---
title: grassroots — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «grassroots» in the school dictionary: The grassroots are the ordinary people in a group, club or movement, not the leaders. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# grassroots

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** grassroots, campaign, Many famous players, recycling scheme, Our, Grassroots sport · **What happens:** be, describe, start, need, save, listen · **To what, where:** ordinary people, group, something, volunteers, library, grassroots effort

<!-- .vabout -->
«grassroots» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [grassroots in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/grassroots.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The grassroots are the ordinary people in a group, club or movement, not the leaders.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grassroots:m1:1
# text = The grassroots are the ordinary people in a group, club or movement, not the leaders.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	grassroots	grassroot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	ordinary	ordinary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	club	club	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the grassroots | the ordinary people and the leaders |  | a group and club or movement |  |  | 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 -->
Grassroots describes something that starts with ordinary people locally, not with people in power, as in grassroots football or a grassroots campaign.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grassroots:m2:1
# text = Grassroots describes something that starts with ordinary people locally, not with people in power, as in grassroots football or a grassroots campaign.
1	Grassroots	grassroot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	ordinary	ordinary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
9	locally	locally	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
17	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	grassroots	grassroot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	compound	_	_
20	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	grassroots	grassroots	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	compound	_	_
24	campaign	campaign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Grassroots | something |  |  |  | with people in power | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with ordinary people; locally *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with people=Subeventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grassroots football clubs need volunteers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grassroots:x1:1
# text = Grassroots football clubs need volunteers.
1	Grassroots	grassroot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	clubs	club	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	volunteers	volunteer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | Grassroots and football clubs | volunteers |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot volunteer=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The campaign to save the library was a grassroots effort.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grassroots:x2:1
# text = The campaign to save the library was a grassroots effort.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	campaign	campaign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	grassroots	grassroots	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	effort	effort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **save** | to-infinitive | the campaign *not said here* | the library |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent library=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | the campaign | a grassroots effort |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many famous players started at grassroots level.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grassroots:x3:1
# text = Many famous players started at grassroots level.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	started	start	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	grassroots	grassroots	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	level	level	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | past | Many famous players |  |  | grassroots level |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The party leader listened to the grassroots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grassroots:x4:1
# text = The party leader listened to the grassroots.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	listened	listen	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	grassroots	grassroot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **listen** | participle |  | the party leader *not said here* |  |  |  | to the grassroots | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to grassroot=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our recycling scheme began as a grassroots idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grassroots:x5:1
# text = Our recycling scheme began as a grassroots idea.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	recycling	recycling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	scheme	scheme	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	grassroots	grassroots	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | Our recycling scheme |  |  |  |  | as a grassroots idea | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **scheme** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom scheme «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grassroots sport keeps children active.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:grassroots:x6:1
# text = Grassroots sport keeps children active.
1	Grassroots	grassroot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	compound	_	_
2	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	active	active	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Grassroots sport | children |  |  |  | active *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent child=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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