---
title: democracy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «democracy» in the school dictionary: Democracy is a way of running a country in which the people choose their leaders by voting. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# democracy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Democracy, way, people, everyone, United States, Ancient Athens · **What happens:** be, run, choose, vote, mean, have · **To what, where:** way, country, leaders, fair decisions, equal say, democracy

<!-- .vabout -->
«democracy» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [democracy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/democracy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Democracy is a way of running a country in which the people choose their leaders by voting.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:democracy:m1:1
# text = Democracy is a way of running a country in which the people choose their leaders by voting.
1	Democracy	democracy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	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	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	obl	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	choose	choose	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
14	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
16	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	voting	vote	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Democracy | a way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | gerund | a way *not said here* | a country |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme country=Trajectory |
| 3 | **choose** | present | the people | people's leaders |  | a way |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leader=Theme |
| 4 | **vote** | gerund | the people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: 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 -->
A democracy is a country run in this way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:democracy:m2:1
# text = A democracy is a country run in this way.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	democracy	democracy	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	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	run	run	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a democracy | a country |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **run** | participle |  | a country *not said here* |  | this way |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in way=Trajectory |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Democracy can mean fair decisions where everyone has an equal say, as in a class vote.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:democracy:m3:1
# text = Democracy can mean fair decisions where everyone has an equal say, as in a class vote.
1	Democracy	democracy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	decisions	decision	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
7	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	8	nsubj	_	_
8	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	equal	equal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	say	say	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Democracy | fair decisions |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent decision=Topic |
| 2 | **have** | present | everyone | a equal say and a class vote |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent say=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a democracy, people vote for their leaders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:democracy:x1:1
# text = In a democracy, people vote for their leaders.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	democracy	democracy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	vote	vote	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vote** | present | people |  |  | a democracy |  | for people's leaders *goal* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent for leader=Goal |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The United States, Canada and Australia are democracies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:democracy:x2:1
# text = The United States, Canada and Australia are democracies.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	United	United	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	States	State	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	democracies	democracy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the United States and Canada and Australia | democracies |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient Athens had an early form of democracy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:democracy:x3:1
# text = Ancient Athens had an early form of democracy.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Athens	athen	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	democracy	democracy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Ancient Athens | a early form of democracy |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent form=Patient |
| 2 | **form** |  |  | democracy |  |  |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class used democracy to choose the trip — we voted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:democracy:x4:1
# text = Our class used democracy to choose the trip — we voted.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	democracy	democracy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	voted	vote	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Our class | democracy |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent democracy=Patient |
| 2 | **choose** | to-infinitive | Our class *not said here* | the trip |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent trip=Theme |
| 3 | **vote** | past | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Free speech is important in a democracy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:democracy:x5:1
# text = Free speech is important in a democracy.
1	Free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	democracy	democracy	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 | **is** | present | Free speech |  |  | a democracy |  | important *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
18 of 30 pupils voted for the zoo; is that more than half?

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:democracy:x6:1
# text = 18 of 30 pupils voted for the zoo; is that more than half?
1	18	18	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	nmod	_	_
4	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	voted	vote	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp|ExtPos=ADV	14	advmod	_	_
13	than	than	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **vote** | past | 18 pupils |  |  |  |  | for the zoo *goal* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent for zoo=Goal |
| 2 | **is a** | present | 18 pupils *not said here* | half |  |  |  |  | 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 -->

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