---
title: maraca — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «maraca» in the school dictionary: A musical instrument made of a hollow ball or gourd filled with seeds, beads or small stones, with a handle; you shake it to make a rattling sound. Usually played in pairs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# maraca

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** musical instrument, I, We, pair, Maracas, baby · **What happens:** make, fill, shake, play, be, love · **To what, where:** musical instrument, gourd, handle, rattling sound, pairs, maracas

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A musical instrument made of a hollow ball or gourd filled with seeds, beads or small stones, with a handle; you shake it to make a rattling sound. Usually played in pairs.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* A musical instrument made of a hollow ball or gourd filled with seeds, beads or small stones, with a handle; you shake it to make a rattling sound.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:m1:1
# text = A musical instrument made of a hollow ball or gourd filled with seeds, beads or small stones, with a handle; you shake it to make a rattling sound.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nsubj	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	hollow	hollow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	gourd	gourd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	filled	fill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	beads	bead	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	handle	handle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	25	punct	_	_
24	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
25	shake	shake	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
26	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	25	obj	_	_
27	to	to	PART	TO	_	28	mark	_	_
28	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	25	advcl	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
30	rattling	rattling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	_
31	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	25	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  | a musical instrument *not said here* |  |  |  | of a hollow ball or gourd | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **fill** | participle |  | gourd *not said here* |  |  |  | with seeds and beads or small stones; with a handle | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with seed=Instrument |
| 3 | **shake** | present | a musical instrument | handle |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive | a musical instrument *not said here* | a rattling sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Usually played in pairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:m1:2
# text = Usually played in pairs.
1	Usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	pairs	pair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | participle |  |  |  | pairs |  | usually *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I shook the maracas in time to the song.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:x1:1
# text = I shook the maracas in time to the song.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shook	shake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	maracas	maraca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | past | I | the maracas |  | the song | time |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent maraca=Theme to song=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made maracas from yogurt pots filled with rice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:x2:1
# text = We made maracas from yogurt pots filled with rice.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	maracas	maraca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	yogurt	yogurt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	pots	pot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	filled	fill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	rice	rice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | maracas |  | yogurt pots |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent maraca=Product from pot=Material |
| 2 | **fill** | participle |  | yogurt pots *not said here* |  |  |  | with rice | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with rice=Instrument |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pair of maracas makes a lovely shaking rhythm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:x3:1
# text = A pair of maracas makes a lovely shaking rhythm.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pair	pair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	maracas	maraca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	lovely	lovely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	shaking	shake	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	amod	_	_
9	rhythm	rhythm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a pair of maracas | a lovely shaking rhythm |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rhythm=Product |
| 2 | **shake** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maracas are popular in Latin American music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:x4:1
# text = Maracas are popular in Latin American music.
1	Maracas	maraca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	popular	popular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	Latin	Latin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
6	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	music	music	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 | **is** | present | Maracas |  |  | Latin American music |  | popular *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby loves the sound of the plastic maraca.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:x5:1
# text = The baby loves the sound of the plastic maraca.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	loves	love	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	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	plastic	plastic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	maraca	maraca	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | the baby | the sound of the plastic maraca |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer sound=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shake the maracas softly for the quiet part.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:x6:1
# text = Shake the maracas softly for the quiet part.
1	Shake	shake	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	maracas	maraca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | imperative | you *not said here* | the maracas |  |  |  | for the quiet part; softly *property* | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent maraca=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old maracas were made from dried gourds with seeds inside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:x7:1
# text = Old maracas were made from dried gourds with seeds inside.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	maracas	maraca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	dried	dry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	gourds	gourd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | Old maracas |  | dried gourds with seeds |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V PP»: subject=Product from gourd=Material |
| 2 | **dry** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the band, I play the maracas and my friend plays the drum.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maraca:x8:1
# text = In the band, I play the maracas and my friend plays the drum.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	maracas	maraca	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	drum	drum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | present | I | the maracas |  | the band |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent maraca=Theme |
| 2 | **play** | present | my friend | the drum |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drum=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 -->

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