---
title: narrative — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «narrative» in the school dictionary: A story, or a description of events in order. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# narrative

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, narrative, poem, us, book, person narrative · **What happens:** describe, tell, explain, write, have, be · **To what, where:** events, order, story, official narrative, narrative, beach · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A story, or a description of events in order.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:m1:1
# text = A story, or a description of events in order.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	description	description	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** |  |  | events |  | order |  |  | nom description «communication transitive»: of=patient in=place |

<!-- .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: adjective — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Telling a story (narrative writing, a narrative poem).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:m2:1
# text = Telling a story (narrative writing, a narrative poem).
1	Telling	tell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | a story |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The way a story or set of events is told or explained (the official narrative).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:m3:1
# text = The way a story or set of events is told or explained (the official narrative).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	explained	explain	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | a story or set of events |  |  |  | the way *obl:unmarked* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **explain** *speech: assert* | participle |  | the official narrative |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narrative=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write a narrative about a day at the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:x1:1
# text = Write a narrative about a day at the beach.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a narrative |  | the beach | day |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narrative=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A narrative has a beginning, a middle and an end.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:x2:1
# text = A narrative has a beginning, a middle and an end.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	beginning	beginning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a narrative | a beginning and a middle and a end |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beginning=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The poem is a narrative about a brave knight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:x3:1
# text = The poem is a narrative about a brave knight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the poem | a narrative |  |  |  | about a brave knight | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her narrative of the trip made us laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:x4:1
# text = Her narrative of the trip made us laugh.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Her narrative of the trip | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This book has a first-person narrative using "I".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:x5:1
# text = This book has a first-person narrative using "I".
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	first	first	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	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
9	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | this book | a person narrative |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narrative=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | a person narrative *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class read the narrative aloud.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:x6:1
# text = The class read the narrative aloud.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | the class | the narrative |  |  |  | aloud *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent narrative=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All this suggests that this is a very early and common form of narrative.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:narrative:x7:1
# text = All this suggests that this is a very early and common form of narrative.
1	All	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	2	det:predet	_	_
2	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	nsubj	_	_
3	suggests	suggest	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
5	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	narrative	narrative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **suggest** *speech: suggest* | present | this |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | this | a early form |  |  |  | of narrative | 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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