---
title: affair — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «affair» in the school dictionary: An event or happening: the party was a noisy affair. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# affair

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** event, you, business, matter, That, wedding · **What happens:** happen, be, deal, matter, concern, mean · **To what, where:** noisy affair, things, someone, affair, business, one · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«affair» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [affair in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/affair.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An event or happening: the party was a noisy affair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:m1:1
# text = An event or happening: the party was a noisy affair.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	noisy	noisy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	affair	affair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | gerund | a event and the party *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | a event and the party | a noisy affair |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
affairs: things you deal with, business or matters, like money affairs or world affairs.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:m2:1
# text = affairs: things you deal with, business or matters, like money affairs or world affairs.
1	affairs	affair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
3	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	deal	deal	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	matters	matter	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	affairs	affair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	affairs	affair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **deal** | present | you | things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 2 | **matter** | present | business *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like money affairs or world affairs | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A matter that concerns someone: «That's my affair» means it is my business, not yours.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:m3:1
# text = A matter that concerns someone: «That's my affair» means it is my business, not yours.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	matter	matter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	concerns	concern	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	affair	affair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
20	yours	your	PRON	PRP	Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **concern** | present | a matter | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | That | my affair |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** | present | a matter |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is a** | present | matter | my business |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A secret romantic relationship between two people when one or both are married to someone else.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:m4:1
# text = A secret romantic relationship between two people when one or both are married to someone else.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	romantic	romantic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	relationship	relationship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
9	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	married	marry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obl	_	_
16	else	else	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **marry** | present · passive |  | one |  |  |  | to someone | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: subject=Patient to someone=Co-Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wedding was a small family affair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:x1:1
# text = The wedding was a small family affair.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wedding	wedding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	affair	affair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the wedding | a small family affair |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watch current affairs on Friday mornings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:x2:1
# text = We watch current affairs on Friday mornings.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watch	watch	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	current	current	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	affairs	affair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	mornings	morning	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | present | We | current affairs |  |  | on Friday mornings |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent affair=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Minister of Foreign Affairs met other leaders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:x3:1
# text = The Minister of Foreign Affairs met other leaders.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Minister	Minister	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	Foreign	foreign	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	Affairs	affair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	met	meet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past | the Minister | other leaders |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leader=Co-Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What I do at lunch is my own affair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:x4:1
# text = What I do at lunch is my own affair.
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	affair	affair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | my own affair |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | I |  |  | lunch |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The whole affair was over in ten minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:x5:1
# text = The whole affair was over in ten minutes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	affair	affair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	over	over	ADV	RB	_	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the whole affair |  |  |  | minute | over *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That's a sorry state of affairs!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:x6:1
# text = That's a sorry state of affairs!
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	affairs	affair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | a sorry state |  |  |  | of affairs | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa sorted out his money affairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:x7:1
# text = Grandpa sorted out his money affairs.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sorted	sort	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	affairs	affair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sort out** | past | Grandpa | Grandpa's money affairs |  |  |  |  | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent affair=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, a royal affair caused a scandal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:x8:1
# text = In the story, a royal affair caused a scandal.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	royal	royal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	affair	affair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	scandal	scandal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | a royal affair | a scandal |  | the story |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition scandal=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The whole affair is indeed mysterious.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:affair:x9:1
# text = The whole affair is indeed mysterious.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	affair	affair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	indeed	indeed	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	mysterious	mysterious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the whole affair |  |  |  |  | indeed, mysterious *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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