---
title: enforcement — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «enforcement» in the school dictionary: Enforcement is making sure that people obey a law or a rule, and punishing those who do not. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# enforcement

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Enforcement, people, Law enforcement, police, Law enforcement officers, Speed cameras · **What happens:** make, obey, punish, not do, mean, be · **To what, where:** law, those, scene, speed limits, proper enforcement, enforcement · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Enforcement is making sure that people obey a law or a rule, and punishing those who do not.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enforcement:m1:1
# text = Enforcement is making sure that people obey a law or a rule, and punishing those who do not.
1	Enforcement	enforcement	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	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	obey	obey	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	punishing	punish	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
16	those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	15	obj	_	_
17	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
18	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	acl:relcl	_	_
19	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · progressive | Enforcement |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **obey** | present | people | a law or a rule |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent law=Theme |
| 3 | **punish** | gerund | Enforcement *not said here* | those |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Patient |
| 4 | **not** **do** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Law enforcement means the police and other officers whose job is to make people obey the law.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enforcement:m2:1
# text = Law enforcement means the police and other officers whose job is to make people obey the law.
1	Law	law	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	enforcement	enforcement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	officers	officer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
9	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	_
15	obey	obey	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Law enforcement |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *not said to happen* | present | the police and other officers |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **obey** *not said to happen* | infinitive | the police and other officers *not said here* | the law |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent law=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enforcement:x1:1
# text = Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene.
1	Law	law	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	enforcement	enforcement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	officers	officer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	arrived	arrive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	scene	scene	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **arrive** | past | Law enforcement officers |  |  | the scene |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Speed cameras help with the enforcement of speed limits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enforcement:x2:1
# text = Speed cameras help with the enforcement of speed limits.
1	Speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	cameras	camera	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	enforcement	enforcement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	limits	limit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Speed cameras |  |  |  |  | with the enforcement of speed limits | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with enforcement=Theme |
| 2 | **enforce** |  |  | speed limits |  |  |  |  | nom enforcement «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new rule needs proper enforcement, or nobody will follow it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enforcement:x3:1
# text = The new rule needs proper enforcement, or nobody will follow it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	proper	proper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	enforcement	enforcement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	11	nsubj	_	_
10	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	parataxis	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | the new rule | proper enforcement |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot enforcement=Theme |
| 2 | **follow** | future | nobody | enforcement |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Enforcement of the school phone ban is the teachers' job.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enforcement:x4:1
# text = Enforcement of the school phone ban is the teachers' job.
1	Enforcement	enforcement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
5	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	ban	ban	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	'	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Enforcement of the school phone ban | the teachers's job |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **enforce** |  |  | the school phone ban |  |  |  |  | nom enforcement «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council is strict about the enforcement of parking rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enforcement:x5:1
# text = The council is strict about the enforcement of parking rules.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	strict	strict	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	enforcement	enforcement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	parking	parking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the council |  |  |  |  | about the enforcement of parking rules; strict *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **enforce** |  |  | parking rules |  |  |  |  | nom enforcement «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without enforcement, a law is just words on paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:enforcement:x6:1
# text = Without enforcement, a law is just words on paper.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	enforcement	enforcement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	paper	paper	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 law without enforcement | words |  | paper |  |  | 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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