---
title: technique — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «technique» in the school dictionary: A technique is a special way of doing something that needs skill, like a painting technique or a swimming technique. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# technique

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** technique, special way, coach, Good technique, you, We · **What happens:** be, do, need, swim, show, help · **To what, where:** special way, something, skill, new swimming technique, us, you

<!-- .vabout -->
«technique» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [technique in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/technique.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A technique is a special way of doing something that needs skill, like a painting technique or a swimming technique.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:technique:m1:1
# text = A technique is a special way of doing something that needs skill, like a painting technique or a swimming technique.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	swimming	swim	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	21	amod	_	_
21	technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a technique | a special way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | a special way *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **need** | present |  | skill and a painting technique or a swimming technique |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot skill=Theme |
| 4 | **swim** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
Technique is how well you use the right moves or methods in a sport, art or job.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:technique:m2:1
# text = Technique is how well you use the right moves or methods in a sport, art or job.
1	Technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	moves	move	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	methods	method	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Technique |  |  |  |  | use, well *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our coach showed us a new swimming technique.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:technique:x1:1
# text = Our coach showed us a new swimming technique.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Our coach | a new swimming technique | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient technique=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good technique helps you throw further.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:technique:x2:1
# text = Good technique helps you throw further.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	throw	throw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	further	far	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Good technique | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **throw** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | far *property* | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tried a printing technique with sponges.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:technique:x3:1
# text = We tried a printing technique with sponges.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	printing	print	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	sponges	sponge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | We | a printing technique |  |  |  | with sponges | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP PP.theme PP.attribute»: agent=Agent technique=Patient with sponge=Theme |
| 2 | **print** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Column addition is a technique for adding big numbers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:technique:x4:1
# text = Column addition is a technique for adding big numbers.
1	Column	Column	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	addition	addition	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	technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	adding	add	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Column addition | a technique |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | gerund | a technique *not said here* | big numbers |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent number=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Breathing techniques can help you calm down.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:technique:x5:1
# text = Breathing techniques can help you calm down.
1	Breathing	breathe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	techniques	technique	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	calm	calm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **breathe** | gerund |  | techniques |  |  |  |  | vn breathe-40.1.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent technique=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | can | Breathing | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **calm down** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Practise the technique slowly before you go fast.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:technique:x6:1
# text = Practise the technique slowly before you go fast.
1	Practise	practise	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | imperative | you *not said here* | the technique |  |  |  | slowly *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | you |  |  |  |  | fast *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her drawing technique has really improved.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:technique:x7:1
# text = Her drawing technique has really improved.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	technique	technique	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	really	really	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	improved	improve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **draw** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **improve** | present · perfect | Her drawing technique |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- 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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