---
title: abstention — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «abstention» in the school dictionary: An abstention is when someone chooses not to vote, neither for nor against. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# abstention

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, abstention, you, vote, result, council · **What happens:** be, choose, not vote, not do, have, want · **To what, where:** abstention, something, tie, abstentions, class vote · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«abstention» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings 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: [abstention in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/abstention.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An abstention is when someone chooses not to vote, neither for nor against.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstention:m1:1
# text = An abstention is when someone chooses not to vote, neither for nor against.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	abstention	abstention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	cop	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
6	chooses	choose	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	vote	vote	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	neither	neither	CCONJ	CC	Polarity=Neg	12	cc:preconj	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	obl	_	_
13	nor	nor	CCONJ	CC	Polarity=Neg	14	cc	_	_
14	against	against	ADP	IN	_	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a abstention |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **not** **vote** | to-infinitive | a abstention |  |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Abstention is choosing not to do or have something you might want, like food or alcohol.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstention:m2:1
# text = Abstention is choosing not to do or have something you might want, like food or alcohol.
1	Abstention	abstention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	choosing	choose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	alcohol	alcohol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | present · progressive | Abstention |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **do** | to-infinitive | Abstention *not said here* | something |  |  |  | like food or alcohol | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **have** | infinitive | Abstention *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **want** | might | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vote was twelve for, eight against, with three abstentions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstention:x1:1
# text = The vote was twelve for, eight against, with three abstentions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	twelve	twelve	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	conj	_	_
8	against	against	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	abstentions	abstention	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ruby's abstention meant the result was a tie.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstention:x2:1
# text = Ruby's abstention meant the result was a tie.
1	Ruby	Ruby	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	abstention	abstention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tie	tie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | past | Ruby's abstention |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the result | a tie |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Abstention from sweets during Lent was hard for Tom.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstention:x3:1
# text = Abstention from sweets during Lent was hard for Tom.
1	Abstention	abstention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	from	from	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	during	during	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Lent	Lent	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Abstention from sweets during Lent |  |  |  |  | for Tom; hard *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council counted the abstentions separately.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstention:x4:1
# text = The council counted the abstentions separately.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	counted	count	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	abstentions	abstention	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	separately	separately	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | past | the council | the abstentions |  |  |  | separately *property* | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent abstention=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were no abstentions; everyone voted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstention:x5:1
# text = There were no abstentions; everyone voted.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	abstentions	abstention	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	7	nsubj	_	_
7	voted	vote	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | no abstentions |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **vote** | past | everyone |  |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the class vote for the trip, there was one abstention.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:abstention:x6:1
# text = In the class vote for the trip, there was one abstention.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
9	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	10	expl	_	_
10	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	abstention	abstention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | one abstention |  |  | the class vote for the trip; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in vote=Location |

<!-- 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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