---
title: narrate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «narrate» in the school dictionary: To tell a story, describing what happens in order. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# narrate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** words, TV programme, we, David, talking cat, you · **What happens:** tell, describe, happen, speak, go, explain · **To what, where:** story, order, words, many nature programmes, school trip, tale · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«narrate» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [narrate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/narrate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To tell a story, describing what happens in order.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:m1:1
# text = To tell a story, describing what happens in order.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	describing	describe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	nsubj	_	_
8	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | a story |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |
| 2 | **describe** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **happen** | present |  |  |  | order |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in order=Location |

<!-- .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 speak the words that go with a film, TV programme or audiobook, explaining what we see.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:m2:1
# text = To speak the words that go with a film, TV programme or audiobook, explaining what we see.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	speak	speak	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	programme	programme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	audiobook	audiobook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	explaining	explain	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	12	acl	_	_
17	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	19	obj	_	_
18	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | the words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | the words |  |  |  |  | with a film | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent with film=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **explain** *speech: assert* | gerund | TV programme or audiobook *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **see** | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer what=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
David Attenborough narrates many nature programmes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:x1:1
# text = David Attenborough narrates many nature programmes.
1	David	David	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Attenborough	Attenborough	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	narrates	narrate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	programmes	programme	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **narrate** *speech: other* | present | David | many nature programmes |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent programme=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story is narrated by a talking cat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:x2:1
# text = The story is narrated by a talking cat.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	narrated	narrate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	talking	talking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **narrate** *speech: other* | present · passive | a talking cat | the story |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you narrate what happened on the school trip, in order?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:x3:1
# text = Can you narrate what happened on the school trip, in order?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	narrate	narrate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	nsubj	_	_
5	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **narrate** *speech: other* | can | you |  |  | order |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** | past |  |  |  | the school trip |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on trip=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa narrated the tale of how he met Grandma.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:x4:1
# text = Grandpa narrated the tale of how he met Grandma.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	narrated	narrate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	met	meet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl	_	_
9	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **narrate** *speech: other* | past | Grandpa | the tale |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tale=Topic |
| 2 | **meet** | past | Grandpa | Grandma |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grandma=Co-Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The audiobook was narrated by a famous actor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:x5:1
# text = The audiobook was narrated by a famous actor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	audiobook	audiobook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	narrated	narrate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	actor	actor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **narrate** *speech: other* | past · passive | a famous actor | the audiobook |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In this book, the events are narrated by two different children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:x6:1
# text = In this book, the events are narrated by two different children.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	narrated	narrate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
11	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **narrate** *speech: other* | present · passive | two different children | the events |  | this book |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She narrated her own video for the science fair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:x7:1
# text = She narrated her own video for the science fair.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	narrated	narrate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **narrate** *speech: other* | past | She | her own video |  |  |  | for the science | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent video=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They are narrated by naked savage women to naked savage children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrate:x8:1
# text = They are narrated by naked savage women to naked savage children.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	narrated	narrate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	naked	naked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	savage	savage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	women	woman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	naked	naked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	savage	savage	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **narrate** *speech: other* | present · passive | naked savage women | They | naked savage children |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent subject=Topic to child=Recipient |

<!-- 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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