---
title: expectation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «expectation» in the school dictionary: An expectation is a belief that something will happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# expectation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** expectation, something, Expectations, people, you, team · **What happens:** be, happen, hope, require, do, expect · **To what, where:** belief, someone, average result, many tries, high expectations, coin

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An expectation is a belief that something will happen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:m1:1
# text = An expectation is a belief that something will happen.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	expectation	expectation	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	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
8	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a expectation | a belief |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | future | something | a belief *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Expectations are what people hope or require someone to do or be: «high expectations».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:m2:1
# text = Expectations are what people hope or require someone to do or be: «high expectations».
1	Expectations	expectation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	hope	hope	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	require	require	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	be	be	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	expectations	expectation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Expectations |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hope** | present | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 3 | **require** | present | people *not said here* | someone |  |  |  |  | vn order-58.3-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **do** | to-infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **be** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Expectation is the average result you expect over many tries, as in probability.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:m3:1
# text = Expectation is the average result you expect over many tries, as in probability.
1	Expectation	expectation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	average	average	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	expect	expect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	over	over	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	tries	try	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	probability	probability	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Expectation | the average result |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **expect** | present | you | the average result *not said here* |  | many tries and probability |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent result=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team did better than expectations.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:x1:1
# text = The team did better than expectations.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	better	well	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	3	advmod	_	_
5	than	than	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	expectations	expectation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | the team |  |  |  |  | than expectations; well *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film didn't live up to my expectations.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:x2:1
# text = The film didn't live up to my expectations.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	expectations	expectation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **live up** | past · do-support | the film |  |  |  |  | to my expectations | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **expect** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom expectation «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher has high expectations.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:x3:1
# text = Our teacher has high expectations.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	expectations	expectation	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 | Our teacher | high expectations |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent expectation=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Against all expectations, the little horse won.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:x4:1
# text = Against all expectations, the little horse won.
1	Against	against	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	expectations	expectation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	won	win	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | past | the little horse |  |  |  |  | against all expectations | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you flip a coin 100 times, the expectation is 50 heads.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:x5:1
# text = If you flip a coin 100 times, the expectation is 50 heads.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	flip	flip	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	coin	coin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	100	100	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	expectation	expectation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **flip** | present | you | a coin |  |  | time |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent coin=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the expectation | 50 heads |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is an expectation that everyone helps tidy up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:x6:1
# text = There is an expectation that everyone helps tidy up.
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	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	expectation	expectation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	7	nsubj	_	_
7	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a expectation |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | present | everyone | a expectation *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent expectation=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 3 | **tidy up** | infinitive | a expectation *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
While they were assembled in anxious expectation of some terrible calamity, out came a Mouse.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:expectation:x7:1
# text = While they were assembled in anxious expectation of some terrible calamity, out came a Mouse.
1	While	while	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	assembled	assemble	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	advcl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	anxious	anxious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	expectation	expectation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	11	det	_	_
10	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	calamity	calamity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
13	out	out	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **assemble** | past · passive |  | they |  | anxious expectation of some terrible calamity |  |  | vn herd-47.5.2 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | past | a Mouse |  |  |  |  | out *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **expect** |  |  | some terrible calamity |  |  |  |  | nom expectation «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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