---
title: xylophone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «xylophone» in the school dictionary: A xylophone is a musical instrument made of a row of wooden bars of different lengths that you hit with small hammers called beaters or mallets; each bar plays a different note. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/X/xylophone/)

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# xylophone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** xylophone, you, small hammers, bar, I, shortest bar · **What happens:** be, make, hit, call, play, sit · **To what, where:** musical instrument, different lengths, beaters, different note, tune, xylophone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«xylophone» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 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: [xylophone in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/xylophone.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A xylophone is a musical instrument made of a row of wooden bars of different lengths that you hit with small hammers called beaters or mallets; each bar plays a different note.

<!-- fold The tree, 32 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:xylophone:m1:1
# text = A xylophone is a musical instrument made of a row of wooden bars of different lengths that you hit with small hammers called beaters or mallets; each bar plays a different note.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	xylophone	xylophone	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	musical	musical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	instrument	instrument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	lengths	length	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nmod	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	obj	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	hit	hit	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
20	with	with	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	hammers	hammer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obl	_	_
23	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	acl	_	_
24	beaters	beater	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	xcomp	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	mallets	mallet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	30	punct	_	_
28	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	29	det	_	_
29	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	nsubj	_	_
30	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
31	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
32	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	33	amod	_	_
33	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a xylophone | a musical instrument |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  | a musical instrument *not said here* |  |  |  | of a row of wooden bars of different lengths | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **hit** | present | you | different lengths |  |  |  | with small hammers | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent that=Patient with hammer=Instrument |
| 4 | **call** | participle | small hammers *not said here* | beaters or mallets |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **play** | present | each bar | a different note |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
I played a tune on the xylophone in music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:xylophone:x1:1
# text = I played a tune on the xylophone in music.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tune	tune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	xylophone	xylophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | I | a tune |  | the xylophone in music |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tune=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shortest bar on the xylophone makes the highest note.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:xylophone:x2:1
# text = The shortest bar on the xylophone makes the highest note.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	shortest	short	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	3	amod	_	_
3	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	xylophone	xylophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	highest	high	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | the shortest bar on the xylophone | the highest note |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset note=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
X is for xylophone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:xylophone:x3:1
# text = X is for xylophone.
1	X	x	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	xylophone	xylophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | X |  |  |  |  | for xylophone | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hit the bars gently with the beaters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:xylophone:x4:1
# text = Hit the bars gently with the beaters.
1	Hit	hit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beaters	beater	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hit** | imperative | you *not said here* | the bars |  |  |  | with the beaters; gently *property* | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent bar=Patient with beater=Instrument |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The orchestra's xylophone player sat with the drummers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:xylophone:x5:1
# text = The orchestra's xylophone player sat with the drummers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	orchestra	orchestra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	xylophone	xylophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	sat	sit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	drummers	drummer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | past | the orchestra's xylophone player |  |  |  |  | with the drummers | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A glockenspiel looks like a xylophone but has metal bars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:xylophone:x6:1
# text = A glockenspiel looks like a xylophone but has metal bars.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	glockenspiel	glockenspiel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	xylophone	xylophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	bars	bar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | a glockenspiel |  |  |  |  | like a xylophone | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **have** | present | a glockenspiel *not said here* | metal bars |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bar=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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