---
title: merit — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «merit» in the school dictionary: Merit is the quality of being good and deserving praise or a reward. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# merit

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Merit, merits, pupil, I, Jake, idea · **What happens:** be, deserve, get, merit, have, choose · **To what, where:** quality, praise, good points, point, something, merit

<!-- .vabout -->
«merit» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [merit in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/merit.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Merit is the quality of being good and deserving praise or a reward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:m1:1
# text = Merit is the quality of being good and deserving praise or a reward.
1	Merit	merit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	quality	quality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	cop	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	deserving	deserve	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	conj	_	_
10	praise	praise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	reward	reward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Merit | the quality |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **deserve** | gerund |  | praise or a reward |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
The merits of something are its good points.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:m2:1
# text = The merits of something are its good points.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	merits	merit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nmod	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	points	point	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the merits of something | its good points |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A merit is a point, star or certificate a pupil gets for good work or good behaviour.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:m3:1
# text = A merit is a point, star or certificate a pupil gets for good work or good behaviour.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	merit	merit	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	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	certificate	certificate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a merit | a point or certificate |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | present | a pupil |  |  |  |  | for good work or good behaviour | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent for work=Source |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To merit something is to deserve it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:m4:1
# text = To merit something is to deserve it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	merit	merit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	deserve	deserve	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **merit** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | deserve *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I got a merit for my story about the dragon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:x1:1
# text = I got a merit for my story about the dragon.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	merit	merit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | I | a merit |  |  |  | for my story about the dragon | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent merit=Theme for story=Source |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jake has twenty merits this term.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:x2:1
# text = Jake has twenty merits this term.
1	Jake	Jake	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	twenty	twenty	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	merits	merit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	term	term	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Jake | twenty merits |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Each idea has its merits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:x3:1
# text = Each idea has its merits.
1	Each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	merits	merit	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 | **have** | present | each idea | idea's merits |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent merit=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was chosen for the team on merit, not because her dad is the coach.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:x4:1
# text = She was chosen for the team on merit, not because her dad is the coach.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	chosen	choose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	merit	merit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
11	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | past · passive |  | She |  | merit and the coach |  | for the team | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: subject=Theme for team=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | her dad | the coach |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Your drawing merits a place on the wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:x5:1
# text = Your drawing merits a place on the wall.
1	Your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	drawing	drawing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	merits	merit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **merit** | present | Your drawing | a place |  | the wall |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **draw** |  | Your |  |  |  |  |  | nom drawing «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The proposal was judged on its merits.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:x6:1
# text = (formal) The proposal was judged on its merits.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	proposal	proposal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	judged	judge	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	merits	merit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **judge** | past · passive |  | the formal proposal |  | proposal's merits |  |  | vn estimate-34.2-1-1 «NP V NP.value»: subject=Value |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ten merits earn you a bronze certificate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:x7:1
# text = Ten merits earn you a bronze certificate.
1	Ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	nummod	_	_
2	merits	merit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	earn	earn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	bronze	bronze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	certificate	certificate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **earn** | present | Ten merits | a bronze certificate | you |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP.beneficiary NP»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary certificate=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I jumped the highest; but in this world merit seldom meets its reward.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:merit:x8:1
# text = I jumped the highest; but in this world merit seldom meets its reward.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	jumped	jump	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	highest	high	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
9	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	merit	merit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
11	seldom	seldom	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	meets	meet	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
13	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	reward	reward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **jump** | past | I | the highest |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme high=Trajectory |
| 2 | **meet** | present | I *not said here* | merit's reward |  | this world merit |  | seldom *property* | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reward=Co-Agent |
| 3 | **reward** |  | merit |  |  |  |  |  | nom reward «event transitive»: poss=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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