---
title: singing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «singing» in the school dictionary: Singing is making musical sounds with your voice, with words or a tune. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# singing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Singing, She, bird, We, birds, Everyone · **What happens:** sing, make, mean, do, describe, practise · **To what, where:** musical sounds, verb form, this, high ringing sound, birds, beautiful singing voice · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«singing» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [singing in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/singing.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Singing is making musical sounds with your voice, with words or a tune.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:m1:1
# text = Singing is making musical sounds with your voice, with words or a tune.
1	Singing	sing	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **make** | present · progressive |  | musical sounds |  |  |  | with your voice; with words or a tune | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

<!-- .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 -->
Singing (verb form) means doing this now («She is singing»).

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:m2:1
# text = Singing (verb form) means doing this now («She is singing»).
1	Singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	csubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	obj	_	_
9	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	7	advmod	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund |  | verb form |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location form=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Singing |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | gerund | Singing *not said here* | this |  |  | now |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent this=Eventuality |
| 4 | **sing** *speech: express* *in a quote* | present · progressive | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Singing can describe a high ringing sound, like a kettle or a bird («singing birds»).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:m3:1
# text = Singing can describe a high ringing sound, like a kettle or a bird («singing birds»).
1	Singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	csubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	ringing	ringing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	kettle	kettle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
15	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	acl	_	_
18	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **describe** | can | Singing | a high ringing sound |  |  |  | like a kettle or a bird | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent sound=Theme |
| 3 | **sing** *speech: express* *in a quote* | gerund | a bird *not said here* | birds |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location bird=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We practised singing for the school concert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:x1:1
# text = We practised singing for the school concert.
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	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	concert	concert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund | We *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the school concert | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient S\_INF»: agent=Agent for concert=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The birds were singing at dawn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:x2:1
# text = The birds were singing at dawn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	dawn	dawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past · progressive | the birds |  |  |  | dawn |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP.location V PP.theme»: agent=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has a beautiful singing voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:x3:1
# text = She has a beautiful singing voice.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	singing	singing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | She | a beautiful singing voice |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent voice=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everyone joined in the singing of «Happy Birthday».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:x4:1
# text = Everyone joined in the singing of «Happy Birthday».
1	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	2	nsubj	_	_
2	joined	join	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	singing	singing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	Birthday	Birthday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | past | Everyone |  |  |  |  | in the singing of Happy Birthday | vn cooperate-73.1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in singing=Theme |
| 2 | **sing** |  |  | Happy Birthday |  |  |  |  | nom singing «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He takes singing lessons on Saturdays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:x5:1
# text = He takes singing lessons on Saturdays.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	lessons	lesson	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Saturdays	Saturday	PROPN	NNPS	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 | **take** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn require-103 «NP V for NP S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Precondition |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund | He *not said here* | lessons |  |  | saturday |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location lesson=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fans were singing loudly in the stadium.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:x6:1
# text = The fans were singing loudly in the stadium.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	stadium	stadium	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past · progressive | the fans |  |  | the stadium |  | loudly *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in stadium=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I like singing in the bath.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:x7:1
# text = I like singing in the bath.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bath	bath	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 | **like** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* *not said to happen* | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  | the bath |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in bath=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Singing in a round means starting the same tune at different times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:x8:1
# text = Singing in a round means starting the same tune at different times.
1	Singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	csubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	round	round	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	starting	start	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  | a round |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in round=Location |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Singing |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **start** *not said to happen* | gerund | Singing *not said here* | the same tune |  |  | time |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tune=Eventuality |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
'And how is the nightingale singing?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:singing:x9:1
# text = 'And how is the nightingale singing?
1	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	nightingale	nightingale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | present · progressive | the nightingale |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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