---
title: confer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «confer» in the school dictionary: To talk together and share ideas before deciding something: the judges conferred. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# confer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** judges, you, university, team, their, Queen · **What happens:** talk, share, decide, confer, give, prize · **To what, where:** ideas, something, honour, someone, degree, referees

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To talk together and share ideas before deciding something: the judges conferred.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confer:m1:1
# text = To talk together and share ideas before deciding something: the judges conferred.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	talk	talk	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	together	together	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	share	share	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	deciding	decide	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	judges	judge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	conferred	confer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **share** | present |  | ideas |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **decide** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 4 | **confer** | past | the judges |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To give someone an honour, title, right or prize: the university conferred a degree on her.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confer:m2:1
# text = To give someone an honour, title, right or prize: the university conferred a degree on her.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	honour	honour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	right	right	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	prize	prize	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	university	university	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
15	conferred	confer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	degree	degree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
18	on	on	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | a honour and title | someone |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient honour=Theme |
| 2 | **prize** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | right *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **confer** | past | the university | a degree |  |  |  | on her *= she* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The referees conferred before giving the penalty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confer:x1:1
# text = The referees conferred before giving the penalty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	referees	referee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	conferred	confer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	penalty	penalty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confer** | participle |  | the referees *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **give** | gerund |  | the penalty |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent penalty=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team conferred and chose their answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confer:x2:1
# text = The team conferred and chose their answer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	conferred	confer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	chose	choose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confer** | past | the team |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **choose** | past | the team *not said here* | their answer |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |
| 3 | **answer** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The headteacher conferred with the parents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confer:x3:1
# text = (formal) The headteacher conferred with the parents.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	headteacher	headteacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	conferred	confer	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confer** | participle |  | the formal headteacher *not said here* |  |  |  | with the parents | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with parent=Co-Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Queen conferred a knighthood on the scientist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confer:x4:1
# text = The Queen conferred a knighthood on the scientist.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Queen	Queen	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	conferred	confer	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	knighthood	knighthood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	scientist	scientist	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 | **confer** | past | the Queen | a knighthood |  | the scientist |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the quiz, no conferring is allowed in round one!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confer:x5:1
# text = In the quiz, no conferring is allowed in round one!
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	quiz	quiz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	conferring	confer	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	round	round	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confer** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **allow** | present · passive |  | no |  | the quiz |  | in round one | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The award confers the right to free entry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confer:x6:1
# text = (formal) The award confers the right to free entry.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	award	award	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	confers	confer	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	entry	entry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confer** | present | the formal award | the right and free entry |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He reigned for a long time, conferring several benefits upon his brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:confer:x7:1
# text = He reigned for a long time, conferring several benefits upon his brother.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	reigned	reign	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	conferring	confer	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
9	several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	benefits	benefit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
11	upon	upon	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reign** | past | He |  |  |  | time |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **confer** | gerund | He *not said here* | several benefits |  |  |  | upon his brother | 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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