---
title: attribution — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «attribution» in the school dictionary: Saying who wrote, made, said or did something: giving credit. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/attribution/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/) / attribution

# attribution

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, quote, we, attribution, teacher, Copying · **What happens:** say, write, make, do, give, cause · **To what, where:** something, credit, flood, someone, attribution, photo · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Saying who wrote, made, said or did something: giving credit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attribution:m1:1
# text = Saying who wrote, made, said or did something: giving credit.
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	nsubj	_	_
2	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
13	credit	credit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **write** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **do** | past |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 6 | **give** | gerund |  | credit |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent credit=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Saying what caused something: «the attribution of the flood to heavy rain».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attribution:m2:1
# text = Saying what caused something: «the attribution of the flood to heavy rain».
1	Saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	ccomp	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	attribution	attribution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	flood	flood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	heavy	heavy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cause** | past |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition something=Patient |
| 3 | **attribute** *in a quote* |  |  | the flood |  |  |  | to heavy rain | nom attribution «cognition transitive»: of=patient to=obl |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A quality that someone is thought to have.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attribution:m3:1
# text = A quality that someone is thought to have.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	thought	think	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present · passive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V NP ADJ»: subject=Attribute clause=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Always add an attribution when you use a photo from the internet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attribution:x1:1
# text = Always add an attribution when you use a photo from the internet.
1	Always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	2	advmod	_	_
2	add	add	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	attribution	attribution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	internet	internet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | a attribution |  |  |  | always *property* | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attribution=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | present | you | a photo |  | the internet |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent photo=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The quote had no attribution, so we didn't know who said it.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attribution:x2:1
# text = The quote had no attribution, so we didn't know who said it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	quote	quote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	attribution	attribution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
12	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	ccomp	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the quote | no attribution |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attribution=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **know** | past · do-support | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  | attribution |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The attribution of this painting to a famous artist is not certain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attribution:x3:1
# text = The attribution of this painting to a famous artist is not certain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	attribution	attribution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	artist	artist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | the attribution of this painting to a famous artist |  |  |  |  | certain *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **attribute** |  |  | this painting |  |  |  | to a famous artist | nom attribution «cognition transitive»: of=patient to=obl |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher showed us how to write an attribution under a picture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attribution:x4:1
# text = Our teacher showed us how to write an attribution under a picture.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	attribution	attribution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	under	under	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | Our teacher |  | us |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **write** | to-infinitive |  | a attribution |  | a picture |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attribution=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Copying words without attribution is called plagiarism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attribution:x5:1
# text = Copying words without attribution is called plagiarism.
1	Copying	copy	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj:pass	_	_
2	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	without	without	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	attribution	attribution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	plagiarism	plagiarism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | gerund |  | words |  |  |  | without attribution | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme |
| 2 | **call** *speech: assert* | present · passive | Copying | plagiarism |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V» |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum changed the attribution after new tests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:attribution:x6:1
# text = The museum changed the attribution after new tests.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	changed	change	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	attribution	attribution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tests	test	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | past | the museum | the attribution |  |  | after new tests |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attribution=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [attribute](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/attribute/)
- next →: [au](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/au/)
- ↑ back to [A in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/)