---
title: biography — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «biography» in the school dictionary: A true book or story about a real person's life, written by someone else. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# biography

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** We, biography, library, good biography, short biography · **What happens:** write, describe, tell, have, include, move · **To what, where:** true book, life, biography, life story, whole shelf, move · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A true book or story about a real person's life, written by someone else.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biography:m1:1
# text = A true book or story about a real person's life, written by someone else.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obl	_	_
16	else	else	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  | a true book or story about a real person's life *not said here* |  |  |  | by someone | 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 -->
A short description of a person's life, such as on a website or book cover.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biography:m2:1
# text = A short description of a person's life, such as on a website or book cover.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	description	description	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	website	website	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	cover	cover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** |  |  | a person's life |  |  |  | such a website or book cover | nom description «communication transitive»: of=patient such=obl |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrote a biography of Florence Nightingale.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biography:x1:1
# text = We wrote a biography of Florence Nightingale.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	biography	biography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Florence	Florence	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	Nightingale	Nightingale	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | We | a biography of Florence |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent biography=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A biography tells a real person's life story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biography:x2:1
# text = A biography tells a real person's life story.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	biography	biography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | a biography | a real person's life story |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The library has a whole shelf of sports biographies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biography:x3:1
# text = The library has a whole shelf of sports biographies.
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	6	det	_	_
5	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	shelf	shelf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	sports	sport	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	compound	_	_
9	biographies	biography	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My biography of Grandma includes her move to Canada.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biography:x4:1
# text = My biography of Grandma includes her move to Canada.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	biography	biography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	includes	include	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	move	move	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **include** | present | My biography of Grandma | biography's move |  |  |  | to Canada | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent move=Theme |
| 2 | **move** |  | biography |  |  |  |  | to Canada | nom move «act intransitive»: poss=agent to=obl |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good biography uses facts and dates in order.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biography:x5:1
# text = A good biography uses facts and dates in order.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	biography	biography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	dates	date	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a good biography | facts and dates |  | order |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fact=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The author's short biography is on the back cover.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biography:x6:1
# text = The author's short biography is on the back cover.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	author	author	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	biography	biography	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cover	cover	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the author's short biography |  |  | the back cover |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
These biographies are written with kindly justice, and form a valuable contribution to the history of the reign of the Roi Soleil.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:biography:x7:1
# text = These biographies are written with kindly justice, and form a valuable contribution to the history of the reign of the Roi Soleil.
1	These	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	biographies	biography	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	kindly	kindly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	justice	justice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	form	form	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	valuable	valuable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	contribution	contribution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	reign	reign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
22	Roi	Roi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	Soleil	Soleil	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present · passive |  | this biographies |  |  |  | with justice | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **form** | present |  | a valuable contribution | the history of the reign of the Roi Soleil |  |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent contribution=Theme to history=Recipient |

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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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