---
title: govern — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «govern» in the school dictionary: To govern is to rule a country, state or group officially. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# govern

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, rules, you, your, prime minister, Gravity · **What happens:** govern, be, decide, happen, control, temper · **To what, where:** something, game, feelings, temper, country, town · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«govern» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [govern in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/govern.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To govern is to rule a country, state or group officially.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:m1:1
# text = To govern is to rule a country, state or group officially.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	govern	govern	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	rule	rule	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	officially	officially	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **govern** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | officially, rule *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 -->
To govern something is to control or decide how it happens: rules govern the game.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:m2:1
# text = To govern something is to control or decide how it happens: rules govern the game.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	govern	govern	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	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	control	control	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	decide	decide	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	govern	govern	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **govern** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | control *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **decide** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **happen** | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **govern** | present | rules | the game |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent game=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To control your feelings: govern your temper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:m3:1
# text = To control your feelings: govern your temper.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	control	control	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	govern	govern	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	temper	temper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **control** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your feelings |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feeling=Theme |
| 2 | **govern** | imperative | you *not said here* | your temper |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent temper=Theme |
| 3 | **temper** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom temper «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The prime minister and parliament govern the country.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:x1:1
# text = The prime minister and parliament govern the country.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	prime	prime	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	parliament	parliament	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	govern	govern	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **govern** | present | the prime minister and parliament | the country |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent country=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rules govern how the game is played.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:x2:1
# text = Rules govern how the game is played.
1	Rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	govern	govern	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	game	game	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	played	play	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **govern** | present | Rules |  |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **play** | present · passive |  | the game |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Gravity governs how planets move.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:x3:1
# text = Gravity governs how planets move.
1	Gravity	gravity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	governs	govern	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	planets	planet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	move	move	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **govern** | present | Gravity |  |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **move** | present | planets |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try to govern your temper.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:x4:1
# text = Try to govern your temper.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	govern	govern	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	temper	temper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **govern** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | your temper |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent temper=Theme |
| 3 | **temper** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom temper «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The queen governed for many years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:x5:1
# text = The queen governed for many years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	governed	govern	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **govern** | past | the queen |  |  |  | year |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A council governs our town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:x6:1
# text = A council governs our town.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	governs	govern	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **govern** | present | a council | our town |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent town=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Frogs were tired of governing themselves.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:govern:x7:1
# text = The Frogs were tired of governing themselves.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Frogs	frog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	governing	govern	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	themselves	themselves	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the Frogs |  |  |  |  | tired *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **govern** | gerund | the Frogs *not said here* | Frogs *= frog* |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent themselves=Theme |

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**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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