---
title: occasional — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «occasional» in the school dictionary: Occasional means happening sometimes, but not often or regularly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# occasional

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Occasional, We, I, He, Fruit, cake · **What happens:** mean, happen, describe, make, have, like · **To what, where:** something, occasional showers, occasional ice cream, occasional mistake, occasional visit, cousins

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Occasional means happening sometimes, but not often or regularly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasional:m1:1
# text = Occasional means happening sometimes, but not often or regularly.
1	Occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	regularly	regularly	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Occasional |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** *not said to happen* | gerund | Occasional *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Occasional can describe something made for a special event, like occasional music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasional:m2:1
# text = Occasional can describe something made for a special event, like occasional music.
1	Occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for a special event; like occasional music | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP P.asset»: agent=Agent for event=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We will have occasional showers this afternoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasional:x1:1
# text = We will have occasional showers this afternoon.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	showers	shower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | future | We | occasional showers |  |  | afternoon |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shower=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I like the occasional ice cream.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasional:x2:1
# text = I like the occasional ice cream.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** | present | I | the occasional ice cream |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot cream=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He makes the occasional mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasional:x3:1
# text = He makes the occasional mistake.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | He | the occasional mistake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We get an occasional visit from my cousins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasional:x4:1
# text = We get an occasional visit from my cousins.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	get	get	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	visit	visit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	cousins	cousin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | We | a occasional visit |  | my cousins |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent visit=Theme from cousin=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fruit is good every day; cake is an occasional treat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasional:x5:1
# text = Fruit is good every day; cake is an occasional treat.
1	Fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	treat	treat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Fruit |  |  |  | day | good *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | cake | a occasional treat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The road has only occasional traffic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasional:x6:1
# text = The road has only occasional traffic.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	traffic	traffic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was little sound to be heard but the clang of weapons, an occasional screech or splash, and Slightly monotonously counting—five—six—seven—eight—nine—ten—eleven.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasional:x7:1
# text = There was little sound to be heard but the clang of weapons, an occasional screech or splash, and Slightly monotonously counting—five—six—seven—eight—nine—ten—eleven.
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	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	heard	hear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	clang	clang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	weapons	weapon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	occasional	occasional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	screech	screech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	splash	splash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
21	Slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
22	monotonously	monotonously	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
23	counting	count	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	23	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	33	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	nine	nine	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	31	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	31	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	37	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	eleven	eleven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | little sound |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **hear** | to-infinitive · passive | little sound *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus» |
| 3 | **count** | gerund | little sound *not said here* | five |  |  |  | monotonously, slightly *property* | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent five=Theme |
| 4 | **clang** |  |  | weapons |  |  |  |  | nom clang «event transitive»: of=patient |

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**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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