---
title: formality — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «formality» in the school dictionary: Something that must be done because of rules or custom, often a small step that does not change the result: «just a formality». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formality/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/) / formality

# formality

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** small step, official step, Signing, you, formality, we · **What happens:** do, not change, form, sign, be, make · **To what, where:** result, border, form, formality, team, little boy · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«formality» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [formality in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/formality.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that must be done because of rules or custom, often a small step that does not change the result: «just a formality».

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formality:m1:1
# text = Something that must be done because of rules or custom, often a small step that does not change the result: «just a formality».
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	obj	_	_
3	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl:relcl	_	_
6	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	_
16	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj	_	_
17	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
18	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	acl:relcl	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
23	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	just	just	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	formality	formality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | must · passive |  |  |  |  |  | because rules or custom | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: that=Eventuality |
| 2 | **not** **change** | present · do-support | a small step | the result |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent result=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Polite, stiff and correct behaviour, as at an important ceremony.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formality:m2:1
# text = Polite, stiff and correct behaviour, as at an important ceremony.
1	Polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	stiff	stiff	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	correct	correct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	ceremony	ceremony	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An official step, such as signing forms at a border.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formality:m3:1
# text = An official step, such as signing forms at a border.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	step	step	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	signing	signing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
8	forms	form	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	border	border	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **form** | present | a official step |  |  | a border |  | such signing | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at border=Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Signing the form is just a formality; you are already in the team.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formality:x1:1
# text = Signing the form is just a formality; you are already in the team.
1	Signing	sign	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	formality	formality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
11	already	already	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sign** | gerund |  | the form |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent form=Destination |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Signing | a formality and the team |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  | the team |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The formality of the wedding made the little boy nervous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formality:x2:1
# text = The formality of the wedding made the little boy nervous.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	formality	formality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	wedding	wedding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	nervous	nervous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the formality of the wedding | the little boy |  |  |  | nervous *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset boy=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the airport we went through the usual formalities.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formality:x3:1
# text = At the airport we went through the usual formalities.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	airport	airport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	through	through	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	usual	usual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	formalities	formality	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | we |  |  | the airport |  | through the usual formalities | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme through formality=Initial\_Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's skip the formalities and start the game.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formality:x4:1
# text = Let's skip the formalities and start the game.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	skip	skip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	formalities	formality	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **skip** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | the formalities |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent formality=Agent |
| 3 | **start** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | the game |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Asking Dad was a formality; he always says yes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formality:x5:1
# text = Asking Dad was a formality; he always says yes.
1	Asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	formality	formality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	9	advmod	_	_
9	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	9	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  |  | Dad |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent dad=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Asking | a formality |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | he | a formality *not said here* |  |  |  | always *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent formality=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The headteacher spoke with great formality at assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:formality:x6:1
# text = The headteacher spoke with great formality at assembly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	headteacher	headteacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	formality	formality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the headteacher |  |  | assembly |  | with great formality | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with formality=Co-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 -->
- ← previous: [formal](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formal/)
- next →: [formally](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/formally/)
- ↑ back to [F in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/)