---
title: lightly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lightly» in the school dictionary: Lightly means with little force or weight: «tap lightly». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lightly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Snow, He, Dad, she · **What happens:** mean, salt, cook, be, take, sleep · **To what, where:** little, something, tin, fire safety, noise · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lightly means with little force or weight: «tap lightly».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:m1:1
# text = Lightly means with little force or weight: «tap lightly».
1	Lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	tap	tap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	_
11	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with little force or weight; lightly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
A little: «lightly salted», «lightly cooked».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:m2:1
# text = A little: «lightly salted», «lightly cooked».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	salted	salt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	cooked	cook	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **salt** *in a quote* | participle |  | a little |  |  |  | lightly *property* | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **cook** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | lightly *property* | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without being serious or worried: «take something lightly».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:m3:1
# text = Without being serious or worried: «take something lightly».
1	Without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
3	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | serious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **take** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | lightly *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not much: «sleep lightly».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:m4:1
# text = Not much: «sleep lightly».
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	sleep	sleep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sleep** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | lightly *property* | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lightly tap the glass with a spoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:x1:1
# text = Lightly tap the glass with a spoon.
1	Lightly	lightly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	tap	tap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spoon	spoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lightly grease the tin before baking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:x2:1
# text = Lightly grease the tin before baking.
1	Lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	grease	grease	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tin	tin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	baking	bake	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grease** | imperative | you *not said here* | the tin |  |  |  | lightly *property* | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent tin=Destination |
| 2 | **bake** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Snow fell lightly all night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:x3:1
# text = Snow fell lightly all night.
1	Snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | Snow |  |  |  | night | lightly *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't take fire safety lightly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:x4:1
# text = Don't take fire safety lightly.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	lightly	lightly	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 | **not** **take** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | fire safety |  |  |  | lightly *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent safety=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He got off lightly with a warning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:x5:1
# text = He got off lightly with a warning.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	off	off	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	warning	warning	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 | **get off** | past | He |  |  |  |  | with a warning; lightly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad sleeps lightly and hears every noise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:x6:1
# text = Dad sleeps lightly and hears every noise.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sleeps	sleep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	hears	hear	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sleep** | present | Dad |  |  |  |  | lightly *property* | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hear** | present | Dad *not said here* | every noise |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer noise=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How lightly, quickly, nimbly, wonderfully, she moved!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lightly:x7:1
# text = How lightly, quickly, nimbly, wonderfully, she moved!
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	nimbly	nimbly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	wonderfully	wonderfully	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

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**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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