---
title: indefinite — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «indefinite» in the school dictionary: Not clear or exact: an indefinite answer. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# indefinite

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** plans, Her, He, We, cat, Nyx · **What happens:** fix, close, be, plan, go, stay · **To what, where:** pool, indefinite articles, cat, match, indefinite period · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not clear or exact: an indefinite answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:m1:1
# text = Not clear or exact: an indefinite answer.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	exact	exact	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	indefinite	indefinite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without a fixed end or limit: an indefinite stay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:m2:1
# text = Without a fixed end or limit: an indefinite stay.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	limit	limit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	indefinite	indefinite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	stay	stay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fix** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«indefinite article» = «a» or «an».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:m3:1
# text = «indefinite article» = «a» or «an».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	indefinite	indefinite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	article	article	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	7	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The pool is closed for an indefinite time.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:x1:1
# text = The pool is closed for an indefinite time.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pool	pool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	indefinite	indefinite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	time	time	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 | **close** | present · passive |  | the pool |  |  | time |  | vn crane-40.3.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A» and «an» are indefinite articles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:x2:1
# text = «A» and «an» are indefinite articles.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	indefinite	indefinite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	articles	article	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a indefinite articles |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her plans were indefinite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:x3:1
# text = Her plans were indefinite.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	plans	plan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	indefinite	indefinite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her plans |  |  |  |  | indefinite *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **plan** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom plan «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He went to stay with his aunt for an indefinite period.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:x4:1
# text = He went to stay with his aunt for an indefinite period.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	aunt	aunt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	indefinite	indefinite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	period	period	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stay** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with his aunt for a indefinite period | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme with aunt=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We say «a cat» because the cat is indefinite — any cat.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:x5:1
# text = We say «a cat» because the cat is indefinite — any cat.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	indefinite	indefinite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
12	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	det	_	_
14	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | We | a cat |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent cat=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | the cat |  |  |  |  | indefinite *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The match was put off indefinitely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:x6:1
# text = The match was put off indefinitely.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	off	off	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	indefinitely	indefinitely	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put off** | past · passive |  | the match |  |  |  | indefinitely *property* | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: subject=Goal |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Nyx again, on her side was also doubly united, having been married at some indefinite period to Erebus.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indefinite:x7:1
# text = Nyx again, on her side was also doubly united, having been married at some indefinite period to Erebus.
1	Nyx	Nyx	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
2	again	again	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	also	also	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	doubly	doubly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	10	advmod	_	_
10	united	united	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	having	have	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	14	aux	_	_
13	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	married	marry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	conj	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	18	det	_	_
17	indefinite	indefinite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	period	period	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Erebus	Erebus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Nyx on Nyx's side |  |  |  |  | doubly, united *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **marry** | gerund · perfect · passive | Nyx on Nyx's side *not said here* |  |  | some indefinite period to Erebus |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-3-1-1 «NP V» |

<!-- 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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