---
title: mutter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mutter» in the school dictionary: To speak quietly and unclearly, often to yourself, so others cannot hear well. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mutter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** others, angry way, This, he, She, I · **What happens:** speak, not hear, complain, mutter, not be, speak up · **To what, where:** yourself, angry way, complaint, something, spell, breath · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«mutter» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [mutter in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mutter.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To speak quietly and unclearly, often to yourself, so others cannot hear well.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:m1:1
# text = To speak quietly and unclearly, often to yourself, so others cannot hear well.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	speak	speak	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	unclearly	unclearly	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
12	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
13	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
16	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  | yourself |  |  | quietly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to yourself=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **not** **hear** | can | others |  |  |  |  | well *property* | 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 -->
To complain quietly, often in an angry or grumpy way: muttering about the rain.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:m2:1
# text = To complain quietly, often in an angry or grumpy way: muttering about the rain.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	complain	complain	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
8	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	grumpy	grumpy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	muttering	mutter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
14	about	about	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **complain** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a angry way |  | quietly *property* | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | gerund | a angry way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about the rain | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about rain=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quiet, unclear speech: a mutter of complaint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:m3:1
# text = Quiet, unclear speech: a mutter of complaint.
1	Quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mutter	mutter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	complaint	complaint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mutter** |  |  | complaint |  |  |  |  | nom mutter «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«This isn't fair,» he muttered.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:x1:1
# text = «This isn't fair,» he muttered.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	muttered	mutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | present | This |  |  |  |  | fair *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She muttered something I couldn't hear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:x2:1
# text = She muttered something I couldn't hear.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	muttered	mutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | past | She | something |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **hear** | could | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa muttered about the price of bread.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:x3:1
# text = Grandpa muttered about the price of bread.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	muttered	mutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | past | Grandpa |  |  |  |  | about the price of bread | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about price=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Speak up, don't mutter!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:x4:1
# text = Speak up, don't mutter!
1	Speak	speak	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	up	up	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	mutter	mutter	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak up** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **mutter** *speech: assert* | infinitive · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wizard muttered a spell under his breath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:x5:1
# text = The wizard muttered a spell under his breath.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	muttered	mutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	spell	spell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | past | the wizard | a spell |  | wizard's breath |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spell=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd began to mutter angrily.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:x6:1
# text = The crowd began to mutter angrily.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	mutter	mutter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	angrily	angrily	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | the crowd |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | the crowd *not said here* |  |  |  |  | angrily *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I heard a mutter from the back of the class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:x7:1
# text = I heard a mutter from the back of the class.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	mutter	mutter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | I | a mutter |  | the back of the class |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent mutter=Topic from back=Source |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He muttered to himself as he searched for his keys.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:x8:1
# text = He muttered to himself as he searched for his keys.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	muttered	mutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obl	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	searched	search	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	keys	key	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | past | He |  | himself *= he* |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to himself=Recipient |
| 2 | **search** | past | he |  |  |  |  | for his keys | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.theme NP.location»: agent=Agent for key=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“'He is coming!' said the people,” muttered old Iktomi.

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mutter:x9:1
# text = “'He is coming!' said the people,” muttered old Iktomi.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
13	muttered	mutter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
14	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	Iktomi	Iktomi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** *in a quote* | present · progressive | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **say** *speech: express* *in a quote* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | past | old Iktomi |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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