---
title: sway — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sway» in the school dictionary: To sway is to move slowly from side to side, like trees in the wind or a person dancing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sway

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** them, their, Sway, trees, We, boat · **What happens:** sway, be, make, decide, opine, hold · **To what, where:** side, someone, them, something, power, sway · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sway» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [sway in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sway.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sway is to move slowly from side to side, like trees in the wind or a person dancing.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:m1:1
# text = To sway is to move slowly from side to side, like trees in the wind or a person dancing.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sway	sway	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
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	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	dancing	dancing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sway** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | side |  | to side; like trees in the wind or a person dancing; move, slowly *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 sway someone is to change their opinion or make them decide something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:m2:1
# text = To sway someone is to change their opinion or make them decide something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sway	sway	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	opinion	opinion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sway** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location someone=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | change *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **make** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **decide** | infinitive | them *= they* *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 5 | **opine** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom opinion «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sway (noun) is power or influence over people: «hold sway».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:m3:1
# text = Sway (noun) is power or influence over people: «hold sway».
1	Sway	sway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	influence	influence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	appos	_	_
14	sway	sway	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sway | power or influence over people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | sway |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sway=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trees swayed in the wind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:x1:1
# text = The trees swayed in the wind.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swayed	sway	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We swayed to the music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:x2:1
# text = We swayed to the music.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swayed	sway	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sway** | past | We |  |  |  |  | to the music | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boat swayed from side to side.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:x3:1
# text = The boat swayed from side to side.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swayed	sway	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	side	side	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 | **sway** | past | the boat |  |  | side |  | to side | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tall towers sway slightly in strong winds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:x4:1
# text = Tall towers sway slightly in strong winds.
1	Tall	tall	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	towers	tower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sway	sway	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	slightly	slightly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	winds	wind	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 | **sway** | present | Tall towers |  |  | strong winds |  | slightly *property* | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in wind=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't be swayed by adverts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:x5:1
# text = Don't be swayed by adverts.
1	Do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	swayed	sway	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	ccomp	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	adverts	advert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **sway** | infinitive · passive | adverts |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His speech swayed the class to vote for him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:x6:1
# text = His speech swayed the class to vote for him.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swayed	sway	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	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	vote	vote	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sway** | past | His speech | the class |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent class=Patient clause=Result |
| 2 | **vote** | to-infinitive | His speech *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for speech | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent for he=Goal |
| 3 | **speak** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom speech «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rope bridge swayed as we crossed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:x7:1
# text = The rope bridge swayed as we crossed.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	rope	rope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	swayed	sway	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	crossed	cross	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sway** | participle |  | the rope bridge *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **cross** | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The nest swayed to and fro, as they sat on the rim and cried.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sway:x8:1
# text = The nest swayed to and fro, as they sat on the rim and cried.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	nest	nest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	swayed	sway	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	fro	fro	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	rim	rim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sway** | past | the nest |  |  |  |  |  | vn modes\_of\_being\_with\_motion-47.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sit** | past | they |  |  | the rim |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on rim=Location |
| 3 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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