---
title: obedience — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «obedience» in the school dictionary: Doing what you are told by someone in charge, or following rules and laws. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# obedience

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, Christians, obedience, God, puppy, Noah · **What happens:** do, tell, follow, believe, mean, be · **To what, where:** you, rules, commands, Abraham examples, dog, obedience classes · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«obedience» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [obedience in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/obedience.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doing what you are told by someone in charge, or following rules and laws.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:m1:1
# text = Doing what you are told by someone in charge, or following rules and laws.
1	Doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	ccomp	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	charge	charge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	following	follow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
13	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · passive | someone | you |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent subject=Recipient what=Topic |
| 3 | **follow** | gerund |  | rules and laws |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Christians believe obedience to God means following God's commands; Abraham and Mary are examples.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:m2:1
# text = Christians believe obedience to God means following God's commands; Abraham and Mary are examples.
1	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	believe	believe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	obedience	obedience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
7	following	follow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	commands	command	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
12	Abraham	Abraham	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	Mary	Mary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	examples	example	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **believe** | present | Christians |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **mean** | present | obedience to God |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **follow** *not said to happen* | gerund | obedience to God *not said here* | God's commands |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent command=Theme |
| 4 | **is a** | present |  | Abraham examples |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **command** |  | God |  |  |  |  |  | nom command «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Training a dog to follow commands: «obedience classes».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:m3:1
# text = Training a dog to follow commands: «obedience classes».
1	Training	train	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	commands	command	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	obedience	obedience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	classes	class	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **train** | gerund |  | a dog |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Theme |
| 2 | **follow** | to-infinitive |  | commands |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent command=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our puppy is going to obedience classes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:x1:1
# text = Our puppy is going to obedience classes.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	obedience	obedience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	classes	class	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | present · progressive | Our puppy |  |  | obedience classes |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to class=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Noah built the ark in obedience to God.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:x2:1
# text = Noah built the ark in obedience to God.
1	Noah	Noah	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	ark	ark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	obedience	obedience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | Noah | the ark | God | obedience |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ark=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Monks and nuns make a vow of obedience.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:x3:1
# text = Monks and nuns make a vow of obedience.
1	Monks	monk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	nuns	nun	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	vow	vow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	obedience	obedience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Monks and nuns | a vow of obedience |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vow=Product |
| 2 | **vow** |  |  | obedience |  |  |  |  | nom vow «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldiers showed complete obedience.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:x4:1
# text = The soldiers showed complete obedience.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	obedience	obedience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the soldiers | complete obedience |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent obedience=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Blind obedience can be dangerous if the order is wrong.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:x5:1
# text = Blind obedience can be dangerous if the order is wrong.
1	Blind	blind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	obedience	obedience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | can | Blind obedience |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | the order |  |  |  |  | wrong *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Obedience to safety rules keeps everyone safe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:x6:1
# text = Obedience to safety rules keeps everyone safe.
1	Obedience	obedience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
5	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	5	obj	_	_
7	safe	safe	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | present | Obedience to safety rules | everyone |  |  |  | safe *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent everyone=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They, in obedience to their king's order, continued to supply him with provisions and water.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedience:x7:1
# text = They, in obedience to their king's order, continued to supply him with provisions and water.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	obedience	obedience	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	order	order	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	continued	continue	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	supply	supply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	provisions	provision	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **continue** | participle |  | obedience to their king's order *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn continue-55.3 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **supply** | to-infinitive |  |  | king |  |  | with provisions and water | vn fulfilling-13.4.1-1 «NP V NP-Fulfilling PP.theme»: agent=Agent he=Recipient with provision=Theme |
| 3 | **order** |  | their king |  |  |  |  |  | nom order «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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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