---
title: decline — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «decline» in the school dictionary: To decline is to say no politely to an offer or invitation. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/decline/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/) / decline

# decline

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** decline, She, number, graph, health, He · **What happens:** decline, not be, be, offer, show, not answer · **To what, where:** fall, amount, offer, second cake, decline, question

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To decline is to say no politely to an offer or invitation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:m1:1
# text = To decline is to say no politely to an offer or invitation.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	decline	decline	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	no	no	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Neg	2	discourse	_	_
7	politely	politely	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	offer	offer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	invitation	invitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decline** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | to a offer or invitation; politely *property* | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | say *property* | 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 -->
To decline is to become smaller, fewer or worse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:m2:1
# text = To decline is to become smaller, fewer or worse.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	decline	decline	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	fewer	few	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	conj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decline** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | become, small *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A decline is a fall in amount, number or quality.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:m3:1
# text = A decline is a fall in amount, number or quality.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	decline	decline	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	fall	fall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a decline | a fall and number or quality |  | amount |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She politely declined the offer of a second cake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:x1:1
# text = She politely declined the offer of a second cake.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	politely	politely	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	declined	decline	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	offer	offer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decline** | past | She | the offer of a second cake |  |  |  | politely *property* | vn reject-77.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent offer=Theme |
| 2 | **offer** |  |  | a second cake |  |  |  |  | nom offer «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The number of hedgehogs has declined.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:x2:1
# text = The number of hedgehogs has declined.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	hedgehogs	hedgehog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
5	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	declined	decline	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decline** | present · perfect | the number of hedgehogs |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The graph shows a decline in sales after March.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:x3:1
# text = The graph shows a decline in sales after March.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	graph	graph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	decline	decline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	sales	sale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	March	March	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the graph | a decline |  |  |  | in sales after March | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent decline=Patient in sale=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa's health declined over the winter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:x4:1
# text = Grandpa's health declined over the winter.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	health	health	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	declined	decline	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	winter	winter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decline** | past | Grandpa's health |  |  |  | winter |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He declined to answer the question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:x5:1
# text = He declined to answer the question.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	declined	decline	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	question	question	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 | **decline** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **answer** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the question |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The town fell into decline when the factory shut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:x6:1
# text = The town fell into decline when the factory shut.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	decline	decline	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	factory	factory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	shut	shut	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | the town |  |  |  |  | into decline *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into decline=Result |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thank you, but I must decline.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:x7:1
# text = Thank you, but I must decline.
1	Thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	decline	decline	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* | present |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |
| 2 | **decline** | must | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Soldier drank, but only moderately, and declined to drink any more.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:decline:x8:1
# text = The Soldier drank, but only moderately, and declined to drink any more.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Soldier	Soldier	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	drank	drink	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	moderately	moderately	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	declined	decline	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	drink	drink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	any	any	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drink** | past | the Soldier |  |  |  |  | moderately *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **decline** | past | the Soldier *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn reject-77.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **drink** | to-infinitive | the Soldier *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: 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 -->
- ← previous: [declared](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/declared/)
- next →: [declivity](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/declivity/)
- ↑ back to [D in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/)