---
title: deuce — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «deuce» in the school dictionary: In tennis, deuce is the score when both players have 40 points, so one must win two points in a row to win the game. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# deuce

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tennis deuce, players, one, mild word, score, crowd · **What happens:** be, have, win, use, show, deuce · **To what, where:** score, 40 points, two points, row, game, devil · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«deuce» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [deuce in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deuce.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In tennis, deuce is the score when both players have 40 points, so one must win two points in a row to win the game.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:m1:1
# text = In tennis, deuce is the score when both players have 40 points, so one must win two points in a row to win the game.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	tennis	tennis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	deuce	deuce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	11	mark	_	_
9	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl	_	_
12	40	40	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	so	so	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
16	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
17	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	parataxis	_	_
19	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	20	nummod	_	_
20	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	row	row	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	_
24	to	to	PART	TO	_	25	mark	_	_
25	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	advcl	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | tennis deuce | the score |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | both players | 40 points |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent point=Patient |
| 3 | **win** | must | one | two points |  | a row |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent point=Eventuality |
| 4 | **win** | to-infinitive | one *not said here* | the game |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 playing card or a dice face with the number two on it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:m2:1
# text = A playing card or a dice face with the number two on it.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	playing	playing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	dice	dice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
11	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A mild word for the devil, used to show surprise or annoyance: «What the deuce?».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:m3:1
# text = A mild word for the devil, used to show surprise or annoyance: «What the deuce?».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	mild	mild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	devil	devil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
11	surprise	surprise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	annoyance	annoyance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	18	nsubj	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	deuce	deuce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | the devil *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive |  | surprise or annoyance |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent surprise=Recipient |
| 3 | **deuce** *in a quote* |  | a mild word for the devil |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The score was deuce, and the crowd went quiet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:x1:1
# text = The score was deuce, and the crowd went quiet.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	deuce	deuce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the score | deuce |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | past | the crowd |  |  |  |  | quiet *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After three deuces, she finally won the game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:x2:1
# text = After three deuces, she finally won the game.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	deuces	deuce	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
6	finally	finally	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | she | the game |  |  | after three deuces | finally *property* | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He played the deuce of hearts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:x3:1
# text = He played the deuce of hearts.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	played	play	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	deuce	deuce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hearts	heart	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | past | He | the deuce of hearts |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent deuce=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I rolled a deuce, so I moved two squares.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:x4:1
# text = I rolled a deuce, so I moved two squares.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	rolled	roll	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	deuce	deuce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	squares	square	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **roll** | past | I | a deuce |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent deuce=Agent |
| 2 | **move** | past | I | two squares |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent square=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«What the deuce is going on here?» asked the old captain.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:x5:1
# text = «What the deuce is going on here?» asked the old captain.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	nsubj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	deuce	deuce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	ccomp	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	here	here	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
11	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go on** *in a quote* | present · progressive |  |  |  | here |  |  | vn function-105.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the old captain |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They went back to deuce again and again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:x6:1
# text = They went back to deuce again and again.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	back	back	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	deuce	deuce	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
6	again	again	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go back** | past | They |  |  |  |  |  | vn convert-26.6.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **deuce** | to-infinitive | They *not said here* |  |  |  | again |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Where the deuce can the house be?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:deuce:x7:1
# text = Where the deuce can the house be?
1	Where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	deuce	deuce	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | where *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 -->

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