---
title: whisper — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «whisper» in the school dictionary: To whisper means to speak very quietly, using your breath and not your voice. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# whisper

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** whisper, quiet way, something, leaves, She, you · **What happens:** whisper, mean, speak, use, be, say · **To what, where:** breath, quiet way, soft sound, rumour, answer, me · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«whisper» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [whisper in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/whisper.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To whisper means to speak very quietly, using your breath and not your voice.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:m1:1
# text = To whisper means to speak very quietly, using your breath and not your voice.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	whisper	whisper	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	breath	breath	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
14	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whisper** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **speak** *speech: other* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **use** | gerund |  | your breath and your voice |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent breath=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 whisper is a very quiet way of speaking, or something said very quietly.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:m2:1
# text = A whisper is a very quiet way of speaking, or something said very quietly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whisper	whisper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nsubj	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
14	very	very	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a whisper | a quiet way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund | a quiet way *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | something | a quiet way *not said here* |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A whisper can also be a soft sound, like leaves rustling, or a rumour.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:m3:1
# text = A whisper can also be a soft sound, like leaves rustling, or a rumour.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	whisper	whisper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	leaves	leaf	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	appos	_	_
12	rustling	rustle	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	rumour	rumour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a whisper | a soft sound |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **rustle** | gerund | leaves *not said here* | a rumour |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She whispered the answer to me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x1:1
# text = She whispered the answer to me.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	whispered	whisper	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	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whisper** *speech: assert* | past | She | the answer | me |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent answer=Topic to i=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please whisper in the library.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x2:1
# text = Please whisper in the library.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	whisper	whisper	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whisper** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the library |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in library=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He said it in a whisper so the baby wouldn't wake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x3:1
# text = He said it in a whisper so the baby wouldn't wake.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	whisper	whisper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
10	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	wake	wake	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | He | it |  | a whisper |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **wake** | would | the baby |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's unkind to whisper about people in front of them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x4:1
# text = It's unkind to whisper about people in front of them.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	whisper	whisper	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **whisper** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | front of people |  | about people | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about people=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I heard the whisper of the wind in the trees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x5:1
# text = I heard the whisper of the wind in the trees.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	whisper	whisper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hear** | past | I | the whisper of the wind |  | the trees |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer whisper=Stimulus |
| 2 | **whisper** |  |  | the wind |  |  |  |  | nom whisper «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We played a whispering game in a circle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x6:1
# text = We played a whispering game in a circle.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	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	whispering	whispering	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	circle	circle	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** | past | We | a whispering game |  | a circle |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Look behind you!» she whispered.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x7:1
# text = «Look behind you!» she whispered.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
3	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	whispered	whisper	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | behind you | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent behind you=Theme |
| 2 | **whisper** *speech: express* | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't whisper in class while the teacher is talking.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x8:1
# text = Don't whisper in class while the teacher is talking.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	whisper	whisper	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **whisper** *speech: assert* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | class |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in class=Location |
| 2 | **talk** | present · progressive | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Who are they?” Wendy whispered, shuddering.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* “Who are they?”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x9:1
# text = “Who are they?”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	cop	_	_
4	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Wendy whispered, shuddering.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:whisper:x9:2
# text = Wendy whispered, shuddering.
1	Wendy	Wendy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	whispered	whisper	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	shuddering	shudder	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whisper** *speech: assert* | past | Wendy |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **shudder** | gerund | Wendy *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn body\_internal\_states-40.6 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- 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 -->
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