---
title: ballot — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ballot» in the school dictionary: A way of voting secretly by writing on a paper or using a machine. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ballot

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, paper, random draw, We, you, ballot · **What happens:** vote, write, use, vote on, hold, decide · **To what, where:** paper, machine, vote, way, something, people

<!-- .vabout -->
«ballot» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [ballot in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ballot.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A way of voting secretly by writing on a paper or using a machine.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:m1:1
# text = A way of voting secretly by writing on a paper or using a machine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	voting	vote	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	secretly	secretly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	writing	write	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vote** | gerund | a way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | secretly *property* | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **write** | gerund | a way *not said here* |  |  | a paper |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on paper=Destination |
| 3 | **use** | gerund | a way *not said here* | a machine |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent machine=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 paper you vote on (a ballot paper).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:m2:1
# text = The paper you vote on (a ballot paper).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	vote	vote	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	ballot	ballot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vote on** | present | the paper |  |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A vote held in this way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:m3:1
# text = A vote held in this way.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | participle |  | a vote *not said here* |  | this way |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in way=Location |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A random draw to decide who gets something, like tickets or places.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:m4:1
# text = A random draw to decide who gets something, like tickets or places.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	random	random	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	draw	draw	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	tickets	ticket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	appos	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | to-infinitive | a random draw *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **get** | present | a random draw | something |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Stimulus |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To ask people to vote.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:m5:1
# text = To ask people to vote.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	iobj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	vote	vote	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | to-infinitive |  |  | people |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent people=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **vote** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We voted for class captain by secret ballot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:x1:1
# text = We voted for class captain by secret ballot.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	voted	vote	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	ballot	ballot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vote** | past | We |  |  |  |  | for class captain *goal*; by secret ballot | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent for captain=Goal |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put your ballot paper in the ballot box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:x2:1
# text = Put your ballot paper in the ballot box.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
3	ballot	ballot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	ballot	ballot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	box	box	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 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | your ballot paper |  | the ballot box |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent paper=Theme in box=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Out of 30 ballots, 18 were for Mia.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:x3:1
# text = Out of 30 ballots, 18 were for Mia.
1	Out	out	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	ballots	ballot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	18	18	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	compound	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Mia	Mia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past |  |  |  | 30 ballots |  | for 18 Mia | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tickets for the final were sold by ballot.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:x4:1
# text = The tickets for the final were sold by ballot.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tickets	ticket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	final	final	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nmod	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	sold	sell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	ballot	ballot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | past · passive | ballot | the tickets for the final |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The union balloted its members.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:x5:1
# text = The union balloted its members.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	union	union	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	balloted	ballot	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	members	member	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ballot** | past | the union | union's members |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each ballot must be counted carefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ballot:x6:1
# text = Each ballot must be counted carefully.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	ballot	ballot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	counted	count	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **count** | must · passive |  | each ballot |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn multiply-108 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

<!-- 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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