---
title: apology — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «apology» in the school dictionary: Words that say you are sorry for something you did wrong or for hurting someone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# apology

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Words, you, message, apology, I, He · **What happens:** say, be, do, hurt, not come, interrupt · **To what, where:** you, someone, polite excuse, apology, letter, neighbour · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«apology» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [apology in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/apology.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Words that say you are sorry for something you did wrong or for hurting someone.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:m1:1
# text = Words that say you are sorry for something you did wrong or for hurting someone.
1	Words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	acl:relcl	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	xcomp	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	hurting	hurt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
15	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Words | you |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent you=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | Words |  |  |  |  | for something; sorry *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | past | you |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **hurt** | gerund | you *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer someone=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 -->
A message saying someone cannot come.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:m2:1
# text = A message saying someone cannot come.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
7	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | a message *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent someone=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **come** | can | a message |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"apologies for absence".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:m2e:1
# text = "apologies for absence".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	apologies	apology	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	absence	absence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An apology can also be a polite excuse for a small trouble, such as interrupting someone.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:m3:1
# text = An apology can also be a polite excuse for a small trouble, such as interrupting someone.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	apology	apology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=SCONJ	16	mark	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	fixed	_	_
16	interrupting	interrupt	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	conj	_	_
17	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a apology | a polite excuse |  |  |  | for a small trouble | tree rules |
| 2 | **interrupt** | gerund | a apology *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I owe you an apology for being rude.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:x1:1
# text = I owe you an apology for being rude.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	apology	apology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
8	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **owe** | present | I | a apology | you |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.goal NP»: agent=Agent you=Goal apology=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | rude *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He made an apology to his teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:x2:1
# text = He made an apology to his teacher.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	apology	apology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | He | a apology |  |  |  | to his teacher | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent apology=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She accepted my apology and we played again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:x3:1
# text = She accepted my apology and we played again.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	accepted	accept	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	apology	apology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **accept** | past | She | my apology |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent apology=Theme |
| 2 | **play** | past | we |  |  |  | again |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A real apology means you try not to do it again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:x4:1
# text = A real apology means you try not to do it again.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	apology	apology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	again	again	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a real apology |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **try** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **not** **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | apology |  |  | again |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please write a letter of apology to the neighbour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:x5:1
# text = Please write a letter of apology to the neighbour.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	apology	apology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a letter of apology | the neighbour |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent letter=Topic to neighbour=Recipient |
| 2 | **letter** |  |  | apology |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My apologies for being late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:apology:x6:1
# text = My apologies for being late.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	apologies	apology	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	cop	_	_
5	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund | My apologies *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *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 -->

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