---
title: custom — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «custom» in the school dictionary: A custom is a way of doing something that people in a place or group have done for a long time: it is a custom to give presents at Christmas. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# custom

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** custom, way, people, Customs, officers, It · **What happens:** be, do, give, walk, check, bring · **To what, where:** way, something, custom, presents, Christmas, habit · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«custom» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [custom in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/custom.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A custom is a way of doing something that people in a place or group have done for a long time: it is a custom to give presents at Christmas.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:m1:1
# text = A custom is a way of doing something that people in a place or group have done for a long time: it is a custom to give presents at Christmas.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	custom	custom	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	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	17	obj	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux	_	_
17	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	acl:relcl	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
23	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	26	nsubj	_	_
24	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	26	cop	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
27	to	to	PART	TO	_	28	mark	_	_
28	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	26	acl	_	_
29	presents	present	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	obj	_	_
30	at	at	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
31	Christmas	Christmas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	28	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a custom | a way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | gerund | a way *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **do** | present · perfect | people in a place or group |  |  |  | time |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Eventuality |
| 4 | **is a** | present | custom | a custom |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **give** | to-infinitive | a custom *not said here* | presents |  | Christmas |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent present=Theme at christmas=Asset |

<!-- .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 custom is a habit of a person: it was his custom to walk after dinner.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:m2:1
# text = A custom is a habit of a person: it was his custom to walk after dinner.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	custom	custom	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	habit	habit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	walk	walk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	acl	_	_
16	after	after	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a custom | a habit |  |  |  | of a person | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | custom | person's custom |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **walk** | to-infinitive | a custom *not said here* |  |  |  | after dinner |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Customs is the place at an airport or border where officers check what people bring into the country.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:m3:1
# text = Customs is the place at an airport or border where officers check what people bring into the country.
1	Customs	custom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	airport	airport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	border	border	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
11	officers	officer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	check	check	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
13	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	15	obj	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	bring	bring	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	_
16	into	into	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Customs | the place |  | a airport or border |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **check** | present | officers |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **bring** | present | people |  |  | the country |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent what=Theme into country=Destination |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Custom-made means made specially for one person.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:m4:1
# text = Custom-made means made specially for one person.
1	Custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	csubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	_
6	specially	specially	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for one person; specially *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for person=Beneficiary |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's a custom in Japan to bow when you greet someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:x1:1
# text = It's a custom in Japan to bow when you greet someone.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	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	custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Japan	Japan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	bow	bow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	greet	greet	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a custom |  | Japan |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **bow** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn acquiesce-95.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **greet** *speech: greet* | present | you | someone |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In our family, it's a custom to eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:x2:1
# text = In our family, it's a custom to eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	eat	eat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl	_	_
11	pancakes	pancake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	Shrove	Shrove	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	Tuesday	Tuesday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | family | a custom |  | our family |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | to-infinitive |  | pancakes |  |  | tuesday |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pancake=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We went through customs at the airport.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:x3:1
# text = We went through customs at the airport.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	customs	custom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	airport	airport	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 | **go** | past | We |  |  | customs |  | at the airport | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through custom=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The customs officer checked our bags.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:x4:1
# text = The customs officer checked our bags.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	customs	custom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	compound	_	_
3	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	checked	check	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	bags	bag	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | past | customs officer | our bags |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bag=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Learn the local customs before you travel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:x5:1
# text = Learn the local customs before you travel.
1	Learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	local	local	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	customs	custom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	travel	travel	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | imperative | you *not said here* | the local customs |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent custom=Topic |
| 2 | **travel** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His bike was custom-made for him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:x6:1
# text = His bike was custom-made for him.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
4	custom	custom	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | His bike |  |  |  | for him *= he* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: subject=Product for he=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thank him according to our customs, Mowgli.”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:custom:x7:1
# text = Thank him according to our customs, Mowgli.”
1	Thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	according	accord	VERB	VBG	ExtPos=ADP|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	case	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	3	fixed	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	customs	custom	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	Mowgli	Mowgli	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* | present |  |  | him *= he* |  |  | accord our customs; Mowgli *vocative* | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent he=Theme |
| 2 | **accord** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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