---
title: deterrent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deterrent» in the school dictionary: A deterrent is something that makes people decide not to do a thing, because of the trouble or danger it would bring. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deterrent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** deterrent, people, adjective, Weapons, others, loud alarm · **What happens:** be, make, decide, not do, bring, have · **To what, where:** something, people, thing, effect, country, good deterrent · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A deterrent is something that makes people decide not to do a thing, because of the trouble or danger it would bring.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deterrent:m1:1
# text = A deterrent is something that makes people decide not to do a thing, because of the trouble or danger it would bring.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	deterrent	deterrent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	decide	decide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	18	case	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
22	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	23	aux	_	_
23	bring	bring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a deterrent | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present |  | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **decide** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **not** **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a thing |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 5 | **bring** | would | deterrent |  |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: 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 -->
As an adjective: having that effect, as in «a deterrent effect».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deterrent:m2:1
# text = As an adjective: having that effect, as in «a deterrent effect».
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
5	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	acl	_	_
6	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
7	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	deterrent	deterrent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	effect	effect	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | gerund | a adjective *not said here* | that effect |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Weapons a country keeps so that others are afraid to attack it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deterrent:m3:1
# text = Weapons a country keeps so that others are afraid to attack it.
1	Weapons	weapon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
4	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	9	mark	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	afraid	afraid	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	advcl	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	attack	attack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Weapons |  |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | others |  |  |  |  | afraid *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **attack** | to-infinitive | others *not said here* | country |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A loud alarm is a good deterrent to burglars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deterrent:x1:1
# text = A loud alarm is a good deterrent to burglars.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	deterrent	deterrent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	burglars	burglar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a loud alarm | a good deterrent |  |  |  | to burglars | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bright colours on a frog act as a deterrent to birds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deterrent:x2:1
# text = Bright colours on a frog act as a deterrent to birds.
1	Bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	deterrent	deterrent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fine for parking there is a strong deterrent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deterrent:x3:1
# text = The fine for parking there is a strong deterrent.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	ccomp	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	parking	parking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	6	expl	_	_
6	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	deterrent	deterrent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a strong deterrent |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spikes on the wall are a deterrent to climbers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deterrent:x4:1
# text = Spikes on the wall are a deterrent to climbers.
1	Spikes	spike	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	deterrent	deterrent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	climbers	climber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Spikes on the wall | a deterrent |  |  |  | to climbers | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher hoped detention would be a deterrent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deterrent:x5:1
# text = The teacher hoped detention would be a deterrent.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hoped	hope	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	detention	detention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	deterrent	deterrent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hope** | past | the teacher | detention |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | would |  | a deterrent |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dog barking is a deterrent for strangers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deterrent:x6:1
# text = A dog barking is a deterrent for strangers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	barking	bark	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	deterrent	deterrent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	strangers	stranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bark** | gerund | a dog *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a dog | a deterrent |  |  |  | for strangers | 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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