---
title: favour — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «favour» in the school dictionary: A favour is a kind thing you do to help someone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# favour

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** favour, you, party favour, I, score, our · **What happens:** be, do, help, mean, support, agree · **To what, where:** kind thing, someone, small gift, favour, me, this · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«favour» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [favour in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/favour.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A favour is a kind thing you do to help someone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:m1:1
# text = A favour is a kind thing you do to help someone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	favour	favour	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	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a favour | a kind thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | present | you | a kind thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Eventuality |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  | someone |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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 -->
«In favour of» means supporting or agreeing with something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:m2:1
# text = «In favour of» means supporting or agreeing with something.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	supporting	support	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	ccomp	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	agreeing	agree	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	conj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | favour |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **support** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **agree** *speech: agree* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | with something | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V PP.co-agent how S»: agent=Agent with something=Co-Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To favour someone is to treat them better than others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:m3:1
# text = To favour someone is to treat them better than others.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	favour	favour	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	treat	treat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **favour** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | good, treat *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A party favour is a small gift for guests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:m4:1
# text = A party favour is a small gift for guests.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	gift	gift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	guests	guest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a party favour | a small gift |  |  |  | for guests | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you do me a favour and hold this?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:x1:1
# text = Can you do me a favour and hold this?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
9	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | can | you | a favour | me |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **hold** | infinitive | you *not said here* | this |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent this=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thanks, I owe you a favour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:x2:1
# text = Thanks, I owe you a favour.
1	Thanks	thanks	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **owe** | present | I | a favour | you |  |  | Thanks *vocative* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.goal NP»: agent=Agent you=Goal favour=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Who is in favour of a trip to the zoo?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:x3:1
# text = Who is in favour of a trip to the zoo?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  | favour |  | of a trip to the zoo | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The score was 3–1 in our favour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:x4:1
# text = The score was 3–1 in our favour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	score	score	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	–	–	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the score | 3 |  |  |  | – 1 in our favour | tree rules |
| 2 | **favour** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom favour «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum said she would not favour one child over the other.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:x5:1
# text = Mum said she would not favour one child over the other.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	favour	favour	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
7	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	over	over	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **favour** | would | Mum | one child |  | the other |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We gave out party favours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:x6:1
# text = We gave out party favours.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	favours	favour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give out** | past | We | party favours |  |  |  |  | vn contribute-13.2 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent favour=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She returned the favour and helped me too.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:x7:1
# text = She returned the favour and helped me too.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	returned	return	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **return** | past | She | the favour |  |  |  |  | vn send-11.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent favour=Theme |
| 2 | **help** | past | She *not said here* |  | me |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Peter decided in favour of the land.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:favour:x8:1
# text = Peter decided in favour of the land.
1	Peter	Peter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	decided	decide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | past | Peter |  |  | favour of the land |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **favour** |  |  | the land |  |  |  |  | nom favour «feeling 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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