---
title: ethical — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ethical» in the school dictionary: Ethical means morally right, fair and honest. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ethical

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Ethical, Ethical shopping, it, shop, class, We · **What happens:** mean, buy, make, harm, be, keep · **To what, where:** right, things, workers, extra change, you, ethical question

<!-- .vabout -->
«ethical» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [ethical in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ethical.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ethical means morally right, fair and honest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ethical:m1:1
# text = Ethical means morally right, fair and honest.
1	Ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	morally	morally	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	honest	honest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ethical | right |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent right=Topic |

<!-- .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 -->
Ethical means about right and wrong, as in "an ethical question".

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ethical:m2:1
# text = Ethical means about right and wrong, as in "an ethical question".
1	Ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
10	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ethical | right |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ethical shopping means buying things made fairly, without harming workers, animals or nature.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ethical:m3:1
# text = Ethical shopping means buying things made fairly, without harming workers, animals or nature.
1	Ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	shopping	shopping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	buying	buy	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	fairly	fairly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	harming	harm	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
11	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	nature	nature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ethical shopping |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **buy** *not said to happen* | gerund | Ethical shopping *not said here* | things |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 3 | **make** | participle |  | things *not said here* |  |  |  | fairly *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 4 | **harm** | gerund | Ethical shopping *not said here* | workers and animals or nature |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus worker=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is it ethical to keep the extra change the shop gave you?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ethical:x1:1
# text = Is it ethical to keep the extra change the shop gave you?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	change	change	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | it |  |  |  |  | ethical *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive |  | the extra change |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent change=Theme |
| 3 | **give** | past | the shop | the extra change *not said here* | you |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The class debated an ethical question about animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ethical:x2:1
# text = The class debated an ethical question about animals.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	debated	debate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **debate** | participle | the class | a ethical question |  |  |  | about animals | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent question=Co-Agent about animal=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We buy fair-trade bananas because they're more ethical.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ethical:x3:1
# text = We buy fair-trade bananas because they're more ethical.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	buy	buy	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	trade	trade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bananas	banana	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	amod	_	_
11	ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | present | We | trade bananas |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent banana=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | bananas *= banana* |  |  |  |  | ethical *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Copying a friend's homework isn't ethical.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ethical:x4:1
# text = Copying a friend's homework isn't ethical.
1	Copying	copy	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | gerund |  | a friend's homework |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent homework=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **is** | present | Copying |  |  |  |  | ethical *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor faced a hard ethical decision.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ethical:x5:1
# text = The doctor faced a hard ethical decision.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	faced	face	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **face** | past | the doctor | a hard ethical decision |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme decision=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school tries to run an ethical tuck shop.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ethical:x6:1
# text = Our school tries to run an ethical tuck shop.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tries	try	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	run	run	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	ethical	ethical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	tuck	tuck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present | Our school |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **run** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Our school *not said here* | a ethical tuck shop |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme shop=Trajectory |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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