---
title: shifting — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shifting» in the school dictionary: Moving or changing position: shifting sand dunes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shifting

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sand dunes, He, Shifting, Shifting shadows, wind, wizard · **What happens:** move, change, shift, keep, take, dance · **To what, where:** position, sand dunes, opinions, something, furniture, gear

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving or changing position: shifting sand dunes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:m1:1
# text = Moving or changing position: shifting sand dunes.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	changing	change	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	position	position	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	shifting	shift	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
7	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	dunes	dune	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **change** | gerund |  | position |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent position=Patient |
| 3 | **shift** | gerund |  | sand dunes |  |  |  |  | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Causer dune=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Changing: shifting opinions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:m2:1
# text = Changing: shifting opinions.
1	Changing	change	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	shifting	shift	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	opinions	opinion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **shift** | gerund |  | opinions |  |  |  |  | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Causer opinion=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moving something, often hard work: shifting furniture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:m3:1
# text = Moving something, often hard work: shifting furniture.
1	Moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	often	often	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	shifting	shift	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
9	furniture	furniture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **shift** | gerund |  | furniture |  |  |  |  | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Causer furniture=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Changing gear in a car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:m4:1
# text = Changing gear in a car.
1	Changing	change	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	gear	gear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | gerund |  | gear |  | a car |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gear=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sand dunes are always shifting in the wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:x1:1
# text = The sand dunes are always shifting in the wind.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	dunes	dune	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	6	advmod	_	_
6	shifting	shift	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shift** | present · progressive | the sand dunes |  |  | the wind |  | always *property* | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He kept shifting in his chair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:x2:1
# text = He kept shifting in his chair.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	shifting	shift	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	chair	chair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shift** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  | his chair |  |  | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shifting the heavy sofa took four of us.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:x3:1
# text = Shifting the heavy sofa took four of us.
1	Shifting	shift	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sofa	sofa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shift** | gerund |  | the heavy sofa |  |  |  |  | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Causer sofa=Patient |
| 2 | **take** | past | Shifting | four of us |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent four=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shifting shadows danced on the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:x4:1
# text = Shifting shadows danced on the wall.
1	Shifting	shift	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	shadows	shadow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	danced	dance	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wall	wall	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 | **shift** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **dance** | past | Shifting shadows |  |  | the wall |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on wall=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind is shifting to the north.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:x5:1
# text = The wind is shifting to the north.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	shifting	shift	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	north	north	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shift** | present · progressive | the wind |  |  |  |  | to the north *result* | vn convert-26.6.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient to north=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the wizard was a shape-shifting fox.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:x6:1
# text = In the story, the wizard was a shape-shifting fox.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	shifting	shifting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the wizard | a shifting fox |  | the story |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Now in one form and now in another, he glides a shifting shape, of which it is difficult to obtain a satisfactory view.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shifting:x7:1
# text = Now in one form and now in another, he glides a shifting shape, of which it is difficult to obtain a satisfactory view.
1	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	11	advmod	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	1	conj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
10	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	glides	glide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	shifting	shifting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	obl	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	expl	_	_
19	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	obtain	obtain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	csubj	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	satisfactory	satisfactory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	view	view	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **glide** | present | he | a shifting shape |  |  | now |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shape=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | difficult *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **obtain** | to-infinitive |  | a satisfactory view |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset view=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

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