---
title: circumstance — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «circumstance» in the school dictionary: Circumstances are the facts or conditions around an event that affect what happens. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# circumstance

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Circumstances, event, you, detective, Dad, Lots · **What happens:** be, affect, happen, have, mean, touch · **To what, where:** facts, event, situation, much money, all, hot oven

<!-- .vabout -->
«circumstance» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [circumstance in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/circumstance.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Circumstances are the facts or conditions around an event that affect what happens.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:m1:1
# text = Circumstances are the facts or conditions around an event that affect what happens.
1	Circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	conditions	condition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	around	around	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	affect	affect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	13	nsubj	_	_
13	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Circumstances | the facts or conditions |  | a event |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **affect** | present | a event |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **happen** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Someone's circumstances are their situation, especially how much money they have.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:m2:1
# text = Someone's circumstances are their situation, especially how much money they have.
1	Someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
10	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Someone's circumstances | circumstances's situation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | circumstances *= circumstance* | much money *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Under no circumstances» means never, not at all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:m3:1
# text = «Under no circumstances» means never, not at all.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Under	under	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | no circumstances | all |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent all=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Under no circumstances should you touch the hot oven.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:x1:1
# text = Under no circumstances should you touch the hot oven.
1	Under	under	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
4	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	touch	touch	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	oven	oven	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **touch** | should | you | the hot oven |  | no circumstances |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme oven=Co-Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the circumstances, you did very well.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:x2:1
# text = In the circumstances, you did very well.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | you |  |  | the circumstances |  | well *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the trip is cancelled.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:x3:1
# text = Due to circumstances beyond our control, the trip is cancelled.
1	Due	due	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	3	case	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
4	beyond	beyond	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	trip	trip	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	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cancel** | present · passive |  | the trip |  |  |  | due circumstances beyond our control | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective looked at the circumstances of the crime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:x4:1
# text = The detective looked at the circumstances of the crime.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crime	crime	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 | **look** | past | the detective |  |  |  |  | at the circumstances of the crime | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at circumstance=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Their circumstances changed when Dad lost his job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:x5:1
# text = Their circumstances changed when Dad lost his job.
1	Their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
5	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | past | Their circumstances |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | past | Dad | Dad's job |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent job=Eventuality |
| 3 | **job** |  | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | nom job «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every circumstance pointed to the cat as the thief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:x6:1
# text = Every circumstance pointed to the cat as the thief.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	circumstance	circumstance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	pointed	point	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | participle |  | every circumstance *not said here* | the cat |  |  | as the thief | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to cat=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lots of the people in the Shi’ learned that song by heart, and they applied it to every kind of circumstance.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstance:x7:1
# text = Lots of the people in the Shi’ learned that song by heart, and they applied it to every kind of circumstance.
1	Lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Shi	Shi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	’	'	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	applied	apply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	obj	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	21	det	_	_
21	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	circumstance	circumstance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | Lots of the people in the Shi ’ | song |  |  |  | by heart | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent song=Topic |
| 2 | **apply** | past | Lots *= lot* | song |  |  |  | to every kind of circumstance | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

<!-- 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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