---
title: circumstances — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «circumstances» in the school dictionary: The facts or conditions that affect a situation or an event. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# circumstances

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** facts, money, you, police, family, same measures · **What happens:** affect, have, happen, open, cancel, do · **To what, where:** situation, difficult circumstances, door, circumstances, trip, 999 · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The facts or conditions that affect a situation or an event.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:m1:1
# text = The facts or conditions that affect a situation or an event.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	conditions	condition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	affect	affect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	situation	situation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **affect** | present | the facts or conditions | a situation or a event |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus situation=Experiencer |

<!-- .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 -->
The money and living conditions a person has (in difficult circumstances).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:m2:1
# text = The money and living conditions a person has (in difficult circumstances).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	conditions	condition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the money and living conditions | difficult circumstances |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent circumstance=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:m3:1
# text = «Under no circumstances»: never, not at all.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	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	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
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	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Under/In the circumstances»: because of what has happened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:m4:1
# text = «Under/In the circumstances»: because of what has happened.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Under/In	under/in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	nsubj	_	_
10	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	happened	happen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present · perfect |  |  |  |  |  | under/in the circumstances | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Under no circumstances should you open the door to a stranger.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:x1:1
# text = Under no circumstances should you open the door to a stranger.
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	open	open	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | should | you | the door |  | no circumstances |  | to a stranger | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V NP.theme PP»: agent=Agent door=Theme under circumstance=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:x2:1
# 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 3 {#x3}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:x3:1
# 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 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police are looking into the circumstances of the crash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:x4:1
# text = The police are looking into the circumstances of the crash.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present · progressive | the police |  |  |  |  | into the circumstances of the crash | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent into circumstance=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family lives in difficult circumstances.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:x5:1
# text = The family lives in difficult circumstances.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	difficult	difficult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | the family |  |  | difficult circumstances |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in circumstance=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some circumstances, you may need to call 999.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:x6:1
# text = In some circumstances, you may need to call 999.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	need	need	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	call	call	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	999	999	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | may | you |  |  | some circumstances |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **call** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | 999 |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent 999=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The same measures will not suit all circumstances.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumstances:x7:1
# text = The same measures will not suit all circumstances.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	measures	measure	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	suit	suit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	circumstances	circumstance	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **suit** | future | the same measures | all circumstances |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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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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