---
title: clarification — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clarification» in the school dictionary: An explanation that makes something clearer or easier to understand. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clarification

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** explanation, something, I, teacher, trip, company · **What happens:** make, understand, remove, clarify, ask, give · **To what, where:** something, bits, it, butter, quick clarification, rules

<!-- .vabout -->
«clarification» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [clarification in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clarification.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An explanation that makes something clearer or easier to understand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clarification:m1:1
# text = An explanation that makes something clearer or easier to understand.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	clearer	clear	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	easier	easy	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a explanation | something |  |  |  | clear *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **understand** | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Making a liquid clear by removing bits from it (clarifying butter or water).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clarification:m2:1
# text = Making a liquid clear by removing bits from it (clarifying butter or water).
1	Making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	liquid	liquid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	removing	remove	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
7	bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	clarifying	clarify	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
12	butter	butter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | clear *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **remove** | gerund |  | bits |  | it |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent bit=Theme from it=Source |
| 3 | **clarify** | gerund |  | butter or water |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent butter=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can I ask for some clarification about the homework?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clarification:x1:1
# text = Can I ask for some clarification about the homework?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	clarification	clarification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	homework	homework	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 | **ask** *speech: ask* | can | I |  |  |  |  | for some clarification about the homework | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher gave a quick clarification of the rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clarification:x2:1
# text = The teacher gave a quick clarification of the rules.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	quick	quick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	clarification	clarification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the teacher | a quick clarification of the rules |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clarification=Theme |
| 2 | **clarify** |  |  | the rules |  |  |  |  | nom clarification «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For clarification, the trip is on Friday, not Thursday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clarification:x3:1
# text = For clarification, the trip is on Friday, not Thursday.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	clarification	clarification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	Thursday	Thursday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the trip |  |  |  |  | on Friday; for clarification | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The company issued a clarification after the mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clarification:x4:1
# text = The company issued a clarification after the mistake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	issued	issue	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	clarification	clarification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **issue** | past | the company | a clarification |  |  | after the mistake |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location clarification=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The question needed clarification before we could answer it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clarification:x5:1
# text = The question needed clarification before we could answer it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	clarification	clarification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | past | the question | clarification |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot clarification=Theme |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | could | we | clarification |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clarification of butter removes the milky bits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clarification:x6:1
# text = Clarification of butter removes the milky bits.
1	Clarification	clarification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	butter	butter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	removes	remove	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	milky	milky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bits	bit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remove** | present | Clarification of butter | the milky bits |  |  |  |  | vn fire-10.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bit=Theme |
| 2 | **clarify** |  |  | butter |  |  |  |  | nom clarification «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.

<!-- /div -->

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