---
title: conference — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «conference» in the school dictionary: A conference is a big formal meeting where many people come together to discuss or learn about a subject, often for one or more days. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# conference

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** conference, many people, teams, parents, Scientists, prime minister · **What happens:** be, come together, discuss, learn, talk, play · **To what, where:** big formal meeting, smaller meeting, group, US sport, conference, press conference

<!-- .vabout -->
«conference» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [conference in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/conference.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A conference is a big formal meeting where many people come together to discuss or learn about a subject, often for one or more days.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:m1:1
# text = A conference is a big formal meeting where many people come together to discuss or learn about a subject, often for one or more days.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	11	advmod	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
12	together	together	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	discuss	discuss	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
17	about	about	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
21	often	often	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
22	for	for	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
23	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	26	nummod	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	23	conj	_	_
26	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a conference | a big formal meeting |  |  | day |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come together** | present | many people |  |  |  |  | together *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **discuss** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | many people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **learn** | infinitive | many people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about a subject | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about subject=Topic |

<!-- .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 conference is a smaller meeting to talk about something important: a parent–teacher conference.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:m2:1
# text = A conference is a smaller meeting to talk about something important: a parent–teacher conference.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	meeting	meeting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	_
11	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	parent	parent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a conference | a smaller meeting |  |  |  | a parent and teacher conference *nmod* | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about something | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about something=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In US sport, a conference is a group of teams that play against each other.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:m3:1
# text = In US sport, a conference is a group of teams that play against each other.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	teams	team	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
12	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
13	play	play	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	against	against	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	13	obl	_	_
16	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a conference | a group |  | US sport |  | of teams | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | present | teams |  |  |  |  | against each | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My parents went to the parent–teacher conference.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:x1:1
# text = My parents went to the parent–teacher conference.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	parents	parent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	parent	parent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	–	-	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | My parents |  |  |  |  | to the parent and teacher conference | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to parent=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists from many countries met at the conference.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:x2:1
# text = Scientists from many countries met at the conference.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	met	meet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past | Scientists from many countries |  |  | the conference |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prime minister held a press conference.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:x3:1
# text = The prime minister held a press conference.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	prime	prime	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	press	press	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the prime minister | a press conference |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conference=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We had a video conference with a class in Canada.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:x4:1
# text = We had a video conference with a class in Canada.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | We | a video conference |  |  |  | with a class in Canada | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conference=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The conference lasted three days.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:x5:1
# text = The conference lasted three days.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lasted	last	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **last** | past | the conference |  |  |  | day |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher is in a conference with the head.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:x6:1
# text = The teacher is in a conference with the head.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the teacher |  |  | a conference |  | with the head | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My aunt gave a talk at a science conference.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:x7:1
# text = My aunt gave a talk at a science conference.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	aunt	aunt	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	5	det	_	_
5	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | My aunt | a talk |  | a science conference |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent talk=Theme at conference=Asset |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team plays in the Western Conference.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:x8:1
# text = Our team plays in the Western Conference.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	plays	play	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Western	western	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	Conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | present | Our team |  |  | the Western Conference |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the battle was over, the conduct of the Bats was discussed at the peace conference.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conference:x9:1
# text = When the battle was over, the conduct of the Bats was discussed at the peace conference.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	battle	battle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	over	over	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	conduct	conduct	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Bats	bat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	discussed	discuss	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
14	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	peace	peace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the battle |  |  |  |  | over *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **discuss** *speech: other* | past · passive |  | the conduct of the Bats |  | the peace conference |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |
| 3 | **conduct** |  |  | the Bats |  |  |  |  | nom conduct «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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