---
title: generalisation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «generalisation» in the school dictionary: A generalisation is a statement about all or most things of a kind, based on some examples. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# generalisation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** generalisation, sweeping generalisation, boys, rule, It, cats · **What happens:** be, base, hate, read, work, say · **To what, where:** statement, examples, one, rule, numbers, generalisation · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«generalisation» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 5 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: [generalisation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/generalisation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A generalisation is a statement about all or most things of a kind, based on some examples.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:generalisation:m1:1
# text = A generalisation is a statement about all or most things of a kind, based on some examples.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	generalisation	generalisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	based	base	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	18	det	_	_
18	examples	example	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a generalisation | a statement or most things of a kind |  |  |  | about all | tree rules |
| 2 | **base** | participle |  | a statement or most things of a kind *not said here* |  | some examples |  |  | vn base-97.1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent on example=Source |

<!-- .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 -->
A sweeping generalisation is one that is too broad and unfair, like «all boys hate reading».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:generalisation:m2:1
# text = A sweeping generalisation is one that is too broad and unfair, like «all boys hate reading».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sweeping	sweeping	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	generalisation	generalisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	broad	broad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	16	det	_	_
16	boys	boy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
17	hate	hate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
18	reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sweeping generalisation | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | broad *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **hate** *in a quote* | present | all boys |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 5 | **read** *not said to happen, in a quote* | gerund | all boys *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A generalisation is a rule that works for all cases, like «the sum of two even numbers is always even».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:generalisation:m3:1
# text = A generalisation is a rule that works for all cases, like «the sum of two even numbers is always even».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	generalisation	generalisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	det	_	_
10	cases	case	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	acl:relcl	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nmod	_	_
18	even	even	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
20	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	cop	_	_
21	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	22	advmod	_	_
22	even	even	ADV	RB	_	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a generalisation | a rule |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | present | a rule | numbers |  |  |  | for all cases | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent for case=Beneficiary |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | always, even *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is a generalisation to say that all cats hate water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:generalisation:x1:1
# text = It is a generalisation to say that all cats hate water.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	generalisation	generalisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
9	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	hate	hate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a generalisation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **hate** | present | all cats | water |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer water=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
From the pattern we made a generalisation: odd plus odd is even.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:generalisation:x2:1
# text = From the pattern we made a generalisation: odd plus odd is even.
1	From	from	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	pattern	pattern	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	generalisation	generalisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	odd	odd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	advcl	_	_
10	plus	plus	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	odd	odd	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	even	even	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | we | a generalisation |  | the pattern |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent generalisation=Product from pattern=Material |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | even *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful with generalisations about people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:generalisation:x3:1
# text = Be careful with generalisations about people.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	generalisations	generalisation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with generalisations about people; careful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists test a generalisation with more experiments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:generalisation:x4:1
# text = Scientists test a generalisation with more experiments.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	test	test	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	generalisation	generalisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
7	experiments	experiment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **test** | present | Scientists | a generalisation |  |  |  | with more experiments | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent generalisation=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Everyone loves pizza» is a generalisation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:generalisation:x5:1
# text = «Everyone loves pizza» is a generalisation.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	3	nsubj	_	_
3	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	compound	_	_
4	pizza	pizza	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	generalisation	generalisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** *in a quote* | present | Everyone | pizza |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer pizza=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a loves generalisation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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 -->

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