---
title: practise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «practise» in the school dictionary: To practise is to do something many times to get better at it: practise the piano. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# practise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** we, Ella, our, team, you, 's · **What happens:** practise, be, get, word, let, cross · **To what, where:** piano, good manners, four operations, spelling words, 's, times tables

<!-- .vabout -->
«practise» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [practise in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/practise.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To practise is to do something many times to get better at it: practise the piano.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:m1:1
# text = To practise is to do something many times to get better at it: practise the piano.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	practise	practise	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	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl	_	_
11	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
15	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	piano	piano	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  | time | do *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **get** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | good *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **practise** | infinitive |  | the piano |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 practise is to do something often as a habit: practise good manners.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:m2:1
# text = To practise is to do something often as a habit: practise good manners.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	practise	practise	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	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	habit	habit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
13	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	manners	manners	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | as a habit; do *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **practise** | infinitive |  | good manners |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To practise as a doctor or lawyer is to work as one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:m3:1
# text = To practise as a doctor or lawyer is to work as one.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	lawyer	lawyer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	work	work	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | as a doctor or lawyer | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | as one; work *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Today we practise all four operations together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:x1:1
# text = Today we practise all four operations together.
1	Today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	_
2	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	practise	practise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	operations	operation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	together	together	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | present | we | four operations |  |  | today | together *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ella practises the piano 20 minutes each day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:x2:1
# text = Ella practises the piano 20 minutes each day.
1	Ella	Ella	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	practises	practise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	piano	piano	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | present | Ella | the piano |  |  | day; minute |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We practise our spelling words every week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:x3:1
# text = We practise our spelling words every week.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	practise	practise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | present | We | our spelling words |  |  | week |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **word** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team practised hard before the match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:x4:1
# text = The team practised hard before the match.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	practised	practise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	match	match	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 | **practise** | participle | the team |  |  |  | before the match | hard *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's practise our times tables.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:x5:1
# text = Let's practise our times tables.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	compound	_	_
6	tables	table	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **practise** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | our times tables |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Practise crossing the road safely with a grown-up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:x6:1
# text = Practise crossing the road safely with a grown-up.
1	Practise	practise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	crossing	cross	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	safely	safely	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	up	up	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cross** | gerund | Practise *not said here* | the road |  |  |  | with a grown up; safely *property* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Patient |
| 2 | **grow** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Practice makes perfect.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:x7:1
# text = Practice makes perfect.
1	Practice	practice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Practice |  |  |  |  | perfect *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dr Lee practises in our town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:x8:1
# text = Dr Lee practises in our town.
1	Dr	Dr	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod:desc	_	_
2	Lee	Lee	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	practises	practise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	town	town	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 | **practise** | present | Lee  Dr |  |  | our town |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I will practise only the good and true; with these I will protect the beautiful.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:practise:x9:1
# text = I will practise only the good and true; with these I will protect the beautiful.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	only	only	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	these	this	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	14	obl	_	_
12	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | future | I | the good |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **protect** | future | I | the beautiful |  |  |  | with these | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent beautiful=Beneficiary |

<!-- 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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