---
title: characterisation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «characterisation» in the school dictionary: The way a writer or actor shows what a character in a story is like. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# characterisation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, characterisation, author, We, Good characterisation, readers · **What happens:** show, character, describe, make, characterise, study · **To what, where:** story, main qualities, him, characterisation, reading lesson, readers

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The way a writer or actor shows what a character in a story is like.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterisation:m1:1
# text = The way a writer or actor shows what a character in a story is like.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	actor	actor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	nsubj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	character	character	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	parataxis	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	like	like	INTJ	UH	_	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the way |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **character** |  |  |  |  | a story |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A description of the main qualities of someone or something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterisation:m2:1
# text = A description of the main qualities of someone or something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	description	description	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	qualities	quality	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** |  |  | the main qualities of someone |  |  |  |  | nom description «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The author's characterisation of the giant makes him kind as well as scary.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterisation:x1:1
# text = The author's characterisation of the giant makes him kind as well as scary.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	author	author	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	characterisation	characterisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	giant	giant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nmod	_	_
8	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
11	as	as	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	14	cc	_	_
12	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	fixed	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
14	scary	scary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | author's characterisation of the giant | him *= he* |  |  |  | kind *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset he=Product |
| 2 | **characterise** |  | author |  |  |  |  |  | nom characterisation «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We studied characterisation in our reading lesson.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterisation:x2:1
# text = We studied characterisation in our reading lesson.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	studied	study	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	characterisation	characterisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	reading	reading	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	lesson	lesson	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 | **study** | past | We | characterisation |  | our reading lesson |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent characterisation=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good characterisation makes readers care about a hero.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterisation:x3:1
# text = Good characterisation makes readers care about a hero.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	characterisation	characterisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	readers	reader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	care	care	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hero	hero	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Good characterisation | readers |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **care** | infinitive | readers *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about a hero | vn care-88.1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus what S»: agent=Experiencer about hero=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The actor's characterisation of the king was brilliant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterisation:x4:1
# text = The actor's characterisation of the king was brilliant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	actor	actor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	characterisation	characterisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	brilliant	brilliant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the actor's characterisation of the king |  |  |  |  | brilliant *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **characterise** |  | the actor | the king |  |  |  |  | nom characterisation «communication transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That is an unfair characterisation of my friend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterisation:x5:1
# text = That is an unfair characterisation of my friend.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	characterisation	characterisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	friend	friend	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 | That | a unfair characterisation |  |  |  | of my friend | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use dialogue to help your characterisation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterisation:x6:1
# text = Use dialogue to help your characterisation.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	dialogue	dialogue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	characterisation	characterisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | dialogue |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dialogue=Patient |
| 2 | **help** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your characterisation |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent characterisation=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **characterise** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom characterisation «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The subtle characterisation of the various occupations reaches a high level of artistic merit.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterisation:x7:1
# text = The subtle characterisation of the various occupations reaches a high level of artistic merit.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	subtle	subtle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	characterisation	characterisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	various	various	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	occupations	occupation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
8	reaches	reach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	artistic	artistic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	merit	merit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | present | the subtle characterisation of the various occupations | a high level of artistic merit |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent level=Theme |
| 2 | **characterise** |  |  | the various occupations |  |  |  |  | nom characterisation «communication transitive»: of=patient |

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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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