---
title: combination — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «combination» in the school dictionary: A combination is two or more things joined or mixed together, like a combination of colours or flavours. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# combination

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** combination, you, numbers, one way, order, act · **What happens:** be, join, mix, need, open, choose · **To what, where:** two things, set, numbers, combination lock, one way, items

<!-- .vabout -->
«combination» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [combination in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/combination.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A combination is two or more things joined or mixed together, like a combination of colours or flavours.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:m1:1
# text = A combination is two or more things joined or mixed together, like a combination of colours or flavours.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	conj	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	mixed	mix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
11	together	together	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nmod	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	flavours	flavour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a combination | two things |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | participle |  | two things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **mix** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | like a combination of colours or flavours; together *property* | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
A combination is the set of numbers you need to open a combination lock or safe.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:m2:1
# text = A combination is the set of numbers you need to open a combination lock or safe.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	open	open	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	lock	lock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a combination | the set |  |  |  | of numbers | tree rules |
| 2 | **need** | present | you | numbers *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **open** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | numbers *not said here* | a combination lock |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location lock=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A combination is one way of choosing items from a group, where the order does not matter.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:m3:1
# text = A combination is one way of choosing items from a group, where the order does not matter.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	choosing	choose	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	items	item	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	18	advmod	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
16	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
18	matter	matter	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a combination | one way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | gerund | one way *not said here* | items |  | a group |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent item=Theme from group=Source |
| 3 | **not** **matter** | present · do-support | the order |  |  |  |  |  | vn matter-91 «NP V»: agent=Stimulus |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Combination is the act of combining things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:m4:1
# text = Combination is the act of combining things.
1	Combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	combining	combine	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Combination | the act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **combine** | gerund | the act *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Red and yellow is a bright combination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:x1:1
# text = Red and yellow is a bright combination.
1	Red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a Red bright combination |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I forgot the combination for my bike lock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:x2:1
# text = I forgot the combination for my bike lock.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	forgot	forget	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	lock	lock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **forget** | past | I | the combination |  |  |  | for my bike lock | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many combinations can you make with 3 shirts and 4 pairs of trousers?

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:x3:1
# text = How many combinations can you make with 3 shirts and 4 pairs of trousers?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	combinations	combination	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	shirts	shirt	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	pairs	pair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	trousers	trousers	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | many combinations |  |  |  |  | with 3 shirts and 4 pairs of trousers | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hard work and luck were a winning combination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:x4:1
# text = Hard work and luck were a winning combination.
1	Hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	luck	luck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	winning	win	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	amod	_	_
8	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Hard work and luck | a winning combination |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Salt and vinegar is my favourite crisp combination.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:x5:1
# text = Salt and vinegar is my favourite crisp combination.
1	Salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	vinegar	vinegar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
6	favourite	favourite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
7	crisp	crisp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Salt and vinegar | my favourite crisp combination |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Exercise in combination with good food keeps you healthy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:x6:1
# text = Exercise in combination with good food keeps you healthy.
1	Exercise	exercise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	healthy	healthy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Exercise in combination with good food | you |  |  |  | healthy *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are 10 combinations of two different fruits from a bowl of five.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:x7:1
# text = There are 10 combinations of two different fruits from a bowl of five.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	combinations	combination	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fruits	fruit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	bowl	bowl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | 10 combinations of two different fruits from a bowl of five |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This story is evidently a combination of two widely differing tales.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:combination:x8:1
# text = This story is evidently a combination of two widely differing tales.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	evidently	evidently	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	combination	combination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
9	widely	widely	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	differing	differ	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	amod	_	_
11	tales	tale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | this story | a combination |  |  |  | of two differing tales; evidently *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **differ** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | widely *property* | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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