divide.
1	Today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
2	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	learn	learn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	divide	divide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present | we |  |  |  | today |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **divide** | to-infinitive | we *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ella learns 4 new words each day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:x3:1
# text = Ella learns 4 new words each day.
1	Ella	Ella	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learns	learn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present | Ella | 4 new words |  |  | day |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I learned to ride my bike last summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:x4:1
# text = I learned to ride my bike last summer.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	ride	ride	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **ride** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | my bike |  |  | summer |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are learning about the solar system.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:x5:1
# text = We are learning about the solar system.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	solar	solar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present · progressive | We |  |  |  |  | about the solar system | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about system=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Learn your times tables by heart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:x6:1
# text = Learn your times tables by heart.
1	Learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	compound	_	_
4	tables	table	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | imperative | you *not said here* | your times tables |  |  |  | by heart | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent table=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learn from our mistakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:x7:1
# text = We learn from our mistakes.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learn	learn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present | We |  |  | our mistakes |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.source»: agent=Agent from mistake=Source |
| 2 | **mistake** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My dog learned a new trick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:learn:x8:1
# text = My dog learned a new trick.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	trick	trick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | My dog | a new trick |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trick=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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