---
title: reed — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «reed» in the school dictionary: A reed is a tall, thin, grass-like plant with a hollow stem that grows in or near water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# reed

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** reed, hollow stem, that, Ducks, clarinet, Reed warblers · **What happens:** be, grow, shake, make, hide, edge · **To what, where:** tall thin like plant, water, thin strip, musical instruments, sound, thin weak person

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A reed is a tall, thin, grass-like plant with a hollow stem that grows in or near water.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:m1:1
# text = A reed is a tall, thin, grass-like plant with a hollow stem that grows in or near water.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
5	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
9	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
13	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	hollow	hollow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	stem	stem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	near	near	ADP	IN	_	19	conj	_	_
22	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a reed | a tall thin like plant |  |  |  | with a hollow stem | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** | present | a hollow stem |  |  | water |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in water=Location |

<!-- .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 reed is a thin strip in some musical instruments, like the clarinet or oboe, that shakes to make the sound.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:m2:1
# text = A reed is a thin strip in some musical instruments, like the clarinet or oboe, that shakes to make the sound.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	strip	strip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	10	det	_	_
9	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	instruments	instrument	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	clarinet	clarinet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	oboe	oboe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj	_	_
19	shakes	shake	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	xcomp	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a reed | a thin strip and the clarinet or oboe |  | some musical instruments |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shake** | present | that |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | to-infinitive | that *not said here* | the sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A reed is a thin, weak person or thing, as in «a slender reed».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:m3:1
# text = A reed is a thin, weak person or thing, as in «a slender reed».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	thin	thin	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	weak	weak	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	slender	slender	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a reed | a thin weak person or thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ducks were hiding among the reeds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:x1:1
# text = Ducks were hiding among the reeds.
1	Ducks	duck	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hiding	hide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	among	among	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	reeds	reed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past · progressive | Ducks |  |  | the reeds |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent among reed=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pond was edged with tall reeds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:x2:1
# text = The pond was edged with tall reeds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pond	pond	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	edged	edge	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	reeds	reed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **edge** | past · passive |  | the pond |  |  |  | with tall reeds | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Destination with reed=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clarinet needs a new reed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:x3:1
# text = The clarinet needs a new reed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clarinet	clarinet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | the clarinet | a new reed |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot reed=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reed warblers build nests on the reed stems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:x4:1
# text = Reed warblers build nests on the reed stems.
1	Reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	warblers	warbler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	build	build	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	nests	nest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	stems	stem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | present | Reed warblers | nests |  | the reed stems |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent nest=Theme on stem=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In old times people made roofs from reeds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:x5:1
# text = In old times people made roofs from reeds.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	roofs	roof	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	reeds	reed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | people | roofs |  | reeds | time |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent roof=Product from reed=Material |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind whistled through the reeds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:x6:1
# text = The wind whistled through the reeds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	whistled	whistle	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	reeds	reed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whistle** | past | the wind |  |  | the reeds |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through reed=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Long ago people used reeds as pens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:x7:1
# text = Long ago people used reeds as pens.
1	Long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
2	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	reeds	reed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	pens	pen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | people | reeds |  |  |  | as pens; ago *property* | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent reed=Duration as pen=Attribute |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful near the reeds: the water may be deep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reed:x8:1
# text = Be careful near the reeds: the water may be deep.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	csubj	_	_
3	near	near	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	reeds	reed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
11	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  | the reeds |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | may | the water |  |  |  |  | deep *property* | 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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