---
title: zither — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «zither» in the school dictionary: A zither is a musical instrument with many strings stretched over a flat wooden box; you lay it on a table or your lap and pluck the strings with your fingers or a pick. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# zither

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** zither, you, man, Chinese guzheng, film, We · **What happens:** be, stretch, lay, pluck, play, have · **To what, where:** musical instrument, many strings, flat wooden box, zither, table, strings

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A zither is a musical instrument with many strings stretched over a flat wooden box; you lay it on a table or your lap and pluck the strings with your fingers or a pick.

<!-- fold The tree, 34 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zither:m1:1
# text = A zither is a musical instrument with many strings stretched over a flat wooden box; you lay it on a table or your lap and pluck the strings with your fingers or a pick.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	zither	zither	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	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	stretched	stretch	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	over	over	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
13	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
14	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	lay	lay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
24	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	lap	lap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	pluck	pluck	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	conj	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	27	obj	_	_
30	with	with	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
31	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	32	nmod:poss	_	_
32	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	29	nmod	_	_
33	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	35	cc	_	_
34	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
35	pick	pick	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a zither | a musical instrument |  |  |  | with many strings | tree rules |
| 2 | **stretch** | participle |  | many strings *not said here* |  | a flat wooden box |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over box=Location |
| 3 | **lay** | present | you | zither |  | a table or your lap |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme on table=Destination |
| 4 | **pluck** | infinitive | you *not said here* | the strings |  |  |  | with your fingers or a pick | vn braid-41.2.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent string=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 -->
The man in the Austrian café played the zither.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zither:x1:1
# text = The man in the Austrian café played the zither.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Austrian	austrian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	zither	zither	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A zither has dozens of strings over a flat box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zither:x2:1
# text = A zither has dozens of strings over a flat box.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	zither	zither	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	dozens	dozen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a zither | dozens of strings over a flat box |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dozen=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Chinese guzheng is a kind of zither.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zither:x3:1
# text = The Chinese guzheng is a kind of zither.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Chinese	Chinese	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	guzheng	guzheng	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	zither	zither	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Chinese guzheng | a kind |  |  |  | of zither | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You pluck the zither strings with your fingers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zither:x4:1
# text = You pluck the zither strings with your fingers.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pluck	pluck	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	zither	zither	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	strings	string	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pluck** | present | You | the zither strings |  |  |  | with your fingers | vn braid-41.2.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent string=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film «The Third Man» has famous zither music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zither:x5:1
# text = The film «The Third Man» has famous zither music.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Third	third	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	amod	_	_
6	Man	Man	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	zither	zither	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the film | famous zither music |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent music=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We heard a zither at the folk festival.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:zither:x6:1
# text = We heard a zither at the folk festival.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	heard	hear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	zither	zither	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	folk	folk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	festival	festival	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 | **hear** | past | We | a zither |  | the folk festival |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer zither=Stimulus |

<!-- 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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