---
title: swim — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «swim» in the school dictionary: To swim means to move through water using your arms and legs. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# swim

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** swim, you, Fish, head, Lily, He · **What happens:** swim, mean, move, use, be, go · **To what, where:** water, arms, time, fins, 8 laps, 200 meters · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«swim» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [swim in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/swim.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To swim means to move through water using your arms and legs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:m1:1
# text = To swim means to move through water using your arms and legs.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	legs	leg	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **move** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | water |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme through water=Trajectory |
| 4 | **use** | gerund |  | your arms and legs |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent arm=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A swim is a time when you swim: go for a swim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:m2:1
# text = A swim is a time when you swim: go for a swim.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	swim	swim	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	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	swim	swim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
10	go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	swim	swim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a swim | a time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **swim** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **go** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for a swim | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for swim=Beneficiary |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fish swim using their fins and tails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:m3:1
# text = Fish swim using their fins and tails.
1	Fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	fins	fin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	tails	tail	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | present | Fish |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | Fish *not said here* | Fish's fins and tails |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fin=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«My head is swimming» means you feel dizzy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:m4:1
# text = «My head is swimming» means you feel dizzy.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	swimming	swim	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	feel	feel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	ccomp	_	_
10	dizzy	dizzy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** *in a quote* | present · progressive | My head |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **feel** | present | you |  |  |  |  | dizzy *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lily swims 8 laps each day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:x1:1
# text = Lily swims 8 laps each day.
1	Lily	Lily	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swims	swim	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	laps	lap	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | present | Lily | 8 laps |  |  | day |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme lap=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He swam 200 meters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:x2:1
# text = He swam 200 meters.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swam	swim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	200	200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	meters	meter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | past | He | 200 meters |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme meter=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They swim for 45 minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:x3:1
# text = They swim for 45 minutes.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	45	45	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | present | They |  |  |  | minute |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many laps did she swim in a week?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:x4:1
# text = How many laps did she swim in a week?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	laps	lap	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	week	week	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 | **swim** | past · do-support | many laps |  |  |  | week |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Always swim between the red and yellow flags.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:x5:1
# text = Always swim between the red and yellow flags.
1	Always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	2	advmod	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	flags	flag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the red flags |  | always *property* | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme between flag=Trajectory |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fish swim in schools.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:x6:1
# text = Fish swim in schools.
1	Fish	fish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	swim	swim	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	schools	school	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** | present | Fish |  |  | schools |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in school=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We go for a swim after school on Fridays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:x7:1
# text = We go for a swim after school on Fridays.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	swim	swim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Fridays	Friday	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present | We |  |  |  | after school; friday | for a swim | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for swim=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I learned to swim when I was five.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:x8:1
# text = I learned to swim when I was five.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **swim** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** | past | I | five |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Shall we swim or fly, Peter?”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:swim:x9:1
# text = “Shall we swim or fly, Peter?”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Shall	shall	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	fly	fly	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **swim** *in a quote* | shall | we | Peter |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **fly** *in a quote* | infinitive | we *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «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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