---
title: distinction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «distinction» in the school dictionary: A distinction is a clear difference between two things. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# distinction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** distinction, She, We, He, formal Candidates, you · **What happens:** be, pass, make, have, see, achieve · **To what, where:** clear difference, high mark, music exam, distinction, certificate, me

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A distinction is a clear difference between two things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:m1:1
# text = A distinction is a clear difference between two things.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	distinction	distinction	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	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	difference	difference	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 distinction | a clear difference |  |  |  | between two things | tree rules |

<!-- .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 distinction is a high mark or grade for excellent work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:m2:1
# text = A distinction is a high mark or grade for excellent work.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	distinction	distinction	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	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	grade	grade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	excellent	excellent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a distinction | a high mark or grade |  |  |  | for excellent work | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Distinction is being special or excellent: a writer of distinction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:m3:1
# text = Distinction is being special or excellent: a writer of distinction.
1	Distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
4	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	excellent	excellent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Distinction |  |  |  |  | special *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Distinction *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What is the distinction between a frog and a toad?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:x1:1
# text = What is the distinction between a frog and a toad?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	toad	toad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She passed her music exam with distinction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:x2:1
# text = She passed her music exam with distinction.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	passed	pass	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	distinction	distinction	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 | **pass** | past | She | her music exam |  |  |  | with distinction | vn escape-51.1-1-3 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme exam=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We must make a distinction between fact and opinion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:x3:1
# text = We must make a distinction between fact and opinion.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fact	fact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	opinion	opinion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | must | We | a distinction |  |  |  | between fact and opinion | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent distinction=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had the distinction of being the youngest player.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:x4:1
# text = He had the distinction of being the youngest player.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	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	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	youngest	young	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	amod	_	_
9	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | He | the distinction |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent distinction=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | of the youngest player | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The distinction between the twins was hard to see.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:x5:1
# text = The distinction between the twins was hard to see.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	between	between	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	twins	twin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the distinction between the twins |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **see** | to-infinitive | the distinction between the twins *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Candidates achieving distinction will receive a certificate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:x6:1
# text = (formal) Candidates achieving distinction will receive a certificate.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Candidates	candidate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
5	achieving	achieve	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	receive	receive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	certificate	certificate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **achieve** | gerund | formal Candidates *not said here* | distinction |  |  |  |  | vn complete-55.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent distinction=Eventuality |
| 2 | **receive** | future | formal Candidates | a certificate |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent certificate=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But let me find, when you enjoy honor and distinction, that you possess a grateful heart.”

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:distinction:x7:1
# text = But let me find, when you enjoy honor and distinction, that you possess a grateful heart.”
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	2	cc	_	_
2	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	8	mark	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	enjoy	enjoy	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
9	honor	honor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	possess	possess	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	grateful	grateful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **find** | infinitive | me *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 3 | **enjoy** | present | you | honor and distinction |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer honor=Stimulus |
| 4 | **possess** | present | you | a grateful heart |  |  |  |  | vn own-100.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot heart=Theme |

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**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.

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