---
title: novel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «novel» in the school dictionary: A novel is a long story in a book about made-up people and events. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# novel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** novel, class, She, Using, graphic novel, I · **What happens:** be, make up, mean, read, have, want · **To what, where:** long story, book, new, novel, 20 chapters, bucket · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A novel is a long story in a book about made-up people and events.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:m1:1
# text = A novel is a long story in a book about made-up people and events.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	novel	novel	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	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
11	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	up	up	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	_
14	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a novel | a long story |  | a book about made people and events |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make up** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Novel (adjective) means new, different and interesting: a novel idea.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:m2:1
# text = Novel (adjective) means new, different and interesting: a novel idea.
1	Novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	adjective	adjective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	interesting	interesting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	novel	novel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Novel | new |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent new=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class is reading a novel about a dragon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:x1:1
# text = Our class is reading a novel about a dragon.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	reading	read	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | present · progressive | Our class | a novel |  |  |  | about a dragon | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent novel=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The novel has 20 chapters.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:x2:1
# text = The novel has 20 chapters.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	chapters	chapter	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 | the novel | 20 chapters |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chapter=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wants to write a novel when she grows up.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:x3:1
# text = She wants to write a novel when she grows up.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **write** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | She *not said here* | a novel |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent novel=Theme |
| 3 | **grow up** | present | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Using a bucket as a drum was a novel idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:x4:1
# text = Using a bucket as a drum was a novel idea.
1	Using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	bucket	bucket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	drum	drum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	novel	novel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | gerund |  | a bucket |  |  |  | as a drum | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent bucket=Duration as drum=Attribute |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Using | a novel idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A graphic novel tells a story in pictures.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:x5:1
# text = A graphic novel tells a story in pictures.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	graphic	graphic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	pictures	picture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | a graphic novel | a story |  | pictures |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent story=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The novel was turned into a film.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:x6:1
# text = The novel was turned into a film.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	turned	turn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	film	film	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 | **turn** | past · passive |  | the novel |  | a film |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: subject=Theme into film=Trajectory |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If the novel has 240 pages and I read 30 a day, I finish in 8 days.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:x7:1
# text = If the novel has 240 pages and I read 30 a day, I finish in 8 days.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	_
5	240	240	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	pages	page	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	obj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
14	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	finish	finish	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	18	nummod	_	_
18	days	day	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | the novel | 240 pages |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent page=Patient |
| 2 | **read** | past | I | 30 |  |  | day |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 30=Topic |
| 3 | **finish** | present | I |  |  |  | day |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This is a novel way to teach fractions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:novel:x8:1
# text = This is a novel way to teach fractions.
1	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	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	novel	novel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	teach	teach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	fractions	fraction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | This | a novel way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **teach** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | fractions |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent fraction=Recipient |

<!-- 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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