---
title: tennis — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tennis» in the school dictionary: Tennis is a sport for two or four players who hit a small ball over a net with rackets on a court. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tennis

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Tennis, two players, Table tennis, We, you, Wimbledon · **What happens:** be, hit, play, pass, bounce, mean · **To what, where:** sport, small ball, net, different game, table, tennis

<!-- .vabout -->
«tennis» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [tennis in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tennis.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tennis is a sport for two or four players who hit a small ball over a net with rackets on a court.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:m1:1
# text = Tennis is a sport for two or four players who hit a small ball over a net with rackets on a court.
1	Tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	conj	_	_
9	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
10	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
15	over	over	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	net	net	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	rackets	racket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Tennis | a sport |  |  |  | for two players | tree rules |
| 2 | **hit** | past | two players | a small ball |  | a net |  | with rackets; on a court | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent ball=Patient with racket=Instrument |

<!-- .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 -->
Table tennis is a different game played on a table with small bats and a light ball.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:m2:1
# text = Table tennis is a different game played on a table with small bats and a light ball.
1	Table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tennis	tennis	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	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Table tennis | a different game |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | participle |  | a different game *not said here* |  | a table |  | with small bats and a light ball | vn play-114.2-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with bat=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We play tennis in the park after school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:x1:1
# text = We play tennis in the park after school.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	school	school	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 | **play** | present | We | tennis |  | the park | after school |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tennis=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pass me the tennis racket.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:x2:1
# text = Pass me the tennis racket.
1	Pass	pass	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	racket	racket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | imperative | you *not said here* | the tennis racket | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient racket=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tennis ball bounced over the net.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:x3:1
# text = The tennis ball bounced over the net.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	bounced	bounce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	net	net	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bounce** | participle |  | the tennis ball *not said here* |  | the net |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over net=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wimbledon is a famous tennis tournament.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:x4:1
# text = Wimbledon is a famous tennis tournament.
1	Wimbledon	Wimbledon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tournament	tournament	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Wimbledon | a famous tennis tournament |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In tennis, «love» means zero.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:x5:1
# text = In tennis, «love» means zero.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	zero	zero	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  | zero |  |  |  | in tennis and love | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot zero=Theme in tennis=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She hit the ball hard with her tennis racket.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:x6:1
# text = She hit the ball hard with her tennis racket.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hit	hit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	racket	racket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | past | She | the ball |  |  |  | with her tennis racket; hard *property* | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent ball=Patient with racket=Instrument |
| 2 | **racket** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom racket «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They played doubles tennis, two against two.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:x7:1
# text = They played doubles tennis, two against two.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	doubles	double	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
4	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	appos	_	_
7	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | They |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **double** | present | They *not said here* | tennis |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tennis=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother plays table tennis at the club.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:x8:1
# text = My brother plays table tennis at the club.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	club	club	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 | **play** | present | My brother | table tennis |  | the club |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tennis=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Sire, this morning we were all playing tennis in the court, the prince and this gentleman with the rest, when there broke out some dispute about the game.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tennis:x9:1
# text = ‘Sire, this morning we were all playing tennis in the court, the prince and this gentleman with the rest, when there broke out some dispute about the game.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Sire	sire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	morning	morning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	all	all	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	playing	play	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	acl	_	_
10	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	prince	prince	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	appos	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	19	det	_	_
19	gentleman	gentleman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
20	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	rest	rest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
24	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	26	advmod	_	_
25	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	26	expl	_	_
26	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
27	out	out	ADP	RP	_	26	compound:prt	_	_
28	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	29	det	_	_
29	dispute	dispute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obj	_	_
30	about	about	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	26	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past · progressive | we | tennis |  | the court and this gentleman with the rest | morning | all *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tennis=Theme |
| 2 | **break out** | past |  | Sire |  | there |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer dispute=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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