---
title: opera — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «opera» in the school dictionary: An opera is a play in which the actors sing almost all the words, with an orchestra playing music. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# opera

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** opera, actors, orchestra, opera house, opera box, people · **What happens:** be, sing, play, perform, sit, watch · **To what, where:** play, words, music, kind, building, operas · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«opera» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [opera in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/opera.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An opera is a play in which the actors sing almost all the words, with an orchestra playing music.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:m1:1
# text = An opera is a play in which the actors sing almost all the words, with an orchestra playing music.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	opera	opera	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	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	obl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	actors	actor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	sing	sing	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
11	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	14	det:predet	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
19	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	acl	_	_
20	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a opera | a play |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | present | the actors | all words |  | a play |  | with a orchestra | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location word=Theme |
| 3 | **play** | gerund | a orchestra *not said here* | music |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent music=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 -->
Opera is this kind of music and theatre in general.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:m2:1
# text = Opera is this kind of music and theatre in general.
1	Opera	Opera	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	theatre	theatre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Opera | this kind and theatre in general |  |  |  | of music | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An opera house is the building where operas are performed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:m3:1
# text = An opera house is the building where operas are performed.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	opera	opera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	10	advmod	_	_
8	operas	opera	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	performed	perform	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a opera house | the building |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **perform** | present · passive |  | operas |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An opera box is a small private section of seats in a theatre, where people sit to watch the performance.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:m4:1
# text = An opera box is a small private section of seats in a theatre, where people sit to watch the performance.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	opera	opera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	private	private	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	section	section	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	seats	seat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	theatre	theatre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	17	advmod	_	_
16	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
17	sit	sit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	watch	watch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	xcomp	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	performance	performance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a opera box | a small private section |  |  |  | of seats in a theatre | tree rules |
| 2 | **sit** | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **watch** | to-infinitive | people *not said here* | the performance |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent performance=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched a short opera about a magic flute in music class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:x1:1
# text = We watched a short opera about a magic flute in music class.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	opera	opera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	magic	magic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	flute	flute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | a short opera |  |  |  | about a magic flute in music class | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent opera=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The opera singer sang so loudly the whole hall rang.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:x2:1
# text = The opera singer sang so loudly the whole hall rang.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	opera	opera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	singer	singer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	rang	ring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | the opera singer |  |  |  |  | loudly *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **ring** | past | the whole hall |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My nan loves opera and plays it in the kitchen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:x3:1
# text = My nan loves opera and plays it in the kitchen.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	nan	nan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	opera	opera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | My nan | opera |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer opera=Stimulus |
| 2 | **play** | present | My nan *not said here* | opera |  | the kitchen |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Sydney Opera House has a roof shaped like sails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:x4:1
# text = The Sydney Opera House has a roof shaped like sails.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Sydney	Sydney	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	Opera	Opera	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	House	House	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	roof	roof	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sails	sail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the Sydney Opera House | a roof |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent roof=Patient |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  | a roof *not said here* |  |  |  | like sails | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In an opera, even the arguments are sung.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:x5:1
# text = In an opera, even the arguments are sung.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	opera	opera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	even	even	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	arguments	argument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	sung	sing	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | present · passive |  | the arguments |  | a opera |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class wrote a tiny opera about a lost lunchbox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:x6:1
# text = Our class wrote a tiny opera about a lost lunchbox.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	opera	opera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	lunchbox	lunchbox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Our class | a tiny opera |  |  |  | about a lost lunchbox | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent opera=Recipient about lunchbox=Topic |
| 2 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum watches a soap opera every evening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:x7:1
# text = Mum watches a soap opera every evening.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watches	watch	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	soap	soap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	opera	opera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | present | Mum | a soap opera |  |  | evening |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent opera=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"At home," said she, "my windows must be my opera-box.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:opera:x8:1
# text = "At home," said she, "my windows must be my opera-box.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	home	home	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	windows	window	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
12	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	cop	_	_
14	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
15	opera	opera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  | home |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | must | my windows | my opera box |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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