---
title: method — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «method» in the school dictionary: A way of doing something, especially a planned, careful way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# method

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** way, you, steps, grid method, your, quicker method · **What happens:** do, plan, follow, list, use, work out · **To what, where:** something, steps, experiment, maths, answer, method

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A way of doing something, especially a planned, careful way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:m1:1
# text = A way of doing something, especially a planned, careful way.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
7	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
9	planned	plan	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | gerund | a way *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **plan** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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 -->
In science, the list of steps you follow in an experiment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:m2:1
# text = In science, the list of steps you follow in an experiment.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	follow	follow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | present | you | steps *not said here* |  | a experiment |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent step=Theme in experiment=Trajectory |
| 2 | **list** |  |  | steps |  |  |  |  | nom list «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths, the steps you use to work out an answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:m3:1
# text = In maths, the steps you use to work out an answer.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | the steps |  |  | maths |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **work out** | to-infinitive | the steps *not said here* | a answer |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Show your method, not just the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:x1:1
# text = Show your method, not just the answer.
1	Show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
6	just	just	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | imperative | you *not said here* | your method and the answer |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent method=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The grid method helps with long multiplication.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:x2:1
# text = The grid method helps with long multiplication.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	grid	grid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	multiplication	multiplication	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | the grid method |  |  |  |  | with long multiplication | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with multiplication=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write the method for your experiment in numbered steps.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:x3:1
# text = Write the method for your experiment in numbered steps.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	experiment	experiment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	numbered	number	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | the method |  |  |  | for your experiment; in numbered steps | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent method=Theme in step=Destination |
| 2 | **number** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **experiment** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom experiment «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is there a quicker method?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:x4:1
# text = Is there a quicker method?
1	Is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	1	expl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	quicker	quick	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a quicker method |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used two methods to check the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:x5:1
# text = We used two methods to check the answer.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	methods	method	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	check	check	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | two methods |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent method=Patient |
| 2 | **check** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | the answer |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scientific method means testing ideas with fair experiments.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:x6:1
# text = The scientific method means testing ideas with fair experiments.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	scientific	scientific	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	testing	test	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	experiments	experiment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the scientific method |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **test** *not said to happen* | gerund | the scientific method *not said here* | ideas |  |  |  | with fair experiments | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma has her own method for making pancakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:x7:1
# text = Grandma has her own method for making pancakes.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	making	make	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	pancakes	pancake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Grandma | Grandma's own method |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent method=Patient |
| 2 | **make** | gerund | Grandma's own method *not said here* | pancakes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset pancake=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her method was slow but it worked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:method:x8:1
# text = Her method was slow but it worked.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	method	method	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her method |  |  |  |  | slow *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | past | method |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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**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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