---
title: sunbeam — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sunbeam» in the school dictionary: A sunbeam is a ray or narrow beam of sunlight, especially one you can see shining through a gap, a window or clouds. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sunbeam

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sunbeam, one, Ray, cat, Dust, Sunbeams · **What happens:** be, see, shine, beam, lay, dance · **To what, where:** ray, gap, sunlight, fond name, warm sunbeam, sunbeam · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sunbeam» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [sunbeam in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sunbeam.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sunbeam is a ray or narrow beam of sunlight, especially one you can see shining through a gap, a window or clouds.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunbeam:m1:1
# text = A sunbeam is a ray or narrow beam of sunlight, especially one you can see shining through a gap, a window or clouds.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sunbeam	sunbeam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ray	ray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	beam	beam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	16	nsubj	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
17	shining	shine	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	16	xcomp	_	_
18	through	through	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	gap	gap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	appos	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sunbeam | a ray or narrow beam of sunlight |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | can | one |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **shine** | gerund | one *not said here* |  |  | a gap |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through gap=Location |
| 4 | **beam** |  |  | sunlight |  |  |  |  | nom beam «communication transitive»: of=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Ray of sunshine» or «sunbeam» can be a fond name for a cheerful child.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunbeam:m2:1
# text = «Ray of sunshine» or «sunbeam» can be a fond name for a cheerful child.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ray	Ray	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	sunshine	sunshine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	sunbeam	sunbeam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
11	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	fond	fond	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	cheerful	cheerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | Ray of sunshine or sunbeam | a fond name |  |  |  | for a cheerful child | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat lay asleep in a warm sunbeam.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunbeam:x1:1
# text = The cat lay asleep in a warm sunbeam.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lay	lay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	asleep	asleep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sunbeam	sunbeam	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 | **lay** | infinitive | the cat |  |  | a warm sunbeam |  | asleep *property* | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in sunbeam=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dust danced in the sunbeam from the window.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunbeam:x2:1
# text = Dust danced in the sunbeam from the window.
1	Dust	Dust	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	danced	dance	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	sunbeam	sunbeam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	window	window	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dance** | past | Dust |  |  | the sunbeam |  | from the window | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in sunbeam=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunbeams broke through the clouds after the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunbeam:x3:1
# text = Sunbeams broke through the clouds after the storm.
1	Sunbeams	sunbeam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | Sunbeams |  |  | the clouds | after the storm |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through cloud=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sunbeam shows that light travels in straight lines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunbeam:x4:1
# text = A sunbeam shows that light travels in straight lines.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sunbeam	sunbeam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	travels	travel	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | a sunbeam |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **travel** | present | that light |  |  | straight lines |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in line=Trajectory |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We could see sunbeams shining down through the forest trees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunbeam:x5:1
# text = We could see sunbeams shining down through the forest trees.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	sunbeams	sunbeam	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	shining	shine	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	down	down	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	through	through	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | could | We | sunbeams |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer sunbeam=Stimulus |
| 2 | **shine down** | gerund | sunbeams *not said here* |  |  | the forest trees |  | down *property* | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through tree=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Morning, sunbeam!» said Nan when I came down to breakfast.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sunbeam:x6:1
# text = «Morning, sunbeam!» said Nan when I came down to breakfast.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	sunbeam	sunbeam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	Nan	Nan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
12	down	down	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	breakfast	breakfast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Nan |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **come down** | past | I |  |  | breakfast |  | down *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to breakfast=Initial\_Location |

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**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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