---
title: memoir — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «memoir» in the school dictionary: A book or story someone writes about their own life and memories. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# memoir

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** book, Grandma, memoir, footballer, We, Reading · **What happens:** write, see, account, grow up, publish, be · **To what, where:** something, memoir, farm, memoirs, short memoir, I · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A book or story someone writes about their own life and memories.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:m1:1
# text = A book or story someone writes about their own life and memories.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	conj	_	_
6	writes	write	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
9	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	memories	memory	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present | a book or story |  |  |  |  | about book's own life and memories | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about life=Topic |

<!-- .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: memoirs, plural — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A book by a famous person about their life and the events they saw.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:m2:1
# text = A book by a famous person about their life and the events they saw.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | a book by a famous person about person's life and the events |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A written account of something, often of someone else's life.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:m3:1
# text = A written account of something, often of someone else's life.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	account	account	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	nmod:poss	_	_
10	else	else	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
12	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	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 | **account** |  |  | something |  |  |  |  | nom account «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma is writing a memoir about growing up on a farm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:x1:1
# text = Grandma is writing a memoir about growing up on a farm.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	writing	write	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	memoir	memoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | present · progressive | Grandma | a memoir |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent memoir=Theme |
| 2 | **grow up** | gerund | a memoir *not said here* |  |  | a farm |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on farm=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The footballer published his memoirs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:x2:1
# text = The footballer published his memoirs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	footballer	footballer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	published	publish	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	memoirs	memoir	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **publish** | past | the footballer | footballer's memoirs |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent memoir=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrote a short memoir about our first day at school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:x3:1
# text = We wrote a short memoir about our first day at school.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	memoir	memoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | We | a short memoir |  |  | about our first day at school |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent memoir=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A memoir is true and uses «I».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:x4:1
# text = A memoir is true and uses «I».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	memoir	memoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | a memoir |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | a memoir *not said here* | I |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her memoir was full of funny stories.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:x5:1
# text = Her memoir was full of funny stories.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	memoir	memoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her memoir |  |  |  |  | of funny stories; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The explorer's memoir describes his journey across the ice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:x6:1
# text = The explorer's memoir describes his journey across the ice.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	explorer	explorer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	memoir	memoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	journey	journey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	across	across	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | the explorer's memoir | memoir's journey |  | the ice |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent journey=Theme |
| 2 | **journey** |  | memoir |  |  |  |  |  | nom journey «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reading a memoir is like hearing someone remember.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:x7:1
# text = Reading a memoir is like hearing someone remember.
1	Reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	memoir	memoir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	hearing	hear	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
8	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | gerund |  | a memoir |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent memoir=Topic |
| 2 | **hear** | present · progressive | Reading |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **remember** | infinitive | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He spoke with a very slow, distinct voice, as if he was dictating his memoirs, and always looked over the shoulder of the person to whom he was talking.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:memoir:x8:1
# text = He spoke with a very slow, distinct voice, as if he was dictating his memoirs, and always looked over the shoulder of the person to whom he was talking.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	distinct	distinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	dictating	dictate	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
16	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	memoirs	memoir	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	21	advmod	_	_
21	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
22	over	over	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	shoulder	shoulder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
25	of	of	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	_
28	to	to	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
29	whom	whom	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	27	nmod	_	_
30	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	32	nsubj	_	_
31	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	32	aux	_	_
32	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	29	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  | with a slow distinct voice | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with voice=Co-Agent |
| 2 | **dictate** *speech: other* | past · progressive | he | his memoirs |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent memoir=Topic |
| 3 | **look** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | over the shoulder of the person to the shoulder of the person to the shoulder; always *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent over shoulder=Theme |
| 4 | **talk** | past · progressive | person |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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