---
title: personification — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «personification» in the school dictionary: Personification is a way of writing that gives human feelings or actions to things that are not human: «The wind howled.» «The sun smiled down.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# personification

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Personification, way, things, wind, sun, character · **What happens:** be, give, not be, howl, smile down, stand · **To what, where:** way, human feelings, things, person, personification, secrets · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«personification» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [personification in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/personification.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Personification is a way of writing that gives human feelings or actions to things that are not human: «The wind howled.» «The sun smiled down.».

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Personification is a way of writing that gives human feelings or actions to things that are not human: «The wind howled.»

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:m1:1
# text = Personification is a way of writing that gives human feelings or actions to things that are not human: «The wind howled.»
1	Personification	personification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	human	human	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
16	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
18	human	human	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nsubj	_	_
23	howled	howl	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Personification | a way |  |  |  | of writing | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | a way | human feelings or actions | things |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent feeling=Theme to thing=Recipient |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present | things |  |  |  |  | human *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **howl** *in a quote* | past | the wind |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «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.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* «The sun smiled down.».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:m1:2
# text = «The sun smiled down.».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	sun	sun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	smiled	smile	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smile down** *in a quote* | past | the sun |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A personification of something is a person or character who stands for an idea.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:m2:1
# text = A personification of something is a person or character who stands for an idea.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	personification	personification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	stands	stand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a personification of something | a person or character |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stand** | present | character |  |  |  |  | for a idea | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer for idea=Attribute |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Father Time is a personification of time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:m2e:1
# text = Father Time is a personification of time.
1	Father	Father	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	Time	Time	PROPN	NNP	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	personification	personification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Father Time | a personification |  |  | time |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The trees whispered secrets» is personification.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:x1:1
# text = «The trees whispered secrets» is personification.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	whispered	whisper	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	csubj	_	_
5	secrets	secret	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	personification	personification	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 | **whisper** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | the trees | secrets |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | personification |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Underline the personification in the poem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:x2:1
# text = Underline the personification in the poem.
1	Underline	underline	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	personification	personification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **underline** | imperative | you *not said here* | the personification |  | the poem |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent personification=Theme in poem=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The angry sea swallowed the boat» uses personification.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:x3:1
# text = «The angry sea swallowed the boat» uses personification.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	swallowed	swallow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	csubj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
9	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	personification	personification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swallow** *in a quote* | past | the angry sea | the boat |  |  |  |  | vn gobble-39.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boat=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | present |  | personification |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent personification=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Father Christmas is a personification of Christmas giving.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:x4:1
# text = Father Christmas is a personification of Christmas giving.
1	Father	Father	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	flat	_	_
2	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	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	personification	personification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
8	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Father Christmas | a personification |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | gerund | a personification *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of Christmas | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old car coughed and groaned up the hill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:x5:1
# text = The old car coughed and groaned up the hill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	coughed	cough	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	groaned	groan	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cough** | past | the old car |  |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **groan up** | past | the old car *not said here* | the hill |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent hill=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was the personification of kindness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:x6:1
# text = She was the personification of kindness.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	personification	personification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | She | the personification |  |  |  | of kindness | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hebe was the personification of eternal youth under its most attractive and joyous aspect.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:personification:x7:1
# text = Hebe was the personification of eternal youth under its most attractive and joyous aspect.
1	Hebe	Hebe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	personification	personification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	eternal	eternal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	youth	youth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
10	most	most	ADV	RBS	Degree=Sup	11	advmod	_	_
11	attractive	attractive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	joyous	joyous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
14	aspect	aspect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Hebe | the personification |  |  |  | of eternal youth under youth's attractive aspect | 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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