---
title: focus — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «focus» in the school dictionary: To focus means to give all your attention to one thing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# focus

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** your, focus, people, you, rays, photo · **What happens:** focus, mean, give, attend, be, pay · **To what, where:** attention, one thing, main thing, camera, lens, focus · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«focus» in the school dictionary: its 5 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: [focus in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/focus.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To focus means to give all your attention to one thing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:m1:1
# text = To focus means to give all your attention to one thing.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	focus	focus	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **focus** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **give** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | your attention | one thing |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent attention=Theme to thing=Recipient |
| 4 | **attend** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom attention «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .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 -->
The focus is the main thing people are paying attention to.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:m2:1
# text = The focus is the main thing people are paying attention to.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	focus	focus	NOUN	NN	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	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	paying	pay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the focus | the main thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay** | present · progressive | people | attention |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent attention=Asset |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To focus a camera, eyes or a lens means to adjust it so you see clearly and sharply.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:m3:1
# text = To focus a camera, eyes or a lens means to adjust it so you see clearly and sharply.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	focus	focus	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	camera	camera	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lens	lens	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
10	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	adjust	adjust	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	advcl	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
16	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	_
17	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	sharply	sharply	ADV	RB	_	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **focus** | to-infinitive |  | a camera and eyes or a lens |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **adjust** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | lens |  |  |  |  | vn adjust-26.9 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **see** | present | you |  |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In focus means clear and sharp; out of focus means blurry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:m4:1
# text = In focus means clear and sharp; out of focus means blurry.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	focus	focus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	focus	focus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
11	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
12	blurry	blurry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | in focus; clear *property* | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in focus=Attribute |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | focus |  | blurry *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science, the focus is the point where rays of light meet after passing through a lens.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:m5:1
# text = In science, the focus is the point where rays of light meet after passing through a lens.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	focus	focus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	13	advmod	_	_
10	rays	ray	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
13	meet	meet	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
14	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	passing	pass	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	13	advcl	_	_
16	through	through	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	lens	lens	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the focus | the point |  | science |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **meet** | present | rays of light |  |  |  |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **pass** | gerund | rays of light *not said here* |  |  | a lens |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme through lens=Location |
| 4 | **ray** |  |  | light |  |  |  |  | nom ray «phenomenon transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Focus on the question before you answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:x1:1
# text = Focus on the question before you answer.
1	Focus	focus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	answer	answer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | present | you | the question *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn off the TV so you can focus on your homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:x2:1
# text = Turn off the TV so you can focus on your homework.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	off	off	ADP	RP	_	1	compound:prt	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	focus	focus	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn off** | imperative | you *not said here* | the TV |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tv=Patient |
| 2 | **focus** | can | you |  |  |  |  | on your homework | vn focus-87.1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent on homework=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The photo is out of focus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:x3:1
# text = The photo is out of focus.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	out	out	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	focus	focus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn the knob to focus the microscope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:x4:1
# text = Turn the knob to focus the microscope.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	knob	knob	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	focus	focus	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | imperative | you *not said here* | the knob |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent knob=Theme |
| 2 | **focus** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the microscope |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The focus of today's lesson is fractions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:x5:1
# text = The focus of today's lesson is fractions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	focus	focus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	lesson	lesson	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	fractions	fraction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the focus of today's lesson | fractions |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **focus** |  |  | today's lesson |  |  |  |  | nom focus «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A magnifying glass can focus sunlight and burn paper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:x6:1
# text = A magnifying glass can focus sunlight and burn paper.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	magnifying	magnify	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	focus	focus	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	burn	burn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
9	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **magnify** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **focus** | can | a magnifying glass | sunlight |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **burn** | present | a magnifying glass *not said here* | paper |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent paper=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She stayed focused for the whole test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:x7:1
# text = She stayed focused for the whole test.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stayed	stay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	focused	focus	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **focus** | participle | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the whole test | vn focus-87.1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My eyes took a moment to focus in the dark.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:focus:x8:1
# text = My eyes took a moment to focus in the dark.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	moment	moment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	focus	focus	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	dark	dark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | My eyes |  |  |  | moment |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **focus** | to-infinitive | My eyes *not said here* |  |  | the dark |  |  | vn focus-87.1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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