---
title: read — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «read» in the school dictionary: To read is to look at written words and understand what they say. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# read

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** words, thermometer, read, time, you, question · **What happens:** read, be, write, understand, say, show · **To what, where:** written words, clock, time, reading, whole problem, question · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«read» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [read in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/read.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To read is to look at written words and understand what they say.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:m1:1
# text = To read is to look at written words and understand what they say.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
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	look	look	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	understand	understand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	obj	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | written words |  | look *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **understand** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | words *= word* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

<!-- .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 read aloud is to say the words out loud for others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:m2:1
# text = To read aloud is to say the words out loud for others.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	out	out	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	loud	loud	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | aloud *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | for others; loud, say *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To read a clock, a map or a thermometer is to understand what it shows.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:m3:1
# text = To read a clock, a map or a thermometer is to understand what it shows.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	thermometer	thermometer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	understand	understand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	16	obj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | to-infinitive |  | a clock and a map or a thermometer |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clock=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | understand *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **show** | present | thermometer |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent what=Recipient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A read is a time spent reading: a good read.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:m4:1
# text = A read is a time spent reading: a good read.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	read	read	NOUN	NN	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	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	spent	spend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	acl	_	_
7	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	read	read	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a read | a time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spend** | participle | a time *not said here* | reading |  |  |  |  | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reading=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the whole problem first, then choose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:x1:1
# text = Read the whole problem first, then choose.
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	_
8	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the whole problem |  |  |  | first *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent problem=Topic |
| 2 | **choose** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  | then |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the question again: what does it ask for?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:x2:1
# text = Read the question again: what does it ask for?
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	again	again	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
7	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the question |  |  | again |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent question=Topic |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present · do-support | question |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent what=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mia read 12 pages on Monday and 9 pages on Tuesday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:x3:1
# text = Mia read 12 pages on Monday and 9 pages on Tuesday.
1	Mia	Mia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Monday	Monday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	9	9	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	Tuesday	Tuesday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | Mia | 12 pages |  |  | monday; tuesday |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent page=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ben has read 15 of the 40 pages in his book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:x4:1
# text = Ben has read 15 of the 40 pages in his book.
1	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	40	40	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | present · perfect | Ben | 15 of the 40 pages in Ben's book |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 15=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad reads me a story every night.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:x5:1
# text = Dad reads me a story every night.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reads	read	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	night	night	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 | **read** | present | Dad | a story | me |  | night |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient story=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you read the time on the clock?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:x6:1
# text = Can you read the time on the clock?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | can | you |  |  |  | time |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I read the label to check for nuts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:x7:1
# text = I read the label to check for nuts.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	label	label	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	check	check	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	nuts	nut	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | I | the label |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent label=Topic |
| 2 | **check** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for nuts | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent for nut=Attribute |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That book was a great read.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:x8:1
# text = That book was a great read.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	read	read	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** | past | that book | a great read |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"You are learned, and can read."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:read:x9:1
# text = "You are learned, and can read."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	learned	learn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | You |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |
| 2 | **read** *in a quote* | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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