---
title: murmuring — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «murmuring» in the school dictionary: Saying something quietly and softly, so it is hard to hear. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# murmuring

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Saying, Murmurings, murmuring stream, We, voices, Bees · **What happens:** say, be, hear, make, murmur, send · **To what, where:** something, low soft continuous sound, quiet complaints, unhappiness, me, voices · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying something quietly and softly, so it is hard to hear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:m1:1
# text = Saying something quietly and softly, so it is hard to hear.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	csubj	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	_
3	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	expl	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | something |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | Saying |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **hear** | to-infinitive | Saying *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
Making a low, soft, continuous sound, like a stream, bees or the wind in leaves.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:m2:1
# text = Making a low, soft, continuous sound, like a stream, bees or the wind in leaves.
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
3	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	continuous	continuous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  | a low soft continuous sound and a stream and bees or the wind in leaves |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Murmurings are quiet complaints or rumours: «murmurings of unhappiness».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:m3:1
# text = Murmurings are quiet complaints or rumours: «murmurings of unhappiness».
1	Murmurings	murmuring	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	complaints	complaint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	rumours	rumour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	murmurings	murmuring	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	appos	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	unhappiness	unhappiness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Murmurings | quiet complaints or rumours |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **murmur** *in a quote* |  |  | unhappiness |  |  |  |  | nom murmuring «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The murmuring stream sent me to sleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:x1:1
# text = The murmuring stream sent me to sleep.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	murmuring	murmuring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	sleep	sleep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | the murmuring stream | me |  |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Theme |
| 2 | **sleep** | to-infinitive | the murmuring stream *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn snooze-40.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We could hear voices murmuring behind the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:x2:1
# text = We could hear voices murmuring behind the door.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	voices	voice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	murmuring	murmur	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | could | We | voices |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer voice=Stimulus |
| 2 | **murmur** *speech: other* | gerund | voices *not said here* |  |  | the door |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme behind door=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bees were murmuring in the lavender.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:x3:1
# text = Bees were murmuring in the lavender.
1	Bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	murmuring	murmur	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	lavender	lavender	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **murmur** *speech: other* | past · progressive | Bees |  |  | the lavender |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in lavender=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were murmurings in class when the trip was cancelled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:x4:1
# text = There were murmurings in class when the trip was cancelled.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	murmurings	murmuring	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | murmurings |  |  | class; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in class=Location |
| 2 | **cancel** | past · passive |  | the trip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The river went on murmuring through the night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:x5:1
# text = The river went on murmuring through the night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	murmuring	murmur	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the river |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **murmur** *speech: other* | gerund | the river *not said here* |  |  |  | night |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum sat murmuring a lullaby to the baby.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:x6:1
# text = Mum sat murmuring a lullaby to the baby.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	murmuring	murmur	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	lullaby	lullaby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **murmur** *speech: other* | gerund | Mum *not said here* | a lullaby | the baby |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent lullaby=Topic to baby=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd was murmuring before the show began.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:x7:1
# text = The crowd was murmuring before the show began.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	murmuring	murmur	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	show	show	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **murmur** *speech: other* | past · progressive | the crowd |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **begin** | past | the show |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The faint sound of murmuring people was in the air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:murmuring:x8:1
# text = The faint sound of murmuring people was in the air.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	faint	faint	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	murmuring	murmur	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **murmur** *speech: other* | gerund | the faint sound *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | past | the faint sound |  |  | the air |  |  | 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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