---
title: oral — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «oral» in the school dictionary: Oral means spoken, not written: an oral test or an oral report is done by talking. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# oral

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Oral, oral hygiene, mouth, We, I, Brushing · **What happens:** mean, speak, not write, do, talk, keep · **To what, where:** oral test, mouth, Oral medicine, speaking exam, oral exam, French · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oral means spoken, not written: an oral test or an oral report is done by talking.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:m1:1
# text = Oral means spoken, not written: an oral test or an oral report is done by talking.
1	Oral	oral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux:pass	_	_
16	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	parataxis	_	_
17	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
18	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Oral |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **do** | present · passive |  | a oral test or a oral report |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 5 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oral means to do with the mouth: oral hygiene is keeping your mouth and teeth clean.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:m2:1
# text = Oral means to do with the mouth: oral hygiene is keeping your mouth and teeth clean.
1	Oral	oral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
9	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	hygiene	hygiene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	parataxis	_	_
13	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	teeth	tooth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
17	clean	clean	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Oral |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with the mouth | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **keep** | present · progressive | oral hygiene | your mouth and teeth |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **clean** | present | your mouth and teeth *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oral medicine is taken by mouth, swallowed, not injected.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:m3:1
# text = Oral medicine is taken by mouth, swallowed, not injected.
1	Oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	medicine	medicine	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	taken	take	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	mouth	mouth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	swallowed	swallow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	injected	inject	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present · passive | mouth | Oral medicine |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |
| 2 | **swallow** | past | mouth *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **inject** | participle | mouth *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, noun — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An oral is a speaking exam, especially in a foreign language.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:m4:1
# text = An oral is a speaking exam, especially in a foreign language.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	oral	oral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	foreign	foreign	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a oral | a speaking exam and a foreign language |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We have an oral exam in French next week, so I am practising speaking.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:x1:1
# text = We have an oral exam in French next week, so I am practising speaking.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	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	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	practising	practise	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
15	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | We | a oral exam |  | French  next week |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent exam=Patient |
| 2 | **practise** | present · progressive | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Brushing twice a day is good oral hygiene.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:x2:1
# text = Brushing twice a day is good oral hygiene.
1	Brushing	brush	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	csubj	_	_
2	twice	twice	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	1	advmod	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	hygiene	hygiene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **brush** | gerund |  |  |  |  | day | twice *property* | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Brushing | good oral hygiene |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Take this oral medicine with a glass of water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:x3:1
# text = Take this oral medicine with a glass of water.
1	Take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
3	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | imperative | you *not said here* | this oral medicine |  |  |  | with a glass of water | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent medicine=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My oral presentation was about volcanoes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:x4:1
# text = My oral presentation was about volcanoes.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	presentation	presentation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	volcanoes	volcano	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | My oral presentation |  |  |  |  | about volcanoes | tree rules |
| 2 | **present** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom presentation «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many old stories were passed down in an oral tradition before they were written.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:x5:1
# text = Many old stories were passed down in an oral tradition before they were written.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	passed	pass	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	down	down	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	tradition	tradition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass down** | past · passive |  | Many old stories |  | a oral tradition |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: subject=Theme in tradition=Destination |
| 2 | **write** | past · passive |  | stories *= story* |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We recorded Grandma's oral history of growing up on a farm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:x6:1
# text = We recorded Grandma's oral history of growing up on a farm.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	recorded	record	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **record** | past | We | Grandma's oral history |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent history=Theme |
| 2 | **grow up** | gerund | Grandma's oral history *not said here* |  |  | a farm |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on farm=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dentist checks your oral health.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oral:x7:1
# text = The dentist checks your oral health.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dentist	dentist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	checks	check	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	oral	oral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	health	health	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 | **check** | present | the dentist | your oral health |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent health=Theme |

<!-- 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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