---
title: deferral — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deferral» in the school dictionary: The act of putting something off until a later time; a delay that is allowed: «the deferral of the exam». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deferral

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** act, Sophie, bank, school, many pupils, deferral · **What happens:** put off, allow, defer, start, ask, agree · **To what, where:** something, delay, exam, university place, deferral, loan payments

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The act of putting something off until a later time; a delay that is allowed: «the deferral of the exam».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferral:m1:1
# text = The act of putting something off until a later time; a delay that is allowed: «the deferral of the exam».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	putting	put	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	_
6	off	off	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
7	until	until	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	later	late	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	aux:pass	_	_
16	allowed	allow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	13	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	deferral	deferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put off** | gerund | the act *not said here* | something |  |  | time |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent something=Goal |
| 2 | **allow** | present · passive |  | a delay |  |  |  | the deferral of the exam *obl* | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **defer** *in a quote* |  |  | the exam |  |  |  |  | nom deferral «state transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An official permission to start something later, such as a place at university or school.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferral:m2:1
# text = An official permission to start something later, such as a place at university or school.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	university	university	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | such a place at university or school | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sophie asked for a deferral of her university place for a year.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferral:x1:1
# text = Sophie asked for a deferral of her university place for a year.
1	Sophie	Sophie	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	deferral	deferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	university	university	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Sophie |  |  |  |  | for a deferral of Sophie's university place for a year | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **defer** |  |  | Sophie's university place for a year |  |  |  |  | nom deferral «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bank allowed a deferral of the loan payments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferral:x2:1
# text = The bank allowed a deferral of the loan payments.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bank	bank	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	allowed	allow	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	deferral	deferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	loan	loan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	payments	payment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **allow** | past | the bank | a deferral of the loan payments |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent deferral=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **defer** |  |  | the loan payments |  |  |  |  | nom deferral «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school agreed to a deferral of the test because so many pupils were ill.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferral:x3:1
# text = The school agreed to a deferral of the test because so many pupils were ill.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	agreed	agree	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	deferral	deferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
14	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
15	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **agree** *speech: agree* | past | the school |  |  |  |  | to a deferral of the test | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | many pupils |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **defer** |  |  | the test |  |  |  |  | nom deferral «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A deferral is not the same as a cancellation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferral:x4:1
# text = A deferral is not the same as a cancellation.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	deferral	deferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cancellation	cancellation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | a deferral |  |  |  |  | as a cancellation; same *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His deferral was granted, so he can start next term.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferral:x5:1
# text = His deferral was granted, so he can start next term.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	deferral	deferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	granted	grant	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
10	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	term	term	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grant** | past · passive |  | His deferral |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | can | he | next term |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent term=Eventuality |
| 3 | **defer** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom deferral «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council announced a deferral of the building work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deferral:x6:1
# text = The council announced a deferral of the building work.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	announced	announce	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	deferral	deferral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	work	work	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 | **announce** *speech: other* | past | the council | a deferral of the building work |  |  |  |  | vn reflexive\_appearance-48.1.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent deferral=Theme |
| 2 | **defer** |  |  | the building work |  |  |  |  | nom deferral «state transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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