---
title: recitation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «recitation» in the school dictionary: A recitation is saying a poem, speech or piece of writing aloud from memory, often in front of an audience. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# recitation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** recitation, She, her, pupil, His, Grandpa · **What happens:** say, speak, be, mean, recite, win · **To what, where:** poem, memory, long spoken list, Recitation, prayer, prize · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A recitation is saying a poem, speech or piece of writing aloud from memory, often in front of an audience.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:m1:1
# text = A recitation is saying a poem, speech or piece of writing aloud from memory, often in front of an audience.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
13	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	often	often	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	audience	audience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · progressive | a recitation | a poem or piece of writing |  | memory |  | in front of a audience; aloud *property* | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent poem=Theme in front=Manner |

<!-- .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 -->
A recitation can also be a long spoken list of facts or events, said one after another.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:m2:1
# text = A recitation can also be a long spoken list of facts or events, said one after another.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	spoken	speak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
15	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
16	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nsubj	_	_
17	after	after	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | can |  | a long spoken list |  |  |  | of facts or events | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | a recitation |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Recitation of a prayer or psalm means saying it aloud, often together.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:m3:1
# text = Recitation of a prayer or psalm means saying it aloud, often together.
1	Recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	xcomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	together	together	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Recitation of a prayer or psalm |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *not said to happen* | gerund | Recitation of a prayer or psalm *not said here* | Recitation |  |  |  | aloud, together *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 3 | **recite** |  |  | a prayer or psalm |  |  |  |  | nom recitation «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She won a prize for her recitation of a poem by Christina Rossetti.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:x1:1
# text = She won a prize for her recitation of a poem by Christina Rossetti.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	Christina	Christina	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
13	Rossetti	Rossetti	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | She | a prize |  |  |  | for her recitation of a poem by Christina | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent prize=Theme for recitation=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **recite** |  | her *= she* | a poem by Christina |  |  |  |  | nom recitation «communication transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every pupil did a short recitation at the assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:x2:1
# text = Every pupil did a short recitation at the assembly.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | every pupil | a short recitation |  | the assembly |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent recitation=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The recitation of the Lord's Prayer ended the service.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:x3:1
# text = The recitation of the Lord's Prayer ended the service.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Lord	Lord	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	Prayer	Prayer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | the recitation of the Lord's Prayer | the service |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality service=Eventuality |
| 2 | **recite** |  |  | the Lord's Prayer |  |  |  |  | nom recitation «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His recitation of the times tables was fast and perfect.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:x4:1
# text = His recitation of the times tables was fast and perfect.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	compound	_	_
6	tables	table	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	perfect	perfect	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His recitation of the times tables |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | His recitation of the times tables *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **recite** |  | His *= he* | the times tables |  |  |  |  | nom recitation «communication transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa gave a long recitation of all his old football results.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:x5:1
# text = Grandpa gave a long recitation of all his old football results.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	11	det:predet	_	_
8	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	results	result	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | Grandpa | a long recitation of Grandpa's old football results |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent recitation=Theme |
| 2 | **recite** |  |  | Grandpa's old football results |  |  |  |  | nom recitation «communication transitive»: of=patient |
| 3 | **result** |  | Grandpa |  |  |  |  |  | nom result «phenomenon transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We practised the recitation until we knew every word.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:x6:1
# text = We practised the recitation until we knew every word.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	practised	practise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	knew	know	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | past | We | the recitation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **know** | past | we | every word |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer word=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Poetry recitation helps you speak with expression.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recitation:x7:1
# text = Poetry recitation helps you speak with expression.
1	Poetry	poetry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	recitation	recitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	expression	expression	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Poetry recitation | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with expression | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with expression=Co-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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