---
title: delay — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «delay» in the school dictionary: A delay is a time when something happens later than planned. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# delay

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** delay, something, flight, snow, you, rain · **What happens:** be, happen, plan, delay, mean, make · **To what, where:** time, something, someone, hour delay, train, homework · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A delay is a time when something happens later than planned.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:m1:1
# text = A delay is a time when something happens later than planned.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	delay	delay	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	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
8	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
10	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
11	planned	plan	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	xcomp	_	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 delay | a time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | present | something |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **plan** | participle | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: 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 delay means to make something happen later, or to make someone late.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:m2:1
# text = To delay means to make something happen later, or to make someone late.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	delay	delay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
13	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	_
14	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **delay** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **happen** *not said to happen* | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  | late *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset someone=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To delay means to wait before doing something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:m3:1
# text = To delay means to wait before doing something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	delay	delay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **delay** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **wait** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our flight had a two-hour delay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:x1:1
# text = Our flight had a two-hour delay.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	flight	flight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	hour	hour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Our flight | a hour delay |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent delay=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The train was delayed by snow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:x2:1
# text = The train was delayed by snow.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	train	train	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	delayed	delay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **delay** | past · passive | snow | the train |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent subject=Source |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't delay; do your homework now.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:x3:1
# text = Don't delay; do your homework now.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	delay	delay	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **delay** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | infinitive | you *not said here* | your homework |  |  | now |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Call for help without delay if someone is hurt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:x4:1
# text = Call for help without delay if someone is hurt.
1	Call	call	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	hurt	hurt	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for help; without delay | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient S\_INF»: agent=Agent for help=Recipient |
| 2 | **hurt** *a condition, not said to happen* | present · passive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sorry for the delay in answering.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:x5:1
# text = Sorry for the delay in answering.
1	Sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	answering	answer	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | gerund | the delay *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rain delayed the start of the match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:x6:1
# text = The rain delayed the start of the match.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	delayed	delay	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	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **delay** | past | the rain | the start of the match |  |  |  |  | vn delay-53.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent start=Source |
| 2 | **start** |  |  | the match |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bus should arrive at 3:00 but has a 15-minute delay, so it arrives at 3:15.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:x7:1
# text = The bus should arrive at 3:00 but has a 15-minute delay, so it arrives at 3:15.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	arrive	arrive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	3:00	3:00	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	15	15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	minute	minute	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	delay	delay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	so	so	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	arrives	arrive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
18	at	at	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	3:15	3:15	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrive** | should | the bus |  |  | 3:00 |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **have** | present | the bus *not said here* | a minute delay |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent delay=Patient |
| 3 | **arrive** | present | bus |  |  | 3:15 |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In this way she will be delayed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:delay:x8:1
# text = In this way she will be delayed.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
4	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
7	delayed	delayed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | future | she |  |  | this way |  | delayed *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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