---
title: saxophone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «saxophone» in the school dictionary: A saxophone is a musical instrument made of brass, shaped like a curved J, played by blowing into a mouthpiece with a reed and pressing keys. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/saxophone/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / saxophone

# saxophone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** saxophone, sister, Adolphe, jazz player, alto saxophone, You · **What happens:** be, make, shape, curve, play, blow · **To what, where:** musical instrument, mouthpiece, keys, saxophone, school band, cool tune

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A saxophone is a musical instrument made of brass, shaped like a curved J, played by blowing into a mouthpiece with a reed and pressing keys.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:saxophone:m1:1
# text = A saxophone is a musical instrument made of brass, shaped like a curved J, played by blowing into a mouthpiece with a reed and pressing keys.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	saxophone	saxophone	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	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	brass	brass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	curved	curve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	amod	_	_
15	J	J	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
18	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
19	blowing	blow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	17	advcl	_	_
20	into	into	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	mouthpiece	mouthpiece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
23	with	with	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	pressing	press	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	19	conj	_	_
28	keys	key	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a saxophone | a musical instrument |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a musical instrument *not said here* |  |  |  | of brass | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **shape** | participle |  | a musical instrument *not said here* |  |  |  | like a curved J | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 4 | **curve** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material |
| 5 | **play** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **blow** | gerund |  |  |  | a mouthpiece |  | with a reed | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme»: with reed=Theme |
| 7 | **press** | gerund |  | keys |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent key=Theme |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister plays the saxophone in the school band.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:saxophone:x1:1
# text = My sister plays the saxophone in the school band.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	saxophone	saxophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	band	band	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 | **play** | present | My sister | the saxophone |  | the school band |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent saxophone=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The saxophone was invented by Adolphe Sax.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:saxophone:x2:1
# text = The saxophone was invented by Adolphe Sax.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	saxophone	saxophone	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	invented	invent	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Adolphe	Adolphe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl:agent	_	_
7	Sax	Sax	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **invent** | past · passive | Adolphe | the saxophone |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A jazz player played a cool tune on his sax.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:saxophone:x3:1
# text = A jazz player played a cool tune on his sax.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	jazz	jazz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	sax	sax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | a jazz player | a cool tune |  | player's sax |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tune=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The saxophone is part of the woodwind family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:saxophone:x4:1
# text = The saxophone is part of the woodwind family.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	saxophone	saxophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	woodwind	woodwind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the saxophone | part |  |  |  | of the woodwind family | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The alto saxophone is a good size for children to learn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:saxophone:x5:1
# text = The alto saxophone is a good size for children to learn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	alto	alto	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	saxophone	saxophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the alto saxophone | a good size |  |  |  | for children | tree rules |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You need a reed in the mouthpiece to play the saxophone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:saxophone:x6:1
# text = You need a reed in the mouthpiece to play the saxophone.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mouthpiece	mouthpiece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	saxophone	saxophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | You | a reed |  | the mouthpiece |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot reed=Theme |
| 2 | **play** | to-infinitive | You *not said here* | the saxophone |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent saxophone=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baritone saxophone makes a deep, low sound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:saxophone:x7:1
# text = The baritone saxophone makes a deep, low sound.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	baritone	baritone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	saxophone	saxophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | the baritone saxophone | a deep low sound |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.material V NP»: agent=Material sound=Product |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [saxon](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/saxon/)
- next →: [say](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/say/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)