---
title: behaviour — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «behaviour» in the school dictionary: The way a person or animal acts, especially how good or bad, polite or rude it is. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# behaviour

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, something, class, you, Shouting, Scientists · **What happens:** be, act, react, get, shout, study · **To what, where:** reward, best behaviour, rude behaviour, behaviour, queue, unkind behaviour

<!-- .vabout -->
«behaviour» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [behaviour in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/behaviour.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The way a person or animal acts, especially how good or bad, polite or rude it is.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:m1:1
# text = The way a person or animal acts, especially how good or bad, polite or rude it is.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	acts	act	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
11	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	acl:relcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	parataxis	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	conj	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nmod	_	_
19	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	19	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | the way |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
The way something such as a material, an animal group or a machine usually acts or reacts.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:m2:1
# text = The way something such as a material, an animal group or a machine usually acts or reacts.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	nsubj	_	_
4	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
15	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	acts	act	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	reacts	react	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | present | something |  |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **react** | present | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class got a reward for good behaviour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:x1:1
# text = The class got a reward for good behaviour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	reward	reward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | the class | a reward |  |  |  | for good behaviour | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent reward=Theme for behaviour=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be on your best behaviour at Grandma's party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:x2:1
# text = Be on your best behaviour at Grandma's party.
1	Be	be	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | your best behaviour at Grandma's party |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on behaviour=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shouting at people is rude behaviour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:x3:1
# text = Shouting at people is rude behaviour.
1	Shouting	shout	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | at people | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Shouting | rude behaviour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study the behaviour of ants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:x4:1
# text = Scientists study the behaviour of ants.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ants	ant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | the behaviour of ants |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent behaviour=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog's behaviour changed when it was ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:x5:1
# text = The dog's behaviour changed when it was ill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | past | the dog's behaviour |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | behaviour |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His behaviour in the library was excellent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:x6:1
# text = His behaviour in the library was excellent.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	excellent	excellent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His behaviour in the library |  |  |  |  | excellent *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched the behaviour of ice as it warmed up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:x7:1
# text = We watched the behaviour of ice as it warmed up.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	warmed	warm	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We | the behaviour of ice |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent behaviour=Theme |
| 2 | **warm up** | past | behaviour |  |  |  |  |  | vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pushing in the queue is unkind behaviour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:x8:1
# text = Pushing in the queue is unkind behaviour.
1	Pushing	push	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	queue	queue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **push** | gerund |  |  |  | the queue |  |  | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent in queue=Trajectory |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Pushing | unkind behaviour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"No; but I am very much annoyed at the strange behaviour of a fish.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:behaviour:x9:1
# text = "No; but I am very much annoyed at the strange behaviour of a fish.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	9	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
6	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	much	much	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	annoyed	annoyed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | I |  |  | the strange behaviour of a fish |  | annoyed *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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