---
title: famine — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «famine» in the school dictionary: A time when a large number of people in a place do not have enough food, often for months, and many may become ill or die. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# famine

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** large number, many, potato famine, Drought, Charities, People · **What happens:** not have, become, die, force, leave, lead · **To what, where:** enough food, many people, region, food, grass, famine

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A time when a large number of people in a place do not have enough food, often for months, and many may become ill or die.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:famine:m1:1
# text = A time when a large number of people in a place do not have enough food, often for months, and many may become ill or die.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	14	mark	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
15	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	often	often	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
19	for	for	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	months	month	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
23	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	nsubj	_	_
24	may	may	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	25	aux	_	_
25	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
26	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	xcomp	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	28	cc	_	_
28	die	die	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	25	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** | present · do-support | a large number of people in a place | enough food |  |  | month |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |
| 2 | **become** | may | many |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **die** | infinitive | many *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The potato famine in Ireland forced many people to leave.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:famine:x1:1
# text = The potato famine in Ireland forced many people to leave.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	potato	potato	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	famine	famine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	forced	force	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **force** | past | the potato famine in Ireland |  | many people |  |  |  | vn urge-58.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Recipient |
| 2 | **leave** | to-infinitive | the potato famine in Ireland *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Drought led to famine in the region.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:famine:x2:1
# text = Drought led to famine in the region.
1	Drought	drought	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	famine	famine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	region	region	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 | **lead** | past | Drought |  |  | the region |  | to famine | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to famine=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Charities sent food during the famine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:famine:x3:1
# text = Charities sent food during the famine.
1	Charities	charity	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	during	during	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	famine	famine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | Charities | food |  |  | during the famine |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People ate grass in the worst days of the famine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:famine:x4:1
# text = People ate grass in the worst days of the famine.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	worst	bad	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	famine	famine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past | People | grass |  |  | day |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent grass=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
War can cause famine when farmers cannot plant crops.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:famine:x5:1
# text = War can cause famine when farmers cannot plant crops.
1	War	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	famine	famine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
6	farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	plant	plant	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
10	crops	crop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | War | famine |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition famine=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **plant** | can | farmers | crops |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent crop=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story is about a family that survived a famine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:famine:x6:1
# text = The story is about a family that survived a famine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	survived	survive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	famine	famine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the story |  |  |  |  | about a family | tree rules |
| 2 | **survive** | past | a family | a famine |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme famine=Circumstance |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:famine:x7:1
# text = A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Grasshopper	grasshopper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	perishing	perish	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	famine	famine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	passed	pass	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	earnestly	earnestly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	begged	beg	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **perish** | gerund | a Grasshopper *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with famine | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **pass by** | participle |  | a Grasshopper *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **beg** *speech: request* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | for a little food; earnestly *property* | vn beg-58.2-1-1 «NP V PP.Topic»: agent=Agent for food=Topic |

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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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