---
title: moral — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «moral» in the school dictionary: The lesson about right and wrong that a story teaches (the moral of the story). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# moral

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** story, person, Moral support, moral, Telling, She · **What happens:** teach, do, be, believe, help, encourage · **To what, where:** truth, moral thing, dentist, man, money, moral question · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«moral» in the school dictionary: its 5 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [moral in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/moral.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lesson about right and wrong that a story teaches (the moral of the story).

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:m1:1
# text = The lesson about right and wrong that a story teaches (the moral of the story).
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lesson	lesson	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	about	about	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	teaches	teach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	moral	moral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **teach** *speech: other* | present | a story |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: 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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do with what is right and wrong (a moral choice).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:m2:1
# text = To do with what is right and wrong (a moral choice).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	moral	moral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good, honest and fair (a very moral person).

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:m3:1
# text = Good, honest and fair (a very moral person).
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	honest	honest	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	moral	moral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Morals (plural noun): a person's beliefs about right and wrong.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:m4:1
# text = Morals (plural noun): a person's beliefs about right and wrong.
1	Morals	moral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	plural	plural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	beliefs	belief	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
11	about	about	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** |  | a person |  |  |  |  |  | nom belief «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Moral support: help by being there and encouraging, not by doing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:m5:1
# text = Moral support: help by being there and encouraging, not by doing.
1	Moral	moral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	cop	_	_
7	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	encouraging	encourage	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
12	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | infinitive | Moral support *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | there *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **encourage** | gerund | Moral support *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **not** **do** | gerund | Moral support *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The moral of the story is: don't tell lies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:x1:1
# text = The moral of the story is: don't tell lies.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	moral	moral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	do	do	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
11	lies	lie	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present · do-support | the moral of the story |  |  |  |  | tell *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Aesop's fables each end with a moral.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:x2:1
# text = Aesop's fables each end with a moral.
1	Aesop	Aesop	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	fables	fable	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	det	_	_
5	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	moral	moral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Telling the truth was the moral thing to do.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:x3:1
# text = Telling the truth was the moral thing to do.
1	Telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	moral	moral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | the truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent truth=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Telling | the moral thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She came to the dentist with me for moral support.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:x4:1
# text = She came to the dentist with me for moral support.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	dentist	dentist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	moral	moral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | She |  |  | the dentist |  | with me; for moral support | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to dentist=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He is a man of strong morals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:x5:1
# text = He is a man of strong morals.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	morals	moral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | He | a man |  |  |  | of strong morals | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Should you keep money you find? That's a moral question.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Should you keep money you find?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:x6:1
# text = Should you keep money you find?
1	Should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | should | you | money |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Theme |
| 2 | **find** | present | you | money *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* That's a moral question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:x6:2
# text = That's a moral question.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	moral	moral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | a moral question |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“Do you mean to say that the story has a moral?”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:moral:x7:1
# text = “Do you mean to say that the story has a moral?”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	moral	moral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** *in a quote* | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: ask* *not said to happen, in a quote* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **have** *in a quote* | present | the story | a moral |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent moral=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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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