---
title: imposition — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «imposition» in the school dictionary: An unfair or unwelcome demand on someone's time, help or kindness. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# imposition

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** act, I, it, Staying, imposition, teacher · **What happens:** make, apply, write, give, hope, not be · **To what, where:** rule, written work, imposition, you, cat, hosts · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An unfair or unwelcome demand on someone's time, help or kindness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imposition:m1:1
# text = An unfair or unwelcome demand on someone's time, help or kindness.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	unwelcome	unwelcome	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	demand	demand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The act of making a rule, tax or punishment apply to people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imposition:m2:1
# text = The act of making a rule, tax or punishment apply to people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	tax	tax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	apply	apply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | gerund | the act *not said here* | a rule |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset rule=Product |
| 2 | **apply** | infinitive | the act |  |  |  |  | to people | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK, old-fashioned school — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An extra piece of written work given as a punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imposition:m3:1
# text = An extra piece of written work given as a punishment.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	punishment	punishment	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 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | written work *not said here* |  |  |  | as a punishment | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I hope it's not an imposition to ask you to feed the cat.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imposition:x1:1
# text = I hope it's not an imposition to ask you to feed the cat.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	hope	hope	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advmod	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	imposition	imposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	iobj	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	feed	feed	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hope** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | it | a imposition |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **ask** *speech: ask* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  | you |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 4 | **feed** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  | the cat |  |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Staying for a whole week would be an imposition on our hosts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imposition:x2:1
# text = Staying for a whole week would be an imposition on our hosts.
1	Staying	stay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	csubj	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	imposition	imposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	on	on	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	hosts	host	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stay** | gerund |  |  |  |  | week |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | would | Staying | a imposition |  | our hosts |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The imposition of a new tax made people angry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imposition:x3:1
# text = The imposition of a new tax made people angry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	imposition	imposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tax	tax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the imposition of a new tax | people |  |  |  | angry *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset people=Product |
| 2 | **impose** |  |  | a new tax |  |  |  |  | nom imposition «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher gave him an imposition of a hundred lines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imposition:x4:1
# text = The teacher gave him an imposition of a hundred lines.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	imposition	imposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the teacher | a imposition of hundred lines | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient imposition=Theme |
| 2 | **impose** |  |  | hundred lines |  |  |  |  | nom imposition «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Helping you is no imposition at all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imposition:x5:1
# text = Helping you is no imposition at all.
1	Helping	help	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	imposition	imposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | gerund |  |  | you |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Helping | no imposition |  | all |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The imposition of a curfew kept everyone indoors.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:imposition:x6:1
# text = The imposition of a curfew kept everyone indoors.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	imposition	imposition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	curfew	curfew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	6	obj	_	_
8	indoors	indoors	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | the imposition of a curfew | everyone |  |  |  | indoors *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent everyone=Theme |
| 2 | **impose** |  |  | a curfew |  |  |  |  | nom imposition «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- 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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