---
title: contest — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «contest» in the school dictionary: A contest is a game, race or competition where people try to win, such as a spelling contest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# contest

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** contest, people, it, Ten children, She, Tom · **What happens:** be, try, win, contest, enter, eat · **To what, where:** game, something, contest, 4 pies, eating contest, 6 · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A contest is a game, race or competition where people try to win, such as a spelling contest.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:m1:1
# text = A contest is a game, race or competition where people try to win, such as a spelling contest.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	contest	contest	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	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	competition	competition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
16	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	20	case	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	fixed	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a contest | a game or competition and a spelling contest |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **win** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To contest something is to argue that it is wrong or unfair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:m2:1
# text = To contest something is to argue that it is wrong or unfair.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	contest	contest	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	argue	argue	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contest** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** *speech: disagree* | present |  |  |  |  |  | argue *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ten children entered the contest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:x1:1
# text = Ten children entered the contest.
1	Ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	entered	enter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **enter** | past | Ten children | the contest |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme contest=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She won $50 in the contest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:x2:1
# text = She won $50 in the contest.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	$	$	SYM	$	_	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | She |  |  | the contest |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent $=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the pie-eating contest, Tom ate 4 pies and Ben ate 6.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:x3:1
# text = In the pie-eating contest, Tom ate 4 pies and Ben ate 6.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
3	pie	pie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	pies	pie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	Ben	Ben	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
15	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **eat** | past | Tom | 4 pies |  | the eating contest |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pie=Patient |
| 3 | **eat** | past | Ben | 6 |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 6=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each winner of the contest gets 3 books.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:x4:1
# text = Each winner of the contest gets 3 books.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	winner	winner	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	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | present | each winner of the contest | 3 books |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer book=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class held a spelling contest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:x5:1
# text = Our class held a spelling contest.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She came second in the drawing contest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:x6:1
# text = She came second in the drawing contest.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	second	second	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	2	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	drawing	drawing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | She |  |  | the drawing contest |  | second *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in contest=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The contest ends on Friday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:x7:1
# text = The contest ends on Friday.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | present | the contest |  |  |  | friday |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a close contest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:x8:1
# text = It was a close contest.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a close contest |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Now let us have a little contest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:contest:x9:1
# text = Now let us have a little contest.
1	Now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	2	advmod	_	_
2	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	contest	contest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | us |  |  | now |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | infinitive | us *not said here* | a little contest |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent contest=Patient |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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