---
title: merciful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «merciful» in the school dictionary: Showing mercy: kind and forgiving to someone you could punish or harm. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# merciful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, Christians, God, people, Muslims, merciful king · **What happens:** show, forgive, punish, harm, believe, be · **To what, where:** mercy, people, God, relief, something, those · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Showing mercy: kind and forgiving to someone you could punish or harm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merciful:m1:1
# text = Showing mercy: kind and forgiving to someone you could punish or harm.
1	Showing	show	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	mercy	mercy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	forgiving	forgive	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	punish	punish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	harm	harm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | gerund |  | mercy |  |  |  | kind *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent mercy=Recipient |
| 2 | **forgive** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | to someone | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **punish** | could | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **harm** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .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: church, Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe God is merciful, forgiving people who are sorry; Muslims call God «the Most Merciful».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merciful:m2:1
# text = Christians believe God is merciful, forgiving people who are sorry; Muslims call God «the Most Merciful».
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	merciful	merciful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	forgiving	forgive	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
13	Muslims	Muslim	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
14	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
15	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	19	amod	_	_
19	Merciful	Merciful	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is** | present | God |  |  |  |  | merciful *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **forgive** | gerund | God *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent people=Theme |
| 4 | **is** | present | people |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **call** *speech: assert* | present | Muslims | God |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bringing relief from something bad: «a merciful release», «mercifully short».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merciful:m3:1
# text = Bringing relief from something bad: «a merciful release», «mercifully short».
1	Bringing	bring	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	relief	relief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	_
5	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	merciful	merciful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	release	release	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	mercifully	mercifully	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | gerund |  | relief |  | something |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent relief=Theme from something=Initial\_Location |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
God is merciful and forgives those who are sorry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merciful:x1:1
# text = God is merciful and forgives those who are sorry.
1	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	merciful	merciful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	forgives	forgive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	5	obj	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | God |  |  |  |  | merciful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **forgive** | present | God *not said here* | those |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The merciful king let the prisoner go free.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merciful:x2:1
# text = The merciful king let the prisoner go free.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	merciful	merciful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	let	let	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	prisoner	prisoner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | past | the merciful king | the prisoner |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | infinitive | the prisoner *not said here* |  |  |  |  | free *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Blessed are the merciful.»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merciful:x3:1
# text = «Blessed are the merciful.»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Blessed	bless	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	merciful	merciful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present |  |  |  |  |  | the merciful *obl*; bless *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The talk was mercifully short.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merciful:x4:1
# text = The talk was mercifully short.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	mercifully	mercifully	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the talk |  |  |  |  | mercifully, short *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be merciful to animals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merciful:x5:1
# text = Be merciful to animals.
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	merciful	merciful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to animals; merciful *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Muslims begin with «In the name of God, the Most Merciful».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merciful:x6:1
# text = Muslims begin with «In the name of God, the Most Merciful».
1	Muslims	Muslim	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	begin	begin	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	In	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	13	amod	_	_
13	Merciful	Merciful	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | present | Muslims |  |  |  |  | with the name of God | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with name=Subeventuality |
| 2 | **name** *in a quote* |  |  | God |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication 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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