---
title: autobiography — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «autobiography» in the school dictionary: A book or story of a person's life written by that person. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# autobiography

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, footballer, autobiography, he, homework, Grandad · **What happens:** write, tell, grow up, describe, be, use · **To what, where:** life, kind, autobiography, Manchester, ten books, shelf · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«autobiography» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [autobiography in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/autobiography.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A book or story of a person's life written by that person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autobiography:m1:1
# text = A book or story of a person's life written by that person.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
10	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	det	_	_
13	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  | a person's life *not said here* |  |  |  | by that person | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kind of writing (genre) where people tell their own life story.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autobiography:m2:1
# text = The kind of writing (genre) where people tell their own life story.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	genre	genre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
8	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	10	advmod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	tell	tell	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
12	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | people | the kind of writing |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent kind=Recipient story=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The footballer wrote an autobiography about growing up in Manchester.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autobiography:x1:1
# text = The footballer wrote an autobiography about growing up in Manchester.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	footballer	footballer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	autobiography	autobiography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Manchester	Manchester	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | the footballer | a autobiography |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent autobiography=Theme |
| 2 | **grow up** | gerund | a autobiography *not said here* |  |  | Manchester |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in manchester=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In his autobiography, he describes his first day at school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autobiography:x2:1
# text = In his autobiography, he describes his first day at school.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	autobiography	autobiography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | he |  |  | his autobiography | day | at school | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our homework is to write a short autobiography.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autobiography:x3:1
# text = Our homework is to write a short autobiography.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	homework	homework	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	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	autobiography	autobiography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Our homework |  |  |  |  | write *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An autobiography is written in the first person, using «I».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autobiography:x4:1
# text = An autobiography is written in the first person, using «I».
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	autobiography	autobiography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present · passive |  | a autobiography |  |  |  | in the first person | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in person=Destination |
| 2 | **use** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad says his autobiography would fill ten books.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autobiography:x5:1
# text = Grandad says his autobiography would fill ten books.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	autobiography	autobiography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	fill	fill	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **fill** | would | Grandad's autobiography | ten books |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent book=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The library has a shelf of autobiographies by famous scientists.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autobiography:x6:1
# text = The library has a shelf of autobiographies by famous scientists.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shelf	shelf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	autobiographies	autobiography	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the library | a shelf of autobiographies by famous scientists |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shelf=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her autobiography tells how she learned to swim at forty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:autobiography:x7:1
# text = Her autobiography tells how she learned to swim at forty.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	autobiography	autobiography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	forty	forty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | Her autobiography |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **learn** | past | autobiography |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **swim** | to-infinitive | autobiography *not said here* |  |  | forty |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at forty=Trajectory |

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**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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