---
title: canvassing — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «canvassing» in the school dictionary: Going from house to house or talking to people to ask for their votes or support for a person, party or cause, especially before an election. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# canvassing

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, candidate, Volunteers, woman, door, school · **What happens:** go, talk, ask, vote, canvass, opine · **To what, where:** house, many people, views, idea, detail, street

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Going from house to house or talking to people to ask for their votes or support for a person, party or cause, especially before an election.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canvassing:m1:1
# text = Going from house to house or talking to people to ask for their votes or support for a person, party or cause, especially before an election.
1	Going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	from	from	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	votes	vote	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
25	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	28	advmod	_	_
26	before	before	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	election	election	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | gerund |  |  |  | house |  | to house | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Theme from house=Initial\_Location to house=Destination |
| 2 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to people | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to people=Co-Agent |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for people's votes for a person and party or cause and a election or support | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **vote** |  | people |  |  |  |  | for a person and party or cause and a election | nom vote «act transitive»: poss=agent for=obl |

<!-- .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 -->
Asking many people for their opinions: canvassing views.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canvassing:m2:1
# text = Asking many people for their opinions: canvassing views.
1	Asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	opinions	opinion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	canvassing	canvass	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
9	views	view	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  |  | many people |  |  | for people's opinions | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent people=Recipient |
| 2 | **canvass** | gerund |  | views |  |  |  |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent view=Location |
| 3 | **opine** |  | people |  |  |  |  |  | nom opinion «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Discussing an idea in detail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canvassing:m3:1
# text = Discussing an idea in detail.
1	Discussing	discuss	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	detail	detail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **discuss** *speech: other* | gerund |  | a idea |  | detail |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The candidate went canvassing on our street.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canvassing:x1:1
# text = The candidate went canvassing on our street.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	candidate	candidate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	canvassing	canvass	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the candidate |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **canvass** | gerund | the candidate *not said here* |  |  | our street |  |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Volunteers were canvassing for votes before the election.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canvassing:x2:1
# text = Volunteers were canvassing for votes before the election.
1	Volunteers	volunteer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	canvassing	canvass	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	votes	vote	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	election	election	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 | **canvass** | past · progressive | Volunteers |  |  |  |  | for votes before the election | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for vote=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A woman knocked on our door canvassing for the Green Party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canvassing:x3:1
# text = A woman knocked on our door canvassing for the Green Party.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	woman	woman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	knocked	knock	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	canvassing	canvass	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Green	Green	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	Party	Party	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock** | participle | a woman |  |  | our door |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on door=Location |
| 2 | **canvass** | gerund | our door *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the Green Party | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for party=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school is canvassing parents about a new uniform.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canvassing:x4:1
# text = The school is canvassing parents about a new uniform.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	canvassing	canvass	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	uniform	uniform	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 | **canvass** | present · progressive | the school | parents |  |  |  | about a new uniform | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent parent=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I helped my mum with canvassing for the class rep vote.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canvassing:x5:1
# text = I helped my mum with canvassing for the class rep vote.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	canvassing	canvass	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	rep	rep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | I |  | my mum |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mum=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **canvass** | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the rep vote | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for vote=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Canvassing means talking to lots of people to win support.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:canvassing:x6:1
# text = Canvassing means talking to lots of people to win support.
1	Canvassing	canvass	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
10	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **canvass** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **talk** *not said to happen* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to lots of people | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent to lot=Co-Agent |
| 4 | **win** | to-infinitive |  | support |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent support=Eventuality |

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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.

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