---
title: devolution — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «devolution» in the school dictionary: Handing some powers from a central government to smaller regional governments or parliaments: «Devolution gave Scotland its own Parliament». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# devolution

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Devolution, living thing, Scotland, people, we · **What happens:** hand, give, not use, change, pass, decide · **To what, where:** powers, central government, own Parliament, Scotland, idea, modern biology · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Handing some powers from a central government to smaller regional governments or parliaments: «Devolution gave Scotland its own Parliament».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devolution:m1:1
# text = Handing some powers from a central government to smaller regional governments or parliaments: «Devolution gave Scotland its own Parliament».
1	Handing	hand	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	powers	power	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	central	central	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
10	regional	regional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	governments	government	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	parliaments	parliament	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	Devolution	Devolution	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	nsubj	_	_
17	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
18	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	iobj	_	_
19	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
20	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	Parliament	parliament	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hand** | gerund |  | some powers |  | a central government |  | to smaller regional governments or parliaments | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Agent power=Theme from government=Initial\_Location to government=Destination |
| 2 | **give** *in a quote* | past | Devolution | government's own Parliament | Scotland |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent scotland=Recipient parliament=Theme |

<!-- .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: science, old — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Change of a living thing into a simpler form; this idea is not used much in modern biology.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devolution:m2:1
# text = Change of a living thing into a simpler form; this idea is not used much in modern biology.
1	Change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	simpler	simple	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	amod	_	_
9	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
11	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	12	det	_	_
12	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	parataxis	_	_
16	much	much	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **use** | present · passive |  | this idea |  | modern biology |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |
| 2 | **change** |  | a living thing |  |  |  |  |  | nom change «event intransitive»: of=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Passing a job, duty or property on to someone else.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devolution:m3:1
# text = Passing a job, duty or property on to someone else.
1	Passing	pass	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	duty	duty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	property	property	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	_
11	else	else	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | gerund |  | a job and duty or property |  | someone |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent job=Theme on someone=Destination |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Devolution gave Wales its own parliament, the Senedd.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devolution:x1:1
# text = Devolution gave Wales its own parliament, the Senedd.
1	Devolution	Devolution	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Wales	Wales	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	iobj	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	parliament	parliament	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Senedd	Senedd	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | Devolution | its own parliament | Wales |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent wales=Recipient parliament=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because of devolution, Scotland decides its own school system.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devolution:x2:1
# text = Because of devolution, Scotland decides its own school system.
1	Because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	3	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	devolution	devolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Scotland	Scotland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	decides	decide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
8	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | present | Scotland | devolution's own school system |  |  |  | because devolution | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent system=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Northern Ireland Assembly was set up through devolution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devolution:x3:1
# text = The Northern Ireland Assembly was set up through devolution.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Northern	Northern	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	flat	_	_
3	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Assembly	Assembly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	set	set	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	devolution	devolution	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 | **set up** | past · passive |  | the Ireland Assembly |  | devolution |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme through devolution=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people want more devolution to English cities.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devolution:x4:1
# text = Some people want more devolution to English cities.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	devolution	devolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | some people | more devolution |  |  |  | to English cities | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent devolution=Theme to city=Attribute |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Devolution means power moves from the centre to the regions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devolution:x5:1
# text = Devolution means power moves from the centre to the regions.
1	Devolution	devolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	moves	move	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	centre	centre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	regions	region	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Devolution | power moves |  | the centre to the regions |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent move=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In history we learned that devolution came in 1999.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:devolution:x6:1
# text = In history we learned that devolution came in 1999.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	devolution	devolution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	1999	1999	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | we |  |  | history |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **come** | past | devolution |  |  | 1999 |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in 1999=Location |

<!-- 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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