---
title: multiply — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «multiply» in the school dictionary: To multiply is to add the same number many times in one quick step; it is the operation ×: 3 multiplied by 4 is 12. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# multiply

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** number, rabbits, you, 3 rows, Germs, piece · **What happens:** multiply, be, add, find, learn, grant · **To what, where:** operation ×, 3 12, number, same number, 5 bags, chairs · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«multiply» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [multiply in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/multiply.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To multiply is to add the same number many times in one quick step; it is the operation ×: 3 multiplied by 4 is 12.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:m1:1
# text = To multiply is to add the same number many times in one quick step; it is the operation ×: 3 multiplied by 4 is 12.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	multiply	multiply	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	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	_
13	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	operation	operation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	×	×	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
22	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	27	compound	_	_
23	multiplied	multiply	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	acl	_	_
24	by	by	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
25	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	23	obl	_	_
26	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	27	cop	_	_
27	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	20	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **multiply** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **be** *speech: assert* | present |  |  |  |  | time | in one quick step; add *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | number | the operation × |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **multiply** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by 4 | vn multiply-108-1 «NP V NP PP.co-theme»: agent=Agent by 4=Co-Theme |
| 5 | **is a** | present |  | 3 12 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 multiply is to grow quickly in number: rabbits multiply fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:m2:1
# text = To multiply is to grow quickly in number: rabbits multiply fast.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	multiply	multiply	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	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	rabbits	rabbit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	multiply	multiply	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
12	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **multiply** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | number |  | grow, quickly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **multiply** | present | rabbits |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn birth-28.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Multiplying is adding the same number again and again: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:x1:1
# text = Multiplying is adding the same number again and again: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12.
1	Multiplying	multiply	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	adding	add	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	again	again	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
11	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obj	_	_
12	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	13	cc	_	_
13	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	conj	_	_
14	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	15	cc	_	_
15	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	conj	_	_
16	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	17	case	_	_
17	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **multiply** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | present · progressive |  | the same number |  |  | again |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Multiply 5 bags by 6 pears in each bag.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:x2:1
# text = Multiply 5 bags by 6 pears in each bag.
1	Multiply	multiply	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	pears	pear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	bag	bag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **multiply** | imperative | you *not said here* | 5 bags |  |  |  | by 6 pears in each bag | vn multiply-108-1 «NP V NP PP.co-theme»: agent=Agent bag=Theme by pear=Co-Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 3 rows of 7 chairs; multiply to find all the chairs.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:x3:1
# text = There are 3 rows of 7 chairs; multiply to find all the chairs.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	rows	row	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	chairs	chair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	multiply	multiply	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
12	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	14	det:predet	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	chairs	chair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 3 rows of 7 chairs |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **multiply** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **find** | to-infinitive |  | all chairs |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chair=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
6 multiplied by 2 is 12.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:x4:1
# text = 6 multiplied by 2 is 12.
1	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
2	multiplied	multiply	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **multiply** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | 2 12 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Multiply the length by the width to find the area.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:x5:1
# text = Multiply the length by the width to find the area.
1	Multiply	multiply	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	length	length	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	width	width	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **multiply** | imperative | you *not said here* | the length |  |  |  | by the width | vn multiply-108-1 «NP V NP PP.co-theme»: agent=Agent length=Theme by width=Co-Theme |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the area |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent area=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Learn to multiply by 10 by adding a zero.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:x6:1
# text = Learn to multiply by 10 by adding a zero.
1	Learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	multiply	multiply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	adding	add	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	zero	zero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **multiply** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | by 10 | vn multiply-108-1 «NP V NP PP.co-theme»: agent=Agent by 10=Co-Theme |
| 3 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund | you *not said here* | a zero |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent zero=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Germs multiply quickly on dirty hands.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:x7:1
# text = Germs multiply quickly on dirty hands.
1	Germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	multiply	multiply	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **multiply** | present | Germs |  |  | dirty hands |  | quickly *property* | vn birth-28.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rabbits can multiply very fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:x8:1
# text = Rabbits can multiply very fast.
1	Rabbits	rabbit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	multiply	multiply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **multiply** | can | Rabbits |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn birth-28.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Granted that each piece gives you five hundred, multiply five hundred by five.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:multiply:x9:1
# text = Granted that each piece gives you five hundred, multiply five hundred by five.
1	Granted	grant	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	advcl	_	_
2	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
3	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	_
4	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	compound	_	_
8	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	multiply	multiply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	compound	_	_
12	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	obj	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grant** | participle | each piece *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **give** | present | each piece | five hundred | you |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent you=Recipient hundred=Theme |
| 3 | **multiply** | infinitive | each piece *not said here* | five hundred |  |  |  | by five | vn multiply-108-1 «NP V NP PP.co-theme»: agent=Agent hundred=Theme by five=Co-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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