---
title: ambition — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ambition» in the school dictionary: A strong wish to do or become something special, like a big goal for the future. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ambition

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** strong wish, drive, much, ambition, My, lifelong ambition · **What happens:** become, be, make, ambition, achieve, climb · **To what, where:** big goal, selfish, people, ambition, mountain, king · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ambition» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [ambition in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ambition.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A strong wish to do or become something special, like a big goal for the future.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:m1:1
# text = A strong wish to do or become something special, like a big goal for the future.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wish	wish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	do	do	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	aux	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	xcomp	_	_
9	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	_
15	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	future	future	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | infinitive · do-support | a strong wish | a big goal for the future |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=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 -->
The drive to be successful, powerful or rich; when there is too much of it, it can make people selfish.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:m2:1
# text = The drive to be successful, powerful or rich; when there is too much of it, it can make people selfish.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	drive	drive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	successful	successful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	powerful	powerful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	rich	rich	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
12	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	13	expl	_	_
13	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
14	too	too	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	nsubj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
20	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	21	aux	_	_
21	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
22	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	_
23	selfish	selfish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | to-infinitive | the drive |  |  |  |  | successful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the drive *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | the drive *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** | present | much of drive |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **make** | can | drive | selfish | people |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP NP»: agent=Asset people=Beneficiary selfish=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My ambition is to play football for my country.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:x1:1
# text = My ambition is to play football for my country.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	ambition	ambition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My ambition |  |  |  |  | for my country; play *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **ambition** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom ambition «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her lifelong ambition was to visit Australia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:x2:1
# text = Her lifelong ambition was to visit Australia.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	lifelong	lifelong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ambition	ambition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	visit	visit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her lifelong ambition |  |  |  |  | visit *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **ambition** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom ambition «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He finally achieved his ambition of climbing the mountain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:x3:1
# text = He finally achieved his ambition of climbing the mountain.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	achieved	achieve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	ambition	ambition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	climbing	climb	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **achieve** | past | He | his ambition |  |  |  | finally *property* | vn complete-55.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ambition=Eventuality |
| 2 | **climb** | gerund | his ambition *not said here* | the mountain |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location mountain=Theme |
| 3 | **ambition** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom ambition «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher said our class is full of ambition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:x4:1
# text = The teacher said our class is full of ambition.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	ambition	ambition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | our class |  |  |  |  | of ambition; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king's ambition made him cruel to his people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:x5:1
# text = The king's ambition made him cruel to his people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	ambition	ambition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the king's ambition | king |  |  |  | cruel *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset he=Product |
| 2 | **ambition** |  | the king |  |  |  |  |  | nom ambition «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write about your greatest ambition in your diary.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:x6:1
# text = Write about your greatest ambition in your diary.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	greatest	great	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	ambition	ambition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	diary	diary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | your diary |  | about your greatest ambition | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about ambition=Topic |
| 2 | **ambition** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom ambition «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too much ambition can make you forget your friends.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:x7:1
# text = Too much ambition can make you forget your friends.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	ambition	ambition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	forget	forget	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | much ambition | you |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **forget** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your friends |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So at last Jack's ambition was satisfied.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ambition:x8:1
# text = So at last Jack's ambition was satisfied.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	Jack	Jack	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	ambition	ambition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	satisfied	satisfied	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past |  |  |  | last Jack's ambition |  | satisfied *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **ambition** |  | last Jack |  |  |  |  |  | nom ambition «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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