---
title: muttering — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «muttering» in the school dictionary: -ing form of mutter: he was muttering to himself. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# muttering

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** he, we, old man, match, you, I · **What happens:** e, mutter, form, complain, hear, walk off · **To what, where:** form, himself, mutter, back, discontent, man · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«muttering» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [muttering in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/muttering.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
-ing form of mutter: he was muttering to himself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:m1:1
# text = -ing form of mutter: he was muttering to himself.
1	-	-	PUNCT	NFP	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	ing	e	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	mutter	mutter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	muttering	mutter	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **e** | gerund |  | form of mutter |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | past · progressive | he |  | himself *= he* |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to himself=Recipient |
| 3 | **form** |  |  | mutter |  |  |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quiet, unclear speech, often complaining: we heard muttering at the back.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:m2:1
# text = Quiet, unclear speech, often complaining: we heard muttering at the back.
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	often	often	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	complaining	complain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
9	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
11	muttering	mutter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **complain** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **hear** | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | gerund | we *not said here* |  |  | the back |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quiet complaints or rumours from a group: mutterings of discontent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:m3:1
# text = Quiet complaints or rumours from a group: mutterings of discontent.
1	Quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	complaints	complaint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	rumours	rumour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	mutterings	muttering	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	discontent	discontent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old man walked off, muttering to himself.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:x1:1
# text = The old man walked off, muttering to himself.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	muttering	mutter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	advcl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk off** | past | the old man |  |  |  |  |  | vn resign-10.11-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | gerund | the old man *not said here* |  | man |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to himself=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was muttering in the crowd when the match was delayed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:x2:1
# text = There was muttering in the crowd when the match was delayed.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	muttering	mutter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	delayed	delayed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past |  |  |  | there |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  | the crowd |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | past | the match |  |  |  |  | delayed *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop muttering and tell me what's wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:x3:1
# text = Stop muttering and tell me what's wrong.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	muttering	mutter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent i=Recipient |
| 4 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I could hear her muttering about homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:x4:1
# text = I could hear her muttering about homework.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|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	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	muttering	mutter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | could | I | her *= she* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | gerund | her *= she* *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about homework | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about homework=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mutterings spread through the class when the test was announced.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:x5:1
# text = Mutterings spread through the class when the test was announced.
1	Mutterings	muttering	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spread	spread	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	test	test	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	announced	announce	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 | **spread** | present | Mutterings |  |  | the class |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through class=Location |
| 2 | **announce** *speech: other* | past · passive |  | the test |  |  |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was muttering spells from his book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:x6:1
# text = He was muttering spells from his book.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	muttering	mutter	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	spells	spell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	book	book	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 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | past · progressive | He | spells |  | his book |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spell=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But the dwarfs came a step nearer, muttering and whispering.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:muttering:x7:1
# text = But the dwarfs came a step nearer, muttering and whispering.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dwarfs	dwarf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	nearer	near	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	muttering	mutter	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	advcl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	whispering	whisper	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the dwarfs |  |  |  |  | near *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mutter** *speech: assert* | gerund | the dwarfs *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **whisper** *speech: assert* | gerund | the dwarfs *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | 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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