---
title: categorical — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «categorical» in the school dictionary: Very clear and certain, with no doubt at all («a categorical no»). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# categorical

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** head teacher, minister, Favourite fruit, height, We, I · **What happens:** do, sort, not measure, give, issue, deny · **To what, where:** categorical data, groups, categorical no, phones, class, categorical denial · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very clear and certain, with no doubt at all («a categorical no»).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:categorical:m1:1
# text = Very clear and certain, with no doubt at all («a categorical no»).
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	doubt	doubt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	nmod	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	categorical	categorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	no	no	NOUN	NN	_	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do with categories or groups; categorical data is sorted into groups, not measured with numbers.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:categorical:m2:1
# text = To do with categories or groups; categorical data is sorted into groups, not measured with numbers.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	categories	category	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	categorical	categorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	sorted	sort	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
12	into	into	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
16	measured	measure	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	parataxis	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with categories or groups | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **sort** | present · passive |  | categorical data |  |  |  | into groups *goal* | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP PP.goal»: subject=Theme into group=Goal |
| 3 | **not** **measure** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | with numbers | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head teacher gave a categorical no to phones in class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:categorical:x1:1
# text = The head teacher gave a categorical no to phones in class.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	categorical	categorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	no	no	NOUN	NN	_	4	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the head teacher | a categorical no | phones | class |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent no=Theme to phone=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The minister issued a categorical denial of the story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:categorical:x2:1
# text = The minister issued a categorical denial of the story.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	issued	issue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	categorical	categorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	denial	denial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **issue** | past | the minister | a categorical denial of the story |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location denial=Theme |
| 2 | **deny** |  |  | the story |  |  |  |  | nom denial «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Favourite fruit is categorical data, but height is not.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:categorical:x3:1
# text = Favourite fruit is categorical data, but height is not.
1	Favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	fruit	fruit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	categorical	categorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	height	height	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Favourite fruit | categorical data |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **be** | present | height | categorical data *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot data=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We sorted the categorical data into a bar chart.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:categorical:x4:1
# text = We sorted the categorical data into a bar chart.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sorted	sort	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	categorical	categorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	bar	bar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	chart	chart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sort** | past | We | the categorical data |  |  |  | into a bar chart *goal* | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent data=Theme into chart=Goal |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I can say with categorical certainty that I locked the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:categorical:x5:1
# text = I can say with categorical certainty that I locked the door.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	categorical	categorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	certainty	certainty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	locked	lock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | can | I |  |  |  |  | with categorical certainty | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent with certainty=Manner |
| 2 | **lock** | past | I | categorical certainty |  |  |  |  | vn tape-22.4 «NP V NP ADJP»: agent=Agent that=Patient door=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad was categorical: no screens after eight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:categorical:x6:1
# text = Dad was categorical: no screens after eight.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	categorical	categorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	screens	screen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	eight	eight	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Dad |  |  |  |  | no screens after eight *obl*; categorical *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Eye colour is an example of categorical data.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:categorical:x7:1
# text = Eye colour is an example of categorical data.
1	Eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	categorical	categorical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	data	data	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Eye colour | a example |  |  |  | of categorical data | 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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