---
title: trombone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «trombone» in the school dictionary: A trombone is a large brass musical instrument that you play by blowing into it and moving a long sliding tube in and out to change the notes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# trombone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** trombone, you, Leo, slide, Trombones, jazz band · **What happens:** be, play, blow, move, change, belong · **To what, where:** large brass musical instrument, trombone, long sliding tube, notes, school band, note

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A trombone is a large brass musical instrument that you play by blowing into it and moving a long sliding tube in and out to change the notes.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trombone:m1:1
# text = A trombone is a large brass musical instrument that you play by blowing into it and moving a long sliding tube in and out to change the notes.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trombone	trombone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
6	brass	brass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
7	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obl	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	blowing	blow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
14	into	into	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	moving	move	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	conj	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
19	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
20	sliding	sliding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	tube	tube	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	_
22	in	in	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	out	out	ADV	RB	_	22	conj	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	advcl	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	notes	note	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a trombone | a large brass musical instrument |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | present | you | a large brass musical instrument |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **blow** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  | trombone |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP.material PP.product»: agent=Agent into it=Product |
| 4 | **move** | gerund | you *not said here* | a long sliding tube |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent tube=Theme |
| 5 | **change** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the notes |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leo plays the trombone in the school band.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trombone:x1:1
# text = Leo plays the trombone in the school band.
1	Leo	Leo	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	trombone	trombone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	band	band	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 | Leo | the trombone |  | the school band |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trombone=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trombone's slide moves in and out to change the note.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trombone:x2:1
# text = The trombone's slide moves in and out to change the note.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trombone	trombone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	slide	slide	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	out	out	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | present | the trombone's slide |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **change** | to-infinitive | the trombone's slide *not said here* | the note |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trombones belong to the brass family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trombone:x3:1
# text = Trombones belong to the brass family.
1	Trombones	trombone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	belong	belong	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	brass	brass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **belong** | present | Trombones |  |  |  |  | to the brass family | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The jazz band had two trumpets and a trombone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trombone:x4:1
# text = The jazz band had two trumpets and a trombone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	jazz	jazz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	trumpets	trumpet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trombone	trombone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the jazz band | two trumpets and a trombone |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trumpet=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sad trombone sound played when the cartoon cat fell over.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trombone:x5:1
# text = A sad trombone sound played when the cartoon cat fell over.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	trombone	trombone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	cartoon	cartoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
11	over	over	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | a sad trombone sound |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fall over** | past | the cartoon cat |  |  |  |  | over *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ella practises the trombone every evening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trombone:x6:1
# text = Ella practises the trombone every evening.
1	Ella	Ella	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	practises	practise	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	trombone	trombone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	evening	evening	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 | **practise** | present | Ella | the trombone |  |  | evening |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trombone is longer than the trumpet and plays lower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trombone:x7:1
# text = The trombone is longer than the trumpet and plays lower.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trombone	trombone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	longer	long	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	trumpet	trumpet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	lower	low	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the trombone |  |  |  |  | than the trumpet; long *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | present | the trombone *not said here* |  |  |  |  | low *property* | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the noise, a large Crab crawled slowly out of the water and, with a voice that sounded like a trombone suffering from a cold, he cried out:

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:trombone:x8:1
# text = At the noise, a large Crab crawled slowly out of the water and, with a voice that sounded like a trombone suffering from a cold, he cried out:
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	Crab	Crab	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	crawled	crawl	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	nsubj	_	_
19	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj	_	_
20	sounded	sound	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	acl:relcl	_	_
21	like	like	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	trombone	trombone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
24	suffering	suffer	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	23	acl	_	_
25	from	from	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	cold	cold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
29	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	30	nsubj	_	_
30	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
31	out	out	ADP	RP	_	30	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **crawl** | past | a large Crab |  |  | the noise |  | out the water; slowly *property* | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at noise=Trajectory |
| 2 | **sound** | past | a voice |  |  |  |  | like a trombone | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **suffer** | gerund | a trombone *not said here* |  |  | a cold |  |  | vn marvel-31.3 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **cry out** *speech: express* | past | a voice |  |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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