---
title: ellipsis — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ellipsis» in the school dictionary: The punctuation mark of three dots (…) that shows words are missing or that a sentence trails off. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ellipsis

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** punctuation mark, words, sentence, I, She, you · **What happens:** show, be, trail off, mark, leave out, understand · **To what, where:** three dots, words, swim, box, nothing, ellipsis · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The punctuation mark of three dots (…) that shows words are missing or that a sentence trails off.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:m1:1
# text = The punctuation mark of three dots (…) that shows words are missing or that a sentence trails off.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	punctuation	punctuation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	dots	dot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	…	…	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
12	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
13	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	ccomp	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
16	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nsubj	_	_
19	trails	trail	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	conj	_	_
20	off	off	ADP	RP	_	19	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the punctuation mark of three dots |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | words |  |  |  |  | missing *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **trail off** | present | a sentence |  |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **mark** |  |  | three dots |  |  |  |  | nom mark «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Leaving out words that are understood, as in «I can swim and so can Tom» (swim is left out).

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:m2:1
# text = Leaving out words that are understood, as in «I can swim and so can Tom» (swim is left out).
1	Leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	out	out	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	understood	understand	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
9	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	parataxis	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	so	so	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	1	aux	_	_
17	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
19	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	swim	swim	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	aux:pass	_	_
22	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	parataxis	_	_
23	out	out	ADP	RP	_	22	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave out** | can |  | words |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme |
| 2 | **understand** | present · passive |  | words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **swim** *in a quote* | can | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **leave out** | present · passive |  | swim |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She opened the box and saw… nothing!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:x1:1
# text = She opened the box and saw… nothing!
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	opened	open	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	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	…	…	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
8	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **open** | past | She | the box |  |  |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location box=Theme |
| 2 | **see** | past | She *not said here* | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer nothing=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use an ellipsis to make the reader wait.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:x2:1
# text = Use an ellipsis to make the reader wait.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	ellipsis	ellipsis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	reader	reader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a ellipsis |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ellipsis=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the reader |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **wait** | infinitive | the reader *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Well… I'm not sure,» said Max.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «Well…

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:x3:1
# text = «Well…
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Well	well	INTJ	UH	_	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	…	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* I'm not sure,» said Max.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:x3:2
# text = I'm not sure,» said Max.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
7	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	Max	Max	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past | Max |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The writer used an ellipsis to leave out part of the quote.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:x4:1
# text = The writer used an ellipsis to leave out part of the quote.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ellipsis	ellipsis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	quote	quote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | the writer | a ellipsis |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ellipsis=Patient |
| 2 | **leave out** | to-infinitive | the writer *not said here* | part of the quote |  |  |  |  | vn neglect-75.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent part=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't put four dots — an ellipsis has three.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:x5:1
# text = Don't put four dots — an ellipsis has three.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	dots	dot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ellipsis	ellipsis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
10	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **put** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | four dots |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent dot=Goal |
| 2 | **have** | present | a ellipsis | three |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent three=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Want some?» «Yes, please» is an example of ellipsis.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* «Want some?»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:x6:1
# text = «Want some?»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Want	want	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** *in a quote* | imperative | you *not said here* | some |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot some=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* «Yes, please» is an example of ellipsis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ellipsis:x6:2
# text = «Yes, please» is an example of ellipsis.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	8	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	8	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	ellipsis	ellipsis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

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