---
title: compulsion — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «compulsion» in the school dictionary: A very strong wish to do something that is hard to stop, even when you know you shouldn't. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# compulsion

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, I, compulsion, He, She, people · **What happens:** do, be, stop, know, force, feel · **To what, where:** something, compulsion, club, choice, hands, paper

<!-- .vabout -->
«compulsion» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [compulsion in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/compulsion.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A very strong wish to do something that is hard to stop, even when you know you shouldn't.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:m1:1
# text = A very strong wish to do something that is hard to stop, even when you know you shouldn't.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	wish	wish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	even	even	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	17	advmod	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	17	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 4 | **know** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being forced to do something by a rule or by another person ("under compulsion").

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:m2:1
# text = Being forced to do something by a rule or by another person ("under compulsion").
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	aux:pass	_	_
2	forced	force	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	under	under	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	compulsion	compulsion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **force** | gerund · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | by a rule or another person | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I felt a compulsion to look in the box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:x1:1
# text = I felt a compulsion to look in the box.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	compulsion	compulsion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | I | a compulsion |  |  |  |  | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent compulsion=Theme |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | a compulsion *not said here* |  |  |  | in the box | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in box=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is no compulsion to join the club; it's your choice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:x2:1
# text = There is no compulsion to join the club; it's your choice.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	4	det	_	_
4	compulsion	compulsion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | no compulsion |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **join** | to-infinitive | no compulsion *not said here* | the club |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent club=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | present | compulsion | your choice |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had a compulsion to wash his hands again and again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:x3:1
# text = He had a compulsion to wash his hands again and again.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	compulsion	compulsion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	wash	wash	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	again	again	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	again	again	ADV	RB	_	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | He | a compulsion |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wash** | to-infinitive | a compulsion *not said here* | his hands |  |  | again |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She signed the paper under compulsion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:x4:1
# text = She signed the paper under compulsion.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	signed	sign	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	under	under	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	compulsion	compulsion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sign** | past | She | the paper |  | compulsion |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent paper=Theme under compulsion=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The compulsion to eat sweets can be strong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:x5:1
# text = The compulsion to eat sweets can be strong.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	compulsion	compulsion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | to-infinitive | the compulsion *not said here* | sweets |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sweet=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | can | the compulsion |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people have a compulsion to gamble, which can harm their family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:x6:1
# text = Some people have a compulsion to gamble, which can harm their family.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	compulsion	compulsion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	gamble	gamble	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	harm	harm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
12	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | some people | a compulsion |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent compulsion=Patient |
| 2 | **gamble** | to-infinitive | some people *not said here* | a compulsion *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn rely-70 «NP V PP.theme S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **harm** | can | a compulsion | people's family |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus family=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Attendance at school is a legal compulsion for children.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:x7:1
# text = Attendance at school is a legal compulsion for children.
1	Attendance	attendance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
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	legal	legal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	compulsion	compulsion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Attendance at school | a legal compulsion |  |  |  | for children | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is it of your own accord, or on compulsion?"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:compulsion:x8:1
# text = Is it of your own accord, or on compulsion?"
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	accord	accord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	compulsion	compulsion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | of your own accord | tree rules |

<!-- 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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