---
title: characterise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «characterise» in the school dictionary: To be the typical feature or quality of something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# characterise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, little rain, you, teacher, bright colours, firm foundations · **What happens:** be, describe, characteris, characterise, work, have · **To what, where:** typical feature, someone, Deserts, giant, story, music

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be the typical feature or quality of something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterise:m1:1
# text = To be the typical feature or quality of something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	typical	typical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	feature	feature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | the typical feature or quality of something |  |  |  |  | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To describe what someone or something is like.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterise:m2:1
# text = To describe what someone or something is like.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	2	obj	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | like *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Deserts are characterised by very little rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterise:x1:1
# text = Deserts are characterised by very little rain.
1	Deserts	desert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	characterised	characteris	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **characteris** | present · passive | little rain | Deserts |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How would you characterise the giant in the story?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterise:x2:1
# text = How would you characterise the giant in the story?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
2	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	characterise	characterise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	giant	giant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	story	story	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 | **characterise** | would | you | the giant |  | the story |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The music is characterised by fast drums.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterise:x3:1
# text = The music is characterised by fast drums.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	characterised	characteris	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	fast	fast	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	drums	drum	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **characteris** | present · passive |  | the music |  |  |  | by fast drums | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher characterised the class as hard-working.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterise:x4:1
# text = The teacher characterised the class as hard-working.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	characterised	characteris	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	working	work	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **characteris** | past | the teacher | the class |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | gerund | the teacher *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mammals are characterised by having fur or hair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterise:x5:1
# text = Mammals are characterised by having fur or hair.
1	Mammals	mammal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	characterised	characteris	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	having	have	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	fur	fur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **characteris** | present · passive |  | Mammals |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | gerund |  | fur or hair |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fur=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her paintings are characterised by bright colours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterise:x6:1
# text = Her paintings are characterised by bright colours.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	paintings	painting	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	characterised	characteris	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **characteris** | present · passive | bright colours | Her paintings |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The firm foundations of common sense, the shrewd shots at uncommon sense, that characterise all the Fables, belong not him but to humanity.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:characterise:x7:1
# text = The firm foundations of common sense, the shrewd shots at uncommon sense, that characterise all the Fables, belong not him but to humanity.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	foundations	foundation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	shrewd	shrewd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	shots	shot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	uncommon	uncommon	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	characterise	characterise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
17	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	19	det:predet	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	Fables	fable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	belong	belong	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
22	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	21	advmod	_	_
23	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	obl	_	_
24	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
25	to	to	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	humanity	humanity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **characterise** | present | the firm foundations of common sense | all Fables |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **belong** | present | the firm foundations of common sense *not said here* | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |

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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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