---
title: dinner — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dinner» in the school dictionary: Dinner is the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [D](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/) / dinner

# dinner

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Dinner, evening meal, tonight, We, you, Dad · **What happens:** be, eat, mean, have, wash, make · **To what, where:** main meal, meal, parts, tea, formal party, dinner · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«dinner» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [dinner in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dinner.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dinner is the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:m1:1
# text = Dinner is the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening.
1	Dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	eaten	eat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Dinner | the main meal |  |  | day |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **eat** | participle |  | the main meal *not said here* |  |  | evening | usually *property* | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: 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 -->
In some parts of the UK, Ireland and Australia, dinner means the meal in the middle of the day (lunch), and the evening meal is «tea».

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:m2:1
# text = In some parts of the UK, Ireland and Australia, dinner means the meal in the middle of the day (lunch), and the evening meal is «tea».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
12	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	middle	middle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	_
22	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	32	cc	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
28	evening	evening	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	compound	_	_
29	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	nsubj	_	_
30	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	32	cop	_	_
31	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | dinner | the meal |  | some parts of the UK and Ireland and Australia |  | in the middle of the day  lunch | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | the evening meal | tea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dinner is a formal party with a meal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:m3:1
# text = A dinner is a formal party with a meal.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dinner | a formal party |  |  |  | with a meal | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What's for dinner tonight?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:x1:1
# text = What's for dinner tonight?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	tonight	tonight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We have dinner at six o'clock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:x2:1
# text = We have dinner at six o'clock.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	o'clock	o'clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | We | dinner |  | six o'clock |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dinner=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wash your hands before dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:x3:1
# text = Wash your hands before dinner.
1	Wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	before	before	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | imperative | you *not said here* | your hands |  |  | before dinner |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hand=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad is making spaghetti for dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:x4:1
# text = Dad is making spaghetti for dinner.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	spaghetti	spaghetti	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · progressive | Dad | spaghetti |  |  |  | for dinner | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent spaghetti=Material for dinner=Beneficiary |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I had school dinner today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:x5:1
# text = I had school dinner today.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma invited us to Sunday dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:x6:1
# text = Grandma invited us to Sunday dinner.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	invited	invite	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **invite** | past | Grandma |  | us |  |  | to Sunday dinner | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent we=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please set the table for dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:x7:1
# text = Please set the table for dinner.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	set	set	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	table	table	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **set** | imperative | you *not said here* | the table |  |  |  | for dinner | vn preparing-26.3-2 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent table=Patient for dinner=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They went out for a birthday dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:x8:1
# text = They went out for a birthday dinner.
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	out	out	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	birthday	birthday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go out** | past | They |  |  |  |  | for a birthday dinner; out *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For dinner the Fox served soup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dinner:x9:1
# text = For dinner the Fox served soup.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	served	serve	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	soup	soup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **serve** | past | the Fox | soup |  |  |  | for dinner | vn fulfilling-13.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent soup=Theme for dinner=Recipient |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [dining](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dining/)
- next →: [dinosaur](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinosaur/)
- ↑ back to [D in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/)