---
title: whim — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «whim» in the school dictionary: A whim is a sudden wish or idea to do something, often without a good reason. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# whim

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** whim, we, She, king, Sailors, It · **What happens:** be, do, go, buy, change, forget · **To what, where:** sudden wish, something, whim, hat, laws, money · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A whim is a sudden wish or idea to do something, often without a good reason.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whim:m1:1
# text = A whim is a sudden wish or idea to do something, often without a good reason.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whim	whim	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	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	wish	wish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
14	without	without	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a whim | a sudden wish or idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | a whim *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
On a whim, we went to the beach after school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whim:x1:1
# text = On a whim, we went to the beach after school.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	whim	whim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	after	after	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | we |  |  | a whim | after school | to the beach | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to beach=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She bought the hat on a whim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whim:x2:1
# text = She bought the hat on a whim.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	bought	buy	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	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	whim	whim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | past | She | the hat |  | a whim |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hat=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king changed the laws at his every whim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whim:x3:1
# text = The king changed the laws at his every whim.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	whim	whim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | past | the king | the laws |  | king's whim |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent law=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sailors were at the whim of the weather.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whim:x4:1
# text = Sailors were at the whim of the weather.
1	Sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	whim	whim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	weather	weather	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 | **is** | past | Sailors |  |  | the whim |  | of the weather | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was just a whim, and he forgot about it the next day.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whim:x5:1
# text = It was just a whim, and he forgot about it the next day.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	whim	whim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a whim |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **forget** | past | he |  |  |  | day | about whim | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't spend all your money on a whim.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whim:x6:1
# text = Don't spend all your money on a whim.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	spend	spend	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	6	det:predet	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	whim	whim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **spend** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | your money |  |  |  | on a whim *goal* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent money=Asset on whim=Goal |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tell him that to satisfy a whim you have, he must give you a dress the colour of the weather.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whim:x7:1
# text = Tell him that to satisfy a whim you have, he must give you a dress the colour of the weather.
1	Tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	iobj	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	satisfy	satisfy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	whim	whim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	iobj	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	dress	dress	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	weather	weather	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | that | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient that=Topic |
| 2 | **satisfy** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a whim |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus whim=Experiencer |
| 3 | **have** | present | you | a whim *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whim=Patient |
| 4 | **give** | must | he | a dress | you |  |  |  | tree rules |

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**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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