---
title: federal — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «federal» in the school dictionary: A federal country is made of several states or provinces that run some things themselves but share one national government; the USA, Canada, Australia and Germany are federal. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# federal

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** provinces, USA, Federal, Australia, Canada, Stealing · **What happens:** make, run, share, be, mean, belong · **To what, where:** federal country, things, one national government, federal case, case, big fuss · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A federal country is made of several states or provinces that run some things themselves but share one national government; the USA, Canada, Australia and Germany are federal.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:m1:1
# text = A federal country is made of several states or provinces that run some things themselves but share one national government; the USA, Canada, Australia and Germany are federal.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	states	state	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	provinces	province	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	run	run	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	det	_	_
14	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
15	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	12	obj	_	_
16	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	share	share	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
18	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	20	nummod	_	_
19	national	national	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	31	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
25	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
27	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	_
28	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	Germany	Germany	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	_
30	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	31	cop	_	_
31	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · passive |  | a federal country |  |  |  | of several states or provinces | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |
| 2 | **run** | present | provinces | some things |  |  |  |  | vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP.beneficiary NP»: agent=Agent thing=Beneficiary themselves=Product |
| 3 | **share** | present | provinces *not said here* | one national government |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | present | the USA and Canada and Australia and Germany |  |  |  |  | federal *property* | 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 -->
Federal means belonging to that national government, as in federal laws, federal taxes or the federal police (the FBI in the USA).

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:m2:1
# text = Federal means belonging to that national government, as in federal laws, federal taxes or the federal police (the FBI in the USA).
1	Federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	7	det	_	_
6	national	national	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	taxes	tax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	police	police	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
20	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	FBI	FBI	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	appos	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Federal |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **belong** *not said to happen* | gerund | Federal *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to that national government; as federal laws and federal taxes or the federal police | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Make a federal case out of it» means make a big fuss about something small.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:m3:1
# text = «Make a federal case out of it» means make a big fuss about something small.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	fuss	fuss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
15	about	about	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	14	nmod	_	_
17	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a federal case |  | case |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset case=Product |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | infinitive |  | a big fuss |  |  |  | about something | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset fuss=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The USA has a federal government and fifty state governments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:x1:1
# text = The USA has a federal government and fifty state governments.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	fifty	fifty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
9	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	governments	government	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the USA | a federal government and fifty state governments |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent government=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Australia holds a federal election every few years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:x2:1
# text = Australia holds a federal election every few years.
1	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	holds	hold	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	election	election	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
7	few	few	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | Australia | a federal election |  |  | year |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent election=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Canada is a federal country with ten provinces.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:x3:1
# text = Canada is a federal country with ten provinces.
1	Canada	Canada	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	provinces	province	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Canada | a federal country |  |  |  | with ten provinces | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stealing mail is a federal crime in the USA.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:x4:1
# text = Stealing mail is a federal crime in the USA.
1	Stealing	steal	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	mail	mail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
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	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	USA	USA	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **steal** | gerund |  | mail |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location mail=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Stealing | a federal crime |  | the USA |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A federal holiday means government offices are closed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:x5:1
# text = A federal holiday means government offices are closed.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	offices	office	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | a federal holiday |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **close** | present · passive |  | government offices |  |  |  |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The federal capital of Australia is Canberra.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:x6:1
# text = The federal capital of Australia is Canberra.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	Canberra	Canberra	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The FBI is the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:x7:1
# text = The FBI is the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	FBI	FBI	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	Bureau	Bureau	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Investigation	Investigation	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(US, informal) It was just a spilled drink, don't make a federal case out of it.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:federal:x8:1
# text = (US, informal) It was just a spilled drink, don't make a federal case out of it.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
8	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	spilled	spill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	drink	drink	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	federal	federal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
19	out	out	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spill** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | US | a spilled drink |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **make** | infinitive · do-support | US *not said here* | a federal case |  | case |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset case=Product |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [fed](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fed/)
- next →: [federated](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/federated/)
- ↑ back to [F in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/)