---
title: sift — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sift» in the school dictionary: To shake flour or sand through a sieve to break up lumps or remove bits. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sift

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, We, She · **What happens:** shake, break up, remove, look, find, be · **To what, where:** flour, sieve, lumps, bits, evidence, bowl · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To shake flour or sand through a sieve to break up lumps or remove bits.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:m1:1
# text = To shake flour or sand through a sieve to break up lumps or remove bits.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	shake	shake	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	flour	flour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sieve	sieve	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	lumps	lump	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	remove	remove	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
15	bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | to-infinitive |  | flour or sand |  | a sieve |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent flour=Theme through sieve=Trajectory |
| 2 | **break up** | to-infinitive |  | lumps |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lump=Patient |
| 3 | **remove** | infinitive |  | bits |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bit=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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To look through many things carefully to find what is useful: sift through the evidence.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:m2:1
# text = To look through many things carefully to find what is useful: sift through the evidence.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	advcl	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
13	sift	sift	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	through	through	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | through many things; carefully *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent through thing=Theme |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | useful *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **sift** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the evidence |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent through evidence=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sift can also mean to fall lightly and finely, like fine rain or dust.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:m3:1
# text = To sift can also mean to fall lightly and finely, like fine rain or dust.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sift	sift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	fall	fall	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	lightly	lightly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	finely	finely	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	dust	dust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sift** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **fall** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | like fine rain or dust; lightly *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sift the flour into the bowl.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:x1:1
# text = Sift the flour into the bowl.
1	Sift	sift	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	flour	flour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bowl	bowl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sift** | imperative | you *not said here* | the flour |  | the bowl |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent flour=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We sifted the sand to find shells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:x2:1
# text = We sifted the sand to find shells.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sifted	sift	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	sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	shells	shell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sift** | past | We | the sand |  |  |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sand=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | shells |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shell=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective sifted through the papers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:x3:1
# text = The detective sifted through the papers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	sifted	sift	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	papers	paper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sift** | participle |  | the detective *not said here* |  | the papers |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent through paper=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sifting removes lumps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:x4:1
# text = Sifting removes lumps.
1	Sifting	sift	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	removes	remove	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lumps	lump	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sift** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **remove** | present |  | lumps |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lump=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sift the soil to take out the stones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:x5:1
# text = Sift the soil to take out the stones.
1	Sift	sift	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stones	stone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sift** | imperative | you *not said here* | the soil |  |  |  |  | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent soil=Patient |
| 2 | **take out** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the stones |  |  |  |  | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stone=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She sifted through hundreds of photos.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:x6:1
# text = She sifted through hundreds of photos.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sifted	sift	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	hundreds	hundred	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	photos	photo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sift** | past | She |  |  | hundreds of photos |  |  | vn search-35.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent through hundred=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dey wa'n't no rain, but de wet des sifted down; mighty raw day.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sift:x7:1
# text = Dey wa'n't no rain, but de wet des sifted down; mighty raw day.
1	Dey	Dey	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	wa'	wa'	INTJ	UH	_	5	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	de	de	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	des	des	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
11	sifted	sift	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
12	down	down	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	mighty	mighty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	raw	raw	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sift down** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | de wet des | vn disassemble-23.3 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

<!-- 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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