---
title: constituent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «constituent» in the school dictionary: A constituent is one of the parts that make up a whole: «Flour is a constituent of bread.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# constituent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** constituent, parts, Flour, person, Oxygen, you · **What happens:** be, make up, live, separate, reply, add · **To what, where:** one, constituent, person, area, mixture, constituent parts

<!-- .vabout -->
«constituent» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [constituent in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/constituent.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A constituent is one of the parts that make up a whole: «Flour is a constituent of bread.».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constituent:m1:1
# text = A constituent is one of the parts that make up a whole: «Flour is a constituent of bread.».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	constituent	constituent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	Flour	flour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	constituent	constituent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a constituent | one |  |  |  | of the parts | tree rules |
| 2 | **make up** | present | the parts |  |  |  |  | whole *property* | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Flour | a constituent |  |  |  | of bread | tree rules |

<!-- .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 constituent is a person who lives in an area and votes for a representative such as a Member of Parliament or a congressman.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constituent:m2:1
# text = A constituent is a person who lives in an area and votes for a representative such as a Member of Parliament or a congressman.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	constituent	constituent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	votes	vote	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	_
13	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
15	representative	representative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	19	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	Member	member	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	advcl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	Parliament	Parliament	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	congressman	congressman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a constituent | a person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | present | a person |  |  | a area and votes |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in area=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oxygen is a constituent of air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constituent:x1:1
# text = Oxygen is a constituent of air.
1	Oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	constituent	constituent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Separate the mixture into its constituent parts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constituent:x2:1
# text = Separate the mixture into its constituent parts.
1	Separate	separate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	mixture	mixture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	constituent	constituent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **separate** | imperative | you *not said here* | the mixture |  |  |  | into mixture's constituent parts *goal* | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent mixture=Theme into part=Goal |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The MP replied to letters from her constituents.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constituent:x3:1
# text = The MP replied to letters from her constituents.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	MP	mp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	replied	reply	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	constituents	constituent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | participle |  | the MP *not said here* |  |  |  | to letters from her constituents | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to letter=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sand and water are the constituents of this mixture.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constituent:x4:1
# text = Sand and water are the constituents of this mixture.
1	Sand	sand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	constituents	constituent	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	mixture	mixture	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 a** | present | Sand and water | the constituents |  |  |  | of this mixture | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each constituent of the cake adds something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constituent:x5:1
# text = Each constituent of the cake adds something.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	constituent	constituent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	adds	add	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **add** *speech: assert* | present | each constituent of the cake | something |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ten per cent of the mixture is salt; what is the other constituent's share?

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:constituent:x6:1
# text = Ten per cent of the mixture is salt; what is the other constituent's share?
1	Ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
2	per	per	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cent	cent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	mixture	mixture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
10	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	16	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	constituent	constituent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	's	's	PART	POS	_	14	case	_	_
16	share	share	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Ten per cent of the mixture | salt and the other constituent's share |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | salt and the other constituent's share | the other constituent's share |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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**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.

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