---
title: inquiry — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «inquiry» in the school dictionary: An inquiry is a question you ask to get information. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# inquiry

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** inquiry, you, question, science inquiry, I, government · **What happens:** be, ask, get, find out, learn, test · **To what, where:** question, information, official investigation, truth, questions, inquiry · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«inquiry» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [inquiry in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/inquiry.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An inquiry is a question you ask to get information.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:m1:1
# text = An inquiry is a question you ask to get information.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	inquiry	inquiry	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	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	ask	ask	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a inquiry | a question |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | you | a question *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent question=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **get** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a question *not said here* | information |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer information=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 -->
An inquiry is an official investigation to find out the truth about something, such as an accident.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:m2:1
# text = An inquiry is an official investigation to find out the truth about something, such as an accident.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	investigation	investigation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	out	out	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	18	case	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	accident	accident	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a inquiry | a official investigation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **find out** | to-infinitive |  | the truth |  |  |  | about something | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent truth=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In school science, inquiry is learning by asking questions and testing them.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:m3:1
# text = In school science, inquiry is learning by asking questions and testing them.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	testing	test	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
13	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present · progressive | science inquiry |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | science inquiry *not said here* | questions |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent question=Recipient |
| 3 | **test** | gerund | science inquiry *not said here* | questions *= question* |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I made an inquiry about the price of the tickets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:x1:1
# text = I made an inquiry about the price of the tickets.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	price	price	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tickets	ticket	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | I | a inquiry |  |  |  | about the price of the tickets | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent inquiry=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The government held an inquiry into the train crash.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:x2:1
# text = The government held an inquiry into the train crash.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	crash	crash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the government | a inquiry |  | the train crash |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent inquiry=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our science inquiry asked: «Which ball bounces highest?»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:x3:1
# text = Our science inquiry asked: «Which ball bounces highest?»
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	8	det	_	_
8	ball	ball	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	bounces	bounce	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
10	highest	high	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Our science inquiry |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **bounce** *in a quote* | present | which ball | highest |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location high=Theme |
| 3 | **inquire** |  | Our |  |  |  |  |  | nom inquiry «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Police are making inquiries about the stolen bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:x4:1
# text = Police are making inquiries about the stolen bike.
1	Police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	0	root	_	_
4	inquiries	inquiry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	stolen	steal	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present · progressive | Police | inquiries |  |  |  | about the stolen bike | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset inquiry=Product |
| 2 | **steal** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ask at the inquiry desk for help.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:x5:1
# text = Ask at the inquiry desk for help.
1	Ask	ask	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	desk	desk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | the inquiry desk |  | for help | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thank you for your inquiry; we will answer soon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:x6:1
# text = Thank you for your inquiry; we will answer soon.
1	Thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	conj	_	_
10	soon	soon	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **thank** *speech: thank* | present |  |  | you |  |  | for your inquiry | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent you=Theme for inquiry=Attribute |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | future | we |  |  |  |  | soon *property* | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **inquire** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom inquiry «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The inquiry found that the bridge was unsafe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:x7:1
# text = The inquiry found that the bridge was unsafe.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bridge	bridge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	unsafe	unsafe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | the inquiry |  |  |  |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the bridge |  |  |  |  | unsafe *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As regards the serious incidents further inquiry is needed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:inquiry:x8:1
# text = As regards the serious incidents further inquiry is needed.
1	As	as	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	regards	regard	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	incidents	incident	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	further	further	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	inquiry	inquiry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	needed	need	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **regard** | present |  | the serious incidents |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent incident=Theme |
| 2 | **need** | present · passive | the serious incidents *not said here* | further inquiry |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: subject=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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