---
title: crisis — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «crisis» in the school dictionary: A crisis is a time of great danger, difficulty or trouble when important decisions must be made. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# crisis

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** crisis, things, People, town, river, families · **What happens:** be, make, get, call, face, flood · **To what, where:** time, important decisions, turning point, small problem, crisis, streets · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«crisis» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [crisis in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/crisis.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A crisis is a time of great danger, difficulty or trouble when important decisions must be made.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:m1:1
# text = A crisis is a time of great danger, difficulty or trouble when important decisions must be made.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crisis	crisis	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	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	difficulty	difficulty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	18	mark	_	_
14	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	decisions	decision	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
16	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
17	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crisis | a time |  |  |  | of great danger | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | must · passive |  | important decisions |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

<!-- .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 crisis is a turning point when things will get either much better or much worse.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:m2:1
# text = A crisis is a turning point when things will get either much better or much worse.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crisis	crisis	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	turning	turning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	either	either	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	10	advmod	_	_
12	much	much	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
13	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	much	much	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a crisis | a turning point |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | future | things |  |  |  |  | either, good *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People jokingly call a small problem a crisis, like a hair crisis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:m3:1
# text = People jokingly call a small problem a crisis, like a hair crisis.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	jokingly	jokingly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present | People | a small problem |  |  |  | like a hair crisis; jokingly *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent problem=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town faced a crisis when the river flooded the streets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:x1:1
# text = The town faced a crisis when the river flooded the streets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	faced	face	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	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	flooded	flood	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	streets	street	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **face** | past | the town | a crisis |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme crisis=Destination |
| 2 | **flood** | past | the river | the streets |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent street=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
During the water crisis, families had to save every drop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:x2:1
# text = During the water crisis, families had to save every drop.
1	During	during	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	drop	drop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | families |  |  |  | during the water crisis |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **save** | to-infinitive | families *not said here* | every drop |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drop=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hospital was in crisis because so many people were ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:x3:1
# text = The hospital was in crisis because so many people were ill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hospital	hospital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
10	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the hospital |  |  | crisis |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | past | many people |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't panic — this is not a crisis, it's just a spilled drink!

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:x4:1
# text = Don't panic — this is not a crisis, it's just a spilled drink!
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	panic	panic	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
5	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
13	just	just	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	spilled	spill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	amod	_	_
16	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **panic** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | this | a crisis and a spilled drink |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **spill** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** | present | it | a spilled drink |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story reaches its crisis when the boat starts to sink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:x5:1
# text = The story reaches its crisis when the boat starts to sink.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	reaches	reach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	sink	sink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | present | the story | story's crisis |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent crisis=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | present | the boat |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **sink** | to-infinitive | the boat *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a crisis, stay calm and call 999 or 911.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:x6:1
# text = In a crisis, stay calm and call 999 or 911.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	stay	stay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	calm	calm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	call	call	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	999	999	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	911	911	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | a crisis |  | calm *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in crisis=Location |
| 2 | **call** | infinitive | you *not said here* | 999 |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent 999=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaders met to solve the crisis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:x7:1
# text = Leaders met to solve the crisis.
1	Leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	met	meet	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	solve	solve	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **meet** | past | Leaders |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **solve** | to-infinitive | Leaders *not said here* | the crisis |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crisis=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Give assistance, not advice, in a crisis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:crisis:x8:1
# text = Give assistance, not advice, in a crisis.
1	Give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	assistance	assistance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	crisis	crisis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | imperative | you *not said here* | assistance and advice |  | a crisis |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent assistance=Theme |

<!-- 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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