---
title: softly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «softly» in the school dictionary: Softly means quietly, not loudly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# softly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, baby, Snow, She, music, He · **What happens:** mean, speak, be, fall, close, play · **To what, where:** roofs, door, background, kitten, trees, anyone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Softly means quietly, not loudly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:m1:1
# text = Softly means quietly, not loudly.
1	Softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | loudly, quietly, softly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
Softly means gently, with little force.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:m2:1
# text = Softly means gently, with little force.
1	Softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with little force; gently, softly *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Softly can mean in a kind, tender way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:m3:1
# text = Softly can mean in a kind, tender way.
1	Softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	tender	tender	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	way	way	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 | **mean** | can |  |  |  |  |  | in a kind tender way; softly *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in way=Attribute |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please speak softly; the baby is asleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:x1:1
# text = Please speak softly; the baby is asleep.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	speak	speak	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	asleep	asleep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | softly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | the baby |  |  |  |  | asleep *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Snow fell softly on the roofs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:x2:1
# text = Snow fell softly on the roofs.
1	Snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	roofs	roof	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | Snow |  |  | the roofs |  | softly *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on roof=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She closed the door softly behind her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:x3:1
# text = She closed the door softly behind her.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	closed	close	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
6	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **close** | past | She | the door |  |  |  | behind her *= she*; softly *property* | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent door=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The music played softly in the background.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:x4:1
# text = The music played softly in the background.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | the music |  |  | the background |  | softly *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He softly stroked the kitten.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:x5:1
# text = He softly stroked the kitten.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	stroked	stroke	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stroke** | past | He | the kitten |  |  |  | softly *property* | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kitten=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind blew softly through the trees.

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

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blow** | past | the wind |  |  | the trees |  | softly *property* | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"It's all right," Grandma said softly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:x7:1
# text = "It's all right," Grandma said softly.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	all	all	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	_
8	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | It |  |  |  |  | all, right *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Grandma |  |  |  |  | softly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tiptoe softly so you don't wake anyone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:x8:1
# text = Tiptoe softly so you don't wake anyone.
1	Tiptoe	tiptoe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	wake	wake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
8	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tiptoe** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | softly *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **wake** | present · do-support | you | anyone |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent anyone=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She answered softly, “Yes, dear Beast.”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:softly:x9:1
# text = She answered softly, “Yes, dear Beast.”
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	softly	softly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	9	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	dear	dear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	Beast	Beast	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | She |  |  |  |  | softly *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 -->

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