---
title: motto — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «motto» in the school dictionary: A motto is a short sentence or phrase that sums up the beliefs or aims of a person, school, family or country. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# motto

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** motto, short sentence, person, school motto, Many school mottos, you · **What happens:** be, sum up, aim, grow, shine, not be · **To what, where:** short sentence, beliefs, Latin, family motto, coat, 's · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A motto is a short sentence or phrase that sums up the beliefs or aims of a person, school, family or country.

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motto:m1:1
# text = A motto is a short sentence or phrase that sums up the beliefs or aims of a person, school, family or country.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	motto	motto	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	sums	sum	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	beliefs	belief	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	aims	aim	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a motto | a short sentence or phrase |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sum up** | present | a short sentence or phrase | the beliefs or aims of a person and school and family or country |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent belief=Topic |
| 3 | **aim** |  | a person and school and family or country |  |  |  |  |  | nom aim «cognition intransitive»: of=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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school motto is «Learn, Grow, Shine».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motto:x1:1
# text = Our school motto is «Learn, Grow, Shine».
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	motto	motto	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	Learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	Grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	Shine	shine	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | Our school motto |  |  |  |  | learn *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **grow** *in a quote* | infinitive | Our school motto *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **shine** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Scouts' motto is «Be Prepared».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motto:x2:1
# text = The Scouts' motto is «Be Prepared».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Scouts	scout	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	'	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	motto	motto	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	Prepared	prepared	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the Scouts's motto |  |  |  |  | prepared *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many school mottos are in Latin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motto:x3:1
# text = Many school mottos are in Latin.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	mottos	motto	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Latin	Latin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Many school mottos |  |  | Latin |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My grandad's motto is «Never give up».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motto:x4:1
# text = My grandad's motto is «Never give up».
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandad	grandad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	motto	motto	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | present | My grandad's motto |  |  |  |  | give *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family motto was written under the coat of arms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motto:x5:1
# text = The family motto was written under the coat of arms.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	motto	motto	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	coat	coat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past · passive |  | the family motto |  | the coat of arms |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's choose a motto for our team.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motto:x6:1
# text = Let's choose a motto for our team.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	motto	motto	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | a motto |  |  |  | for our team | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent motto=Theme for team=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Seven at one blow is my motto," said the Tailor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:motto:x7:1
# text = Seven at one blow is my motto," said the Tailor.
1	Seven	seven	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nsubj	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	blow	blow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	motto	motto	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Tailor	tailor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Seven at one blow | my motto |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | past |  | the Tailor |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent tailor=Topic |

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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.

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