---
title: explanation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «explanation» in the school dictionary: An explanation is what you say or write to make something clear and easy to understand: an explanation of how plants grow. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# explanation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** explanation, you, something, plants, teacher, fractions · **What happens:** be, say, write, make, understand, grow · **To what, where:** something, reason, clear explanation, explanation, me, working · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«explanation» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [explanation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/explanation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An explanation is what you say or write to make something clear and easy to understand: an explanation of how plants grow.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:m1:1
# text = An explanation is what you say or write to make something clear and easy to understand: an explanation of how plants grow.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	write	write	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
18	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	parataxis	_	_
20	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
21	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	23	advmod	_	_
22	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	nsubj	_	_
23	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a explanation |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **write** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 5 | **understand** | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 6 | **grow** | present | plants |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
An explanation is a reason given for something that happened: is there an explanation for why you are late?

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:m2:1
# text = An explanation is a reason given for something that happened: is there an explanation for why you are late?
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	explanation	explanation	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	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
12	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
13	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	12	expl	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
16	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
17	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	20	advmod	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
19	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a explanation | a reason |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | a reason *not said here* |  |  |  | for something | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent for something=Asset |
| 3 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **be** | present | a explanation |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher gave a clear explanation of fractions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:x1:1
# text = The teacher gave a clear explanation of fractions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	fractions	fraction	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 | **give** | past | the teacher | a clear explanation of fractions |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent explanation=Theme |
| 2 | **explain** |  | fractions |  |  |  |  |  | nom explanation «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you give me an explanation for being late?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:x2:1
# text = Can you give me an explanation for being late?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
9	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | can | you | a explanation | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient explanation=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | a explanation *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write an explanation of how the water cycle works.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:x3:1
# text = Write an explanation of how the water cycle works.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	cycle	cycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	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 explanation |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent explanation=Theme |
| 2 | **work** | present | the water cycle |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There must be a simple explanation for the strange noise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:x4:1
# text = There must be a simple explanation for the strange noise.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	be	be	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | must | a simple explanation for the strange noise |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths, show your working and an explanation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:x5:1
# text = In maths, show your working and an explanation.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	working	working	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | imperative | you *not said here* | your working and a explanation |  |  |  | in maths | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.theme»: agent=Agent working=Patient in math=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He left without any explanation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:x6:1
# text = He left without any explanation.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	5	det	_	_
5	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | past | He |  |  |  |  | without any explanation | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists look for an explanation that fits the evidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:x7:1
# text = Scientists look for an explanation that fits the evidence.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fits	fit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | Scientists |  |  |  |  | for a explanation | vn rummage-35.5 «NP V PP.location PP.theme»: agent=Agent for explanation=Theme |
| 2 | **fit** | present | a explanation | the evidence |  |  |  |  | vn adjust-26.9 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent evidence=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Princess," exclaimed the nurse, "we cannot tell what you allude to without more explanation."

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:explanation:x8:1
# text = "Princess," exclaimed the nurse, "we cannot tell what you allude to without more explanation."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Princess	princess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	_
5	exclaimed	exclaim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	nurse	nurse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	_
14	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	16	obj	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	allude	allude	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	ccomp	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	xcomp	_	_
18	without	without	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	20	amod	_	_
20	explanation	explanation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **exclaim** *speech: express* | past | the nurse | Princess |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | can | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **allude** *in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  | without more explanation | 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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