---
title: documentary — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «documentary» in the school dictionary: A documentary is a film or TV programme about real people, places and events, giving facts and information. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# documentary

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** documentary, film, We, David, class, documentary evidence · **What happens:** be, give, mean, make, watch, show · **To what, where:** film, facts, documentary, real footage, war, nature documentaries · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«documentary» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [documentary in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/documentary.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A documentary is a film or TV programme about real people, places and events, giving facts and information.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:documentary:m1:1
# text = A documentary is a film or TV programme about real people, places and events, giving facts and information.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	documentary	documentary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	programme	programme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	giving	give	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
18	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	obj	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a documentary | a film or TV programme about real people and places and events |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | gerund | a film or TV programme about real people and places and events *not said here* | facts and information |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fact=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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Documentary (adjective) means made of documents, as in «documentary evidence».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:documentary:m2:1
# text = Documentary (adjective) means made of documents, as in «documentary evidence».
1	Documentary	documentary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	ccomp	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	documents	document	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	documentary	documentary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Documentary |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | of documents; as documentary evidence | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched a documentary about penguins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:documentary:x1:1
# text = We watched a documentary about penguins.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	documentary	documentary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	penguins	penguin	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 | **watch** | past | We | a documentary |  |  |  | about penguins | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent documentary=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The documentary showed real footage from the war.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:documentary:x2:1
# text = The documentary showed real footage from the war.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	documentary	documentary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	footage	footage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the documentary | real footage |  | the war |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent footage=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sir David Attenborough makes nature documentaries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:documentary:x3:1
# text = Sir David Attenborough makes nature documentaries.
1	Sir	Sir	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod:desc	_	_
2	David	David	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	Attenborough	Attenborough	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	flat	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	documentaries	documentary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | David  Sir | nature documentaries |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent documentary=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class made a short documentary about recycling.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:documentary:x4:1
# text = Our class made a short documentary about recycling.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	documentary	documentary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	recycling	recycling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | Our class | a short documentary |  |  |  | about recycling | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset documentary=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is this a documentary or a made-up story?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:documentary:x5:1
# text = Is this a documentary or a made-up story?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
2	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	documentary	documentary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
10	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | this documentary or a made story |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make up** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is documentary evidence that the castle was built by the king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:documentary:x6:1
# text = There is documentary evidence that the castle was built by the king.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	documentary	documentary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | documentary evidence |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **build** | past · passive | the king | the castle |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Product |

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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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