---
title: motive — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «motive» in the school dictionary: The reason why someone does something, especially something secret or wrong. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# motive

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, Causing, detective, motive, police, He · **What happens:** do, cause, drive, ask, have, steal · **To what, where:** something, movement, engine, motive, cake, ulterior motive · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«motive» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [motive in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/motive.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The reason why someone does something, especially something secret or wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:m1:1
# text = The reason why someone does something, especially something secret or wrong.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reason	reason	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	_
5	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	appos	_	_
10	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | present | someone | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

<!-- .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, science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Causing movement: «motive power» drives an engine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:m2:1
# text = Causing movement: «motive power» drives an engine.
1	Causing	cause	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	1	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	motive	motive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	drives	drive	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	engine	engine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | gerund |  | movement |  |  |  | motive power *obl* | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition movement=Patient |
| 2 | **drive** | present | Causing | a engine |  |  |  |  | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme engine=Trajectory |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective asked who had a motive to steal the cake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:x1:1
# text = The detective asked who had a motive to steal the cake.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	motive	motive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	steal	steal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the detective |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **have** | past |  | a motive |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent motive=Patient |
| 3 | **steal** | to-infinitive |  | the cake |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location cake=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her motive for helping was to win the prize, not to be kind.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:x2:1
# text = Her motive for helping was to win the prize, not to be kind.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	motive	motive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	helping	helping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	prize	prize	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
14	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Her motive for helping |  |  |  |  | win *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** | to-infinitive | Her motive for helping *not said here* |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The police still don't know the motive for the crime.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:x3:1
# text = The police still don't know the motive for the crime.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	police	police	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	motive	motive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **know** | present · do-support | the police | the motive |  |  | still | for the crime | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer motive=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What was your motive for getting up so early?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:x4:1
# text = What was your motive for getting up so early?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	motive	motive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past |  | your motive |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get up** | gerund | your motive *not said here* |  |  |  |  | early *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had an ulterior motive: he wanted to borrow my bike.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:x5:1
# text = He had an ulterior motive: he wanted to borrow my bike.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ulterior	ulterior	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	motive	motive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	borrow	borrow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | He | a ulterior motive |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent motive=Patient |
| 2 | **want** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **borrow** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | he *not said here* | my bike |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bike=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Steam engines gave motive power to the first trains.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:x6:1
# text = Steam engines gave motive power to the first trains.
1	Steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	engines	engine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	motive	motive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	trains	train	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | Steam engines | motive power | the first trains |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent power=Theme to train=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kind actions with good motives make the world better.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:x7:1
# text = Kind actions with good motives make the world better.
1	Kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	motives	motive	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	better	good	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Kind actions with good motives | the world |  |  |  | good *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset world=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But I have sent for you to inquire what was your motive in making such a curious vow.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motive:x8:1
# text = But I have sent for you to inquire what was your motive in making such a curious vow.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	inquire	inquire	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	12	nsubj	_	_
10	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	motive	motive	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	ccomp	_	_
13	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	making	make	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	_
15	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	18	det:predet	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	vow	vow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | present · perfect | I |  |  |  |  | for you | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **inquire** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | past |  | your motive |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **make** | gerund | I *not said here* | such curious vow |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset vow=Product |

<!-- 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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