---
title: percussion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «percussion» in the school dictionary: Percussion means musical instruments that you play by hitting, shaking or scraping them, such as drums, tambourines, triangles, cymbals and xylophones. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# percussion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Percussion, you, orchestra, drum, we, percussion section · **What happens:** mean, play, hit, shake, scrape, be · **To what, where:** musical instruments, instruments, part, one thing, percussion instrument, percussion

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Percussion means musical instruments that you play by hitting, shaking or scraping them, such as drums, tambourines, triangles, cymbals and xylophones.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:percussion:m1:1
# text = Percussion means musical instruments that you play by hitting, shaking or scraping them, such as drums, tambourines, triangles, cymbals and xylophones.
1	Percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	instruments	instrument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	obl	_	_
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	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	shaking	shake	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	scraping	scrape	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
14	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	18	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	tambourines	tambourine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	triangles	triangle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
24	cymbals	cymbal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
25	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	xylophones	xylophone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Percussion | musical instruments and drums and tambourines and triangles and cymbals and xylophones |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instrument=Topic |
| 2 | **play** | present | you | musical instruments and drums and tambourines and triangles and cymbals and xylophones |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **hit** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **shake** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **scrape** | gerund | you *not said here* | instruments *= instrument* |  |  |  |  | vn cut-21.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
The percussion is the part of an orchestra or band that plays these instruments.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:percussion:m2:1
# text = The percussion is the part of an orchestra or band that plays these instruments.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	14	det	_	_
14	instruments	instrument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the percussion | the part |  |  |  | of a orchestra or band | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | present | a orchestra or band | this instruments |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent instrument=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Percussion means the hitting of one thing against another, a sharp knock (formal).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:percussion:m3:1
# text = Percussion means the hitting of one thing against another, a sharp knock (formal).
1	Percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	hitting	hit	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
8	against	against	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	knock	knock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
14	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Percussion | the one thing and a sharp knock |  |  |  | against another | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Topic |
| 2 | **hit** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The drum is a percussion instrument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:percussion:x1:1
# text = The drum is a percussion instrument.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	drum	drum	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	percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the drum | a percussion instrument |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In music we played percussion with shakers and drums.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:percussion:x2:1
# text = In music we played percussion with shakers and drums.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	shakers	shaker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | we | percussion |  | music |  | with shakers and drums | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V NP PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent percussion=Theme with shaker=Co-Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The percussion section sits at the back of the orchestra.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:percussion:x3:1
# text = The percussion section sits at the back of the orchestra.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	section	section	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sits	sit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | present | the percussion section |  |  | the back of the orchestra |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent at back=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A xylophone is tuned percussion, because it plays notes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:percussion:x4:1
# text = A xylophone is tuned percussion, because it plays notes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	xylophone	xylophone	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	tuned	tune	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	notes	note	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tune** | present · passive |  | a xylophone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | present | xylophone | notes |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clap and stamp for body percussion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:percussion:x5:1
# text = Clap and stamp for body percussion.
1	Clap	clap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	stamp	stamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother has percussion lessons on Saturdays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:percussion:x6:1
# text = My brother has percussion lessons on Saturdays.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	percussion	percussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	lessons	lesson	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Saturdays	Saturday	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My brother | percussion lessons |  |  |  | on Saturdays | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lesson=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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