---
title: lenient — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «lenient» in the school dictionary: Not strict; gentle in punishing people or in making them follow rules. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# lenient

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, supply teacher, us, Mum, judge, referee · **What happens:** punish, make, follow, give, expect, be · **To what, where:** people, rules, lighter punishment, us, lenient sentence, first crime · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not strict; gentle in punishing people or in making them follow rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lenient:m1:1
# text = Not strict; gentle in punishing people or in making them follow rules.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	strict	strict	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
5	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	punishing	punish	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **punish** | gerund |  | people |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | gerund |  | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **follow** | infinitive | people *not said here* | rules |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Theme |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Giving a lighter punishment than expected.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lenient:m2:1
# text = Giving a lighter punishment than expected.
1	Giving	give	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	lighter	light	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	4	amod	_	_
4	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	expected	expect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | gerund |  | a lighter punishment |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent punishment=Theme |
| 2 | **expect** | participle |  | a lighter punishment *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our supply teacher was very lenient and let us talk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lenient:x1:1
# text = Our supply teacher was very lenient and let us talk.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	supply	supply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	lenient	lenient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Our supply teacher |  |  |  |  | lenient *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **let** | infinitive | Our supply teacher *not said here* | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **talk** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum is lenient with my little brother.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lenient:x2:1
# text = Mum is lenient with my little brother.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	lenient	lenient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Mum |  |  |  |  | with my little brother; lenient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge gave a lenient sentence because it was his first crime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lenient:x3:1
# text = The judge gave a lenient sentence because it was his first crime.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	lenient	lenient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
11	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	12	amod	_	_
12	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the judge | a lenient sentence |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sentence=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | past | judge | his first crime |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The referee was too lenient and didn't give a yellow card.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lenient:x4:1
# text = The referee was too lenient and didn't give a yellow card.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	referee	referee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	lenient	lenient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	yellow	yellow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	card	card	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the referee |  |  |  |  | lenient *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **give** | past · do-support | the referee *not said here* | a yellow card |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent card=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people think the new rules are too lenient.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lenient:x5:1
# text = Some people think the new rules are too lenient.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	too	too	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	lenient	lenient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | some people |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | the new rules |  |  |  |  | lenient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma is more lenient about bedtime than Dad.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:lenient:x6:1
# text = Grandma is more lenient about bedtime than Dad.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	4	advmod	_	_
4	lenient	lenient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	bedtime	bedtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	than	than	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	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 | **is** | present | Grandma |  |  |  |  | about bedtime; than Dad; lenient *property* | tree rules |

<!-- 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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