---
title: motif — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «motif» in the school dictionary: A pattern or picture that is repeated in a design, such as on fabric or wallpaper: a flower motif. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# motif

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** image, We, T shirt, Light, you, tiles · **What happens:** repeat, keep, come back, print, have, be · **To what, where:** pattern, design, story, notes, piece, leaf motif

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pattern or picture that is repeated in a design, such as on fabric or wallpaper: a flower motif.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:m1:1
# text = A pattern or picture that is repeated in a design, such as on fabric or wallpaper: a flower motif.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	repeated	repeat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl:relcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	design	design	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
15	fabric	fabric	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	wallpaper	wallpaper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	flower	flower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	motif	motif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repeat** | present · passive |  | a pattern or picture and a flower motif |  | a design and fabric or wallpaper |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
An idea, image or theme that keeps coming back in a story, film or piece of music.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:m2:1
# text = An idea, image or theme that keeps coming back in a story, film or piece of music.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	image	image	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	theme	theme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	coming	come	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	_
10	back	back	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | image or theme |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come back** | gerund | image or theme *not said here* |  |  | a story and film or piece of music |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in story=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: music — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A short group of notes repeated in a piece.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:m3:1
# text = A short group of notes repeated in a piece.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	notes	note	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	repeated	repeat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repeat** | participle |  | notes *not said here* |  | a piece |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We printed a leaf motif across the fabric.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:x1:1
# text = We printed a leaf motif across the fabric.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	printed	print	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	motif	motif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	across	across	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fabric	fabric	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **print** | past | We | a leaf motif |  | the fabric |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent motif=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The T-shirt has a star motif on the front.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:x2:1
# text = The T-shirt has a star motif on the front.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	T	t	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	shirt	shirt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	motif	motif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the T shirt | a star motif |  | the front |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent motif=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Light and dark is a motif in the story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:x3:1
# text = Light and dark is a motif in the story.
1	Light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	motif	motif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Light and dark | a motif |  | the story |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Repeat your motif to make a pattern.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:x4:1
# text = Repeat your motif to make a pattern.
1	Repeat	repeat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	motif	motif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repeat** | imperative | you *not said here* | your motif |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent motif=Eventuality |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a pattern |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset pattern=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tiles have a blue wave motif.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:x5:1
# text = The tiles have a blue wave motif.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tiles	tile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	wave	wave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	motif	motif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the tiles | a blue wave motif |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent motif=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That four-note motif comes back again and again in the music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:x6:1
# text = That four-note motif comes back again and again in the music.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
2	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	motif	motif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	back	back	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	again	again	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come back** | present | that note motif |  |  | the music | again |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in music=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle is a motif in many fairy tales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:x7:1
# text = The castle is a motif in many fairy tales.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	motif	motif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the castle | a motif |  | many fairy tales |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Parallels.--The lover visiting his spouse in guise of a bird, is a frequent motif in folk-tales.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motif:x8:1
# text = Parallels.--The lover visiting his spouse in guise of a bird, is a frequent motif in folk-tales.
1	Parallels	parallel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lover	lover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
6	visiting	visit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	spouse	spouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	guise	guise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	frequent	frequent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	motif	motif	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	folk	folk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | gerund | the lover *not said here* | his spouse |  | guise of a bird |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spouse=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Parallels and the lover | a frequent motif |  | folk tales |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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