---
title: strum — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «strum» in the school dictionary: To strum is to play a guitar, ukulele or similar instrument by brushing your fingers or a pick across the strings. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# strum

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** strum, sound, She, We, He, that · **What happens:** be, brush, make, strum, sing, learn · **To what, where:** fingers, strings, one brush, ukulele, song, C chord

<!-- .vabout -->
«strum» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [strum in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/strum.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To strum is to play a guitar, ukulele or similar instrument by brushing your fingers or a pick across the strings.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:m1:1
# text = To strum is to play a guitar, ukulele or similar instrument by brushing your fingers or a pick across the strings.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	strum	strum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	advcl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	play	play	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	guitar	guitar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	ukulele	ukulele	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	similar	similar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
13	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	brushing	brush	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
15	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	pick	pick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
20	across	across	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | play *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **brush** | gerund |  | your fingers or a pick |  | the strings |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent finger=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 -->
A strum is one brush across the strings, or the sound it makes.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:m2:1
# text = A strum is one brush across the strings, or the sound it makes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	strum	strum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	brush	brush	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	across	across	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a strum | one brush |  | the strings |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | the sound |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She strummed her ukulele and sang a song.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:x1:1
# text = She strummed her ukulele and sang a song.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	strummed	strum	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	ukulele	ukulele	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strum** | past | She | her ukulele |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | She *not said here* | a song |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location song=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We learned to strum a C chord in music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:x2:1
# text = We learned to strum a C chord in music.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	strum	strum	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	C	c	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	chord	chord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **strum** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | a C chord |  | music |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was strumming his guitar by the campfire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:x3:1
# text = He was strumming his guitar by the campfire.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	strumming	strum	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	guitar	guitar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	campfire	campfire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strum** | past · progressive | He | his guitar |  |  |  | by the campfire | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Down, down, up — that's the strumming pattern.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:x4:1
# text = Down, down, up — that's the strumming pattern.
1	Down	down	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	down	down	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	up	up	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	strumming	strum	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	amod	_	_
11	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strum** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | that | the strumming pattern |  |  |  | down *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Strum gently, not too hard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:x5:1
# text = Strum gently, not too hard.
1	Strum	Strum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With one strum, the whole room went quiet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:x6:1
# text = With one strum, the whole room went quiet.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	strum	strum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the whole room |  |  |  |  | with one strum; quiet *property* | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent with strum=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad strums along when we sing in the car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:x7:1
# text = Dad strums along when we sing in the car.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	strums	strum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	along	along	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sing	sing	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	car	car	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 | **sing** *speech: express* | present | Dad strums |  |  | the car |  | along *property* | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in car=Location |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Prince sat down and strummed away on the lute \[gusli\].

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:strum:x8:1
# text = The Prince sat down and strummed away on the lute [gusli].
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Prince	Prince	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	strummed	strum	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	conj	_	_
7	away	away	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lute	lute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	[	[	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	gusli	gusli	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	]	]	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit down** | past | the Prince |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **strum away** | participle | the Prince *not said here* |  |  | the lute |  | away *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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