---
title: essay — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «essay» in the school dictionary: An essay is a short piece of writing on one subject, written by a pupil or a writer. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# essay

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** essay, his, you, history essay, My, She · **What happens:** be, write, try, essay, have, get · **To what, where:** short piece, one subject, attempt, painting, essay, three paragraphs

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An essay is a short piece of writing on one subject, written by a pupil or a writer.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:essay:m1:1
# text = An essay is a short piece of writing on one subject, written by a pupil or a writer.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	essay	essay	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	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	parataxis	_	_
14	by	by	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a essay | a short piece |  | one subject |  | of writing | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by a pupil or a writer | vn scribble-25.2-1 «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: formal, rare — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An essay is an attempt or try: «his first essay into painting».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:essay:m2:1
# text = An essay is an attempt or try: «his first essay into painting».
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	attempt	attempt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
13	into	into	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	painting	painting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a essay | a attempt |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | infinitive | a essay *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **essay** *in a quote* |  | his *= he* |  |  | painting |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent into=place |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write an essay about your summer holiday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:essay:x1:1
# text = Write an essay about your summer holiday.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a essay |  |  |  | about your summer holiday | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent essay=Recipient about holiday=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My history essay is due on Friday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:essay:x2:1
# text = My history essay is due on Friday.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	due	due	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | My history essay |  |  |  | friday | due *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **essay** |  | My |  |  |  |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The essay has three paragraphs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:essay:x3:1
# text = The essay has three paragraphs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	paragraphs	paragraph	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the essay | three paragraphs |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent paragraph=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each essay must be at least 300 words; you have 180 — how many more?

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:essay:x4:1
# text = Each essay must be at least 300 words; you have 180 — how many more?
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	nmod	_	_
7	300	300	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	180	180	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	obj	_	_
13	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
14	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
15	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | must |  | 300 words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | each essay | 180 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She got top marks for her essay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:essay:x5:1
# text = She got top marks for her essay.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	marks	mark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	essay	essay	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 | **get** | past | She | top marks |  |  |  | for her essay | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent mark=Theme for essay=Source |
| 2 | **essay** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The exam has one essay question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:essay:x6:1
# text = The exam has one essay question.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	exam	exam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the exam | one essay question |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent question=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Having made their essay they grew careless.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:essay:x7:1
# text = Having made their essay they grew careless.
1	Having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	aux	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	careless	careless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund · perfect |  | their essay |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset essay=Product |
| 2 | **grow** | past | they | their essay *not said here* |  |  |  | careless *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location essay=Theme |
| 3 | **essay** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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