---
title: narration — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «narration» in the school dictionary: The telling of a story, especially by a narrator. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# narration

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spoken words, narration, someone, their, Her, play · **What happens:** tell, speak, explain, happen, show, play · **To what, where:** story, film, grammar, exact words, person narration, narration · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The telling of a story, especially by a narrator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:m1:1
# text = The telling of a story, especially by a narrator.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	telling	telling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	narrator	narrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** |  |  | a story |  |  |  |  | nom telling «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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spoken words that explain what is happening in a film, show or play.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:m2:1
# text = The spoken words that explain what is happening in a film, show or play.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	explain	explain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	ccomp	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	play	play	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* | present | the spoken words |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **happen** | present · progressive |  |  |  | a film |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in film=Location |
| 4 | **show** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **play** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In grammar, narration means reporting what someone said without using their exact words.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:m3:1
# text = In grammar, narration means reporting what someone said without using their exact words.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	grammar	grammar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	narration	narration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	reporting	report	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	obj	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	_
12	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
13	exact	exact	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | narration |  |  | grammar |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **report** *not said to happen* | gerund | narration *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Patient |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **use** | gerund | someone *not said here* | their exact words |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |
| 5 | **word** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story is told in first-person narration.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:x1:1
# text = The story is told in first-person narration.
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	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	narration	narration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | the story |  | person narration |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who does the narration in the nature film?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:x2:1
# text = Who does the narration in the nature film?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	narration	narration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present |  | the narration |  | the nature film |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narration=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her narration was clear and lively.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:x3:1
# text = Her narration was clear and lively.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	narration	narration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	lively	lively	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her narration |  |  |  |  | clear *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Her narration *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **narrate** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom narration «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The play had narration between the scenes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:x4:1
# text = The play had narration between the scenes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	narration	narration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	scenes	scene	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the play | narration |  |  |  | between the scenes | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narration=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Alice in Wonderland uses third-person narration.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:x5:1
# text = Alice in Wonderland uses third-person narration.
1	Alice	Alice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Wonderland	Wonderland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	third	third	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	narration	narration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Alice in Wonderland | person narration |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narration=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Record your narration over the slides.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:x6:1
# text = Record your narration over the slides.
1	Record	record	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	narration	narration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	slides	slide	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **record** | imperative | you *not said here* | your narration |  | the slides |  |  | vn transcribe-25.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent narration=Theme over slide=Destination |
| 2 | **narrate** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom narration «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have given him a name, and changed the narration into the oblique narration, and toned down the dialect.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narration:x7:1
# text = I have given him a name, and changed the narration into the oblique narration, and toned down the dialect.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	narration	narration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	into	into	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	oblique	oblique	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	narration	narration	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	toned	tone	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	parataxis	_	_
19	down	down	ADP	RP	_	18	compound:prt	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	dialect	dialect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present · perfect | I | a name | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient name=Theme |
| 2 | **change** | past | I *not said here* | the narration |  |  |  | into the oblique narration *result* | vn turn-26.6.1-1 «NP V NP.patient PP.result»: agent=Agent narration=Patient into narration=Result |
| 3 | **tone down** | participle |  | the dialect |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent dialect=Patient |

<!-- 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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