---
title: vocal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «vocal» in the school dictionary: Vocal means about the voice or using the voice. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vocal/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [V](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/) / vocal

# vocal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Vocal, vocal person, Vocals, vocal cords, She, He · **What happens:** mean, use, speak out, sing, be, make · **To what, where:** voice, singing parts, sound, sounds, animals, lead vocals

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Vocal means about the voice or using the voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:m1:1
# text = Vocal means about the voice or using the voice.
1	Vocal	vocal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Vocal |  |  |  |  | about the voice | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | Vocal *not said here* | the voice |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent voice=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 vocal person speaks out strongly and often.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:m2:1
# text = A vocal person speaks out strongly and often.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	vocal	vocal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	speaks	speak	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	strongly	strongly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak out** *speech: other* | present | a vocal person |  |  |  |  | strongly *property* | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Vocals are the singing parts of a song.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:m3:1
# text = Vocals are the singing parts of a song.
1	Vocals	vocal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	singing	sing	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Vocals | the singing parts |  |  |  | of a song | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Vocal can also mean making a sound, like a noisy river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:m4:1
# text = Vocal can also mean making a sound, like a noisy river.
1	Vocal	vocal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	noisy	noisy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Vocal |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** *not said to happen* | gerund | Vocal *not said here* | a sound |  |  |  | like a noisy river | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your vocal cords make sounds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:x1:1
# text = Your vocal cords make sounds.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	vocal	vocal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	cords	cord	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	sounds	sound	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Your vocal cords | sounds |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sound=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is very vocal about saving animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:x2:1
# text = She is very vocal about saving animals.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	vocal	vocal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	saving	save	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | vocal *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **save** | gerund | She *not said here* | animals |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent animal=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sang the lead vocals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:x3:1
# text = He sang the lead vocals.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	lead	lead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	vocals	vocal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | He | the lead vocals |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location vocal=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The choir did vocal warm-ups.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:x4:1
# text = The choir did vocal warm-ups.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	choir	choir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	vocal	vocal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	warm	warm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	ups	up	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | the choir | vocal warm ups |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent up=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd was vocal in support.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:x5:1
# text = The crowd was vocal in support.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	vocal	vocal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the crowd |  |  | support |  | vocal *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Parrots are vocal birds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:x6:1
# text = Parrots are vocal birds.
1	Parrots	parrot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	vocal	vocal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
From these vocal rivers we will now turn to that elementary force by which in winter they are often rendered mute.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vocal:x7:1
# text = From these vocal rivers we will now turn to that elementary force by which in winter they are often rendered mute.
1	From	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
3	vocal	vocal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	8	advmod	_	_
8	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	det	_	_
11	elementary	elementary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	obl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux:pass	_	_
19	often	often	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	rendered	render	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl:relcl	_	_
21	mute	mute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | future | we |  |  | this vocal rivers | now | to that elementary force *result* | vn turn-26.6.1-1 «NP V PP.material PP.result»: agent=Agent from river=Initial\_State to force=Result |
| 2 | **render** | present · passive | that elementary force | rivers *= river* |  |  | winter | often *property* | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent subject=Recipient mute=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 -->
- ← previous: [vocabulary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vocabulary/)
- next →: [vocalisation](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vocalisation/)
- ↑ back to [V in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/)