---
title: cause — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cause» in the school dictionary: What makes something happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cause/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/) / cause

# cause

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, people, cause, Ice, Heat, Germs · **What happens:** make, happen, support, be, feel, do · **To what, where:** something, idea, reason, candle, fire, accidents

<!-- .vabout -->
«cause» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [cause in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cause.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What makes something happen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:m1:1
# text = What makes something happen.
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «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.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The cause of the fire was a candle."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:m1e:1
# text = "The cause of the fire was a candle."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	candle	candle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | the cause of the fire | a candle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** *in a quote* |  |  | the fire |  |  |  |  | nom cause «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a verb, to make something happen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:m2:1
# text = As a verb, to make something happen.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | as a verb | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Ice can cause accidents."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:m2e:1
# text = "Ice can cause accidents."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	accidents	accident	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** *in a quote* | can | Ice | accidents |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition accident=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A goal or idea that people support.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:m3:1
# text = A goal or idea that people support.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	support	support	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **support** | present | people | idea *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer idea=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"a good cause".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:m3e:1
# text = "a good cause".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cause can also be a reason to feel or do something, as in "cause for worry".

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:m4:1
# text = A cause can also be a reason to feel or do something, as in "cause for worry".
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	parataxis	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	worry	worry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a cause | a reason |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **feel** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What was the cause of the accident?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:x1:1
# text = What was the cause of the accident?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the cause of the accident |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cause** |  |  | the accident |  |  |  |  | nom cause «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Heat causes ice to melt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:x2:1
# text = Heat causes ice to melt.
1	Heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	melt	melt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | Heat | ice |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition ice=Patient |
| 2 | **melt** | to-infinitive | Heat *not said here* | ice *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4-1 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Germs cause many illnesses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:x3:1
# text = Germs cause many illnesses.
1	Germs	germ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	cause	cause	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	illnesses	illness	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | Germs | many illnesses |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition illness=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Running in the corridor can cause accidents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:x4:1
# text = Running in the corridor can cause accidents.
1	Running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	corridor	corridor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	accidents	accident	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | gerund |  |  |  | the corridor |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in corridor=Trajectory |
| 2 | **cause** | can | Running | accidents |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition accident=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We raised money for a good cause.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:x5:1
# text = We raised money for a good cause.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	raised	raise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **raise** | past | We | money |  |  |  | for a good cause | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The storm caused a lot of damage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:x6:1
# text = The storm caused a lot of damage.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caused	cause	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	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	damage	damage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | the storm | a lot of damage |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition lot=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cause and effect: rain causes puddles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:x7:1
# text = Cause and effect: rain causes puddles.
1	Cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
7	puddles	puddle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | rain | puddles |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition puddle=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't cause trouble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:x8:1
# text = Don't cause trouble.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	cause	cause	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **cause** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | trouble |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition trouble=Patient |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Beasts, too, had cause for fight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cause:x9:1
# text = The Beasts, too, had cause for fight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Beasts	Beast	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the Beasts | cause |  |  |  | for fight | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cause=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [causative](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/causative/)
- next →: [causeless](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/causeless/)
- ↑ back to [C in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/)