---
title: oscillate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «oscillate» in the school dictionary: To swing or move back and forth regularly, like a pendulum. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# oscillate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pendulum, fan, Guitar strings, you, mood, we · **What happens:** swing, move back, keep, change, oscillate, cool · **To what, where:** hope, direction, regular rhythm, side, whole room, strings

<!-- .vabout -->
«oscillate» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [oscillate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/oscillate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To swing or move back and forth regularly, like a pendulum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oscillate:m1:1
# text = To swing or move back and forth regularly, like a pendulum.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	swing	swing	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	move	move	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	back	back	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	forth	forth	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	_
8	regularly	regularly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	pendulum	pendulum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swing** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **move back** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | like a pendulum; regularly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme 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 -->
To keep changing between two feelings, ideas or states, as in "oscillate between hope and fear".

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oscillate:m2:1
# text = To keep changing between two feelings, ideas or states, as in "oscillate between hope and fear".
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	changing	change	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	between	between	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	states	state	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	oscillate	oscillate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
16	between	between	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	hope	hope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | between two feelings and ideas or states | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **oscillate** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  | hope and fear |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between hope=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Of electric current or waves, to change direction or strength in a regular rhythm.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oscillate:m3:1
# text = Of electric current or waves, to change direction or strength in a regular rhythm.
1	Of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	electric	electric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	current	current	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	waves	wave	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
9	direction	direction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	regular	regular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	rhythm	rhythm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | to-infinitive |  | direction or strength |  | a regular rhythm |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent direction=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pendulum oscillates from side to side.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oscillate:x1:1
# text = A pendulum oscillates from side to side.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pendulum	pendulum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	oscillates	oscillate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oscillate** | present | a pendulum |  |  | side |  | to side | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fan oscillates so it cools the whole room.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oscillate:x2:1
# text = The fan oscillates so it cools the whole room.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fan	fan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	oscillates	oscillate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	cools	cool	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oscillate** | present | the fan |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **cool** | present | fan | the whole room |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent room=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Guitar strings oscillate when you pluck them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oscillate:x3:1
# text = Guitar strings oscillate when you pluck them.
1	Guitar	guitar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	oscillate	oscillate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	pluck	pluck	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oscillate** | present | Guitar strings |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pluck** | present | you | strings *= string* |  |  |  |  | vn braid-41.2.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His mood oscillated between happy and grumpy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oscillate:x4:1
# text = His mood oscillated between happy and grumpy.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mood	mood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	oscillated	oscillate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	between	between	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	grumpy	grumpy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oscillate** | participle | His mood |  |  | happy |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between happy=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The price oscillated between £5 and £6 all week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oscillate:x5:1
# text = The price oscillated between £5 and £6 all week.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	oscillated	oscillate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	between	between	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	£	£	SYM	$	_	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	£	£	SYM	$	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oscillate** | participle |  | the price *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between £=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spring oscillated up and down after we let go.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:oscillate:x6:1
# text = The spring oscillated up and down after we let go.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	oscillated	oscillate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	_
7	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	let	let	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **oscillate up** | participle |  | the spring *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **let** | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive | we *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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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