---
title: conferral — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «conferral» in the school dictionary: The act of giving someone an honour, a title, a degree or a right in an official way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# conferral

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** act, conferral, Her, knight, school board, Grandad · **What happens:** give, talk over, say, confer, take, be · **To what, where:** honour, someone, things, act, place, great hall · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The act of giving someone an honour, a title, a degree or a right in an official way.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conferral:m1:1
# text = The act of giving someone an honour, a title, a degree or a right in an official way.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	honour	honour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	degree	degree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund | the act  a title *not said here* | a honour | someone |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient honour=Theme |

<!-- .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, rare — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The act of talking things over with others; this sense is usually said as «conferring» or «conference».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conferral:m2:1
# text = The act of talking things over with others; this sense is usually said as «conferring» or «conference».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	over	over	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	11	det	_	_
11	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
13	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
15	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	conferring	confer	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	conference	conference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk over** | gerund | the act *not said here* | things |  |  |  | with others; over *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present · passive |  | the act |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |
| 3 | **confer** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The conferral of degrees takes place in the great hall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conferral:x1:1
# text = The conferral of degrees takes place in the great hall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	conferral	conferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	degrees	degree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | the conferral of degrees | place |  | the great hall |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent place=Value in hall=Location |
| 2 | **confer** |  |  | degrees |  |  |  |  | nom conferral «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her conferral of the gold medal was the proudest moment of the evening.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conferral:x2:1
# text = Her conferral of the gold medal was the proudest moment of the evening.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	conferral	conferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	medal	medal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	proudest	proud	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Her conferral of the gold medal | the proudest moment |  |  | evening |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **confer** |  | Her *= she* | the gold medal |  |  |  |  | nom conferral «act transitive»: poss=agent of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The conferral of citizenship came after a long wait and a short ceremony.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conferral:x3:1
# text = The conferral of citizenship came after a long wait and a short ceremony.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	conferral	conferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	citizenship	citizenship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	wait	wait	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	ceremony	ceremony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the conferral of citizenship |  |  |  | after a long wait and a short ceremony |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **confer** |  |  | citizenship |  |  |  |  | nom conferral «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After the conferral of the title, the knight stood up and bowed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conferral:x4:1
# text = After the conferral of the title, the knight stood up and bowed.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	conferral	conferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	title	title	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	bowed	bow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand up** | past | the knight |  |  |  | after the conferral of the title |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **bow** | participle | the knight *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn acquiesce-95.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **confer** |  |  | the title |  |  |  |  | nom conferral «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school board approved the conferral of a special award on the lollipop lady.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conferral:x5:1
# text = The school board approved the conferral of a special award on the lollipop lady.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	approved	approve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	conferral	conferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	award	award	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
11	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	lollipop	lollipop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	lady	lady	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **approve** | past | the school board | the conferral of a special award on the lollipop lady |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent conferral=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **confer** |  |  | a special award on the lollipop lady |  |  |  |  | nom conferral «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad keeps a photo of the conferral of his apprenticeship certificate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conferral:x6:1
# text = Grandad keeps a photo of the conferral of his apprenticeship certificate.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	conferral	conferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	apprenticeship	apprenticeship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	certificate	certificate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Grandad | a photo of the conferral of Grandad's apprenticeship certificate |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent photo=Theme |
| 2 | **confer** |  |  | Grandad's apprenticeship certificate |  |  |  |  | nom conferral «act transitive»: of=patient |
| 3 | **certificate** |  | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | nom certificate «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The conferral of honorary membership surprised the old coach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:conferral:x7:1
# text = The conferral of honorary membership surprised the old coach.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	conferral	conferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	honorary	honorary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	membership	membership	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	surprised	surprise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **surprise** | past | the conferral of honorary membership | the old coach |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus coach=Experiencer |
| 2 | **confer** |  |  | honorary membership |  |  |  |  | nom conferral «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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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