---
title: perform — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «perform» in the school dictionary: To perform is to act, sing, dance or play music for an audience. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# perform

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** class, band, you, We, surgeon, She · **What happens:** perform, be, sing, dance, play, do · **To what, where:** music, task, play, assembly, three songs, calculation

<!-- .vabout -->
«perform» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [perform in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/perform.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To perform is to act, sing, dance or play music for an audience.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:m1:1
# text = To perform is to act, sing, dance or play music for an audience.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	perform	perform	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	act	act	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	sing	sing	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	dance	dance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
12	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	audience	audience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | act *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **sing** *speech: express* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **dance** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **play** | infinitive |  | music |  |  |  | for a audience | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent music=Theme for audience=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 perform a task is to do it, especially a difficult or exact one.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:m2:1
# text = To perform a task is to do it, especially a difficult or exact one.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	perform	perform	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	task	task	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
12	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	exact	exact	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | to-infinitive |  | a task |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent task=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | do *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To perform well or badly is to work or do well or badly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:m3:1
# text = To perform well or badly is to work or do well or badly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	perform	perform	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	work	work	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
11	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	10	advmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn performance-26.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | work *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | well *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class will perform a play at assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:x1:1
# text = Our class will perform a play at assembly.
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	4	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	perform	perform	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	play	play	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | future | Our class | a play |  | assembly |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent play=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The band performed three songs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:x2:1
# text = The band performed three songs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	performed	perform	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	songs	song	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | past | the band | three songs |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent song=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Perform the calculation carefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:x3:1
# text = Perform the calculation carefully.
1	Perform	perform	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	calculation	calculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | imperative | you *not said here* | the calculation |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent calculation=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We performed an experiment with magnets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:x4:1
# text = We performed an experiment with magnets.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	performed	perform	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	magnets	magnet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | past | We | a experiment |  |  |  | with magnets | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent experiment=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The surgeon performed the operation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:x5:1
# text = The surgeon performed the operation.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	surgeon	surgeon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	performed	perform	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	operation	operation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | past | the surgeon | the operation |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent operation=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She performed well in her test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:x6:1
# text = She performed well in her test.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	performed	perform	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | past | She |  |  | her test |  | well *property* | vn performance-26.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **test** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom test «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The car performs well on snow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:x7:1
# text = The car performs well on snow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	performs	perform	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perform** | present | the car |  |  | snow |  | well *property* | vn performance-26.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Do not promise more than you can perform.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:perform:x8:1
# text = Do not promise more than you can perform.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	promise	promise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	obj	_	_
5	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	perform	perform	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **promise** *speech: promise* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | more |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent more=Theme |
| 2 | **perform** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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