---
title: talk — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «talk» in the school dictionary: To say words; to speak. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# talk

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** baby, We, you, 's, firefighter, I · **What happens:** say, speak, have, discuss, learn, talk · **To what, where:** words, conversation, 's, talk, you, school · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say words; to speak.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:m1:1
# text = To say words; to speak.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	speak	speak	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | words |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent word=Topic |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: 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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The baby is learning to talk."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:m1e:1
# text = "The baby is learning to talk."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** *in a quote* | present · progressive | the baby |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **talk** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | the baby *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To have a conversation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:m2:1
# text = To have a conversation.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | to-infinitive |  | a conversation |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conversation=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"We talked for hours."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:m2e:1
# text = "We talked for hours."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	hours	hour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** *in a quote* | past | We |  |  |  | hour |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To discuss.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:m3:1
# text = To discuss.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	discuss	discuss	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **discuss** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Let's talk about it."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:m3e:1
# text = "Let's talk about it."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** *in a quote* | infinitive | 's *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about it | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a noun, a conversation or a speech to a group.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:m4:1
# text = As a noun, a conversation or a speech to a group.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	conversation	conversation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The firefighter gave a talk."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:m4e:1
# text = "The firefighter gave a talk."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	firefighter	firefighter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** *in a quote* | past | the firefighter | a talk |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent talk=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can I talk to you?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:x1:1
# text = Can I talk to you?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | can | I |  | you |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to you=Co-Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We talked about our holiday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:x2:1
# text = We talked about our holiday.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	holiday	holiday	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 | **talk** | past | We |  |  |  |  | about our holiday | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about holiday=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please don't talk during the test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:x3:1
# text = Please don't talk during the test.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	talk	talk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	during	during	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **talk** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  | during the test |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A police officer gave a talk at school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:x4:1
# text = A police officer gave a talk at school.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | a police officer | a talk |  | school |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent talk=Theme at school=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Talk to a trusted adult if you are worried.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:x5:1
# text = Talk to a trusted adult if you are worried.
1	Talk	talk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	amod	_	_
5	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	worried	worried	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to a trusted adult | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to adult=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **trust** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you |  |  |  |  | worried *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Parrots can learn to talk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:x6:1
# text = Parrots can learn to talk.
1	Parrots	parrot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | can | Parrots |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **talk** | to-infinitive | Parrots *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't talk to strangers online.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:x7:1
# text = Don't talk to strangers online.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	talk	talk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	strangers	stranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	online	online	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **talk** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to strangers; online *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to stranger=Co-Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They talked it over and agreed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:x8:1
# text = They talked it over and agreed.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	over	over	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	agreed	agree	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk over** | past | They | it |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 2 | **agree** *speech: agree* | past | They *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Cease your silly talk," said the wagoner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:talk:x9:1
# text = "Cease your silly talk," said the wagoner.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Cease	cease	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	wagoner	wagoner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cease** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | your silly talk |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality talk=Eventuality |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the wagoner |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **talk** *in a quote* |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom talk «communication intransitive»: poss=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 -->

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