---
title: often — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «often» in the school dictionary: Often means many times. If you often play, you play a lot. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# often

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, something, bus, She, We, It · **What happens:** mean, play, ask, happen, come, read · **To what, where:** lot, beach, teeth, Ireland, sky, tails

<!-- .vabout -->
«often» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [often in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/often.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Often means many times. If you often play, you play a lot.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Often means many times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:m1:1
# text = Often means many times.
1	Often	often	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  | time | often *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* If you often play, you play a lot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:m1:2
# text = If you often play, you play a lot.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **play** | present | you | a lot |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Theme |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«How often» asks how many times something happens in a time, like each day or week.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:m2:1
# text = «How often» asks how many times something happens in a time, like each day or week.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	nsubj	_	_
10	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	17	det	_	_
17	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl:unmarked	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present |  |  |  |  | time | often *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **happen** | present | something |  |  |  | day; time |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How often does the bus come?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x1:1
# text = How often does the bus come?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present · do-support | the bus |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She often reads before bed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x2:1
# text = She often reads before bed.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	reads	read	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | present | She |  |  |  | before bed | often *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bus comes every 15 minutes, so how often in an hour?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x3:1
# text = The bus comes every 15 minutes, so how often in an hour?
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
5	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | the bus |  |  |  | hour; minute |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We often go to the beach in summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x4:1
# text = We often go to the beach in summer.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | We |  |  | the beach | summer | often *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to beach=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How often do you brush your teeth? Twice a day.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* How often do you brush your teeth?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x5:1
# text = How often do you brush your teeth?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
3	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	brush	brush	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **brush** | present · do-support | you | your teeth |  |  |  | often *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tooth=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Twice a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x5:2
# text = Twice a day.
1	Twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It often rains in Ireland.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x6:1
# text = It often rains in Ireland.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	rains	rain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** | present | It |  |  | Ireland |  | often *property* | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every so often, a shooting star crosses the sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x7:1
# text = Every so often, a shooting star crosses the sky.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
2	so	so	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	shooting	shooting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	crosses	cross	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | present | a shooting star | the sky |  |  |  | often *property* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sky=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dogs often wag their tails when they are happy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x8:1
# text = Dogs often wag their tails when they are happy.
1	Dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	wag	wag	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	tails	tail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wag** | present | Dogs | Dogs's tails |  |  |  | often *property* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tail=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Dogs *= dog* |  |  |  |  | happy *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
False confidence often leads to disaster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:often:x9:1
# text = False confidence often leads to disaster.
1	False	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	confidence	confidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	disaster	disaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | present | False confidence |  |  |  |  | to disaster; often *property* | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to disaster=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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