---
title: obedient — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «obedient» in the school dictionary: Doing what you are told by a parent, teacher, rule or owner. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# obedient

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** parent, dog, Soldiers, someone, puppy, obedient servant · **What happens:** do, tell, train, follow, be, sit · **To what, where:** you, commands, obedient children, Soldiers, something, everything · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Doing what you are told by a parent, teacher, rule or owner.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:m1:1
# text = Doing what you are told by a parent, teacher, rule or owner.
1	Doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	1	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	2	acl:relcl	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	parent	parent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	owner	owner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Eventuality |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present · passive | a parent and teacher and rule or owner | you |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent subject=Recipient |

<!-- .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: of animals — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trained to follow commands, as in "an obedient dog".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:m2:1
# text = Trained to follow commands, as in "an obedient dog".
1	Trained	train	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	commands	command	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	obedient	obedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **train** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **follow** | to-infinitive |  | commands |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our dog is very obedient; he sits when told.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:x1:1
# text = Our dog is very obedient; he sits when told.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	obedient	obedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	sits	sit	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
9	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
10	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Our dog |  |  |  |  | obedient *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sit** | present | dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | participle | dog *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The obedient children lined up quietly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:x2:1
# text = The obedient children lined up quietly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	obedient	obedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	lined	line	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **line up** | participle · passive |  | the obedient children |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soldiers are trained to be obedient.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:x3:1
# text = Soldiers are trained to be obedient.
1	Soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	trained	train	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	obedient	obedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **train** | present · passive |  | Soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | Soldiers *not said here* |  |  |  |  | obedient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being obedient doesn't mean doing something dangerous because someone says so.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:x4:1
# text = Being obedient doesn't mean doing something dangerous because someone says so.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	obedient	obedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	csubj	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	xcomp	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
11	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
12	so	so	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | obedient *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **mean** | present · do-support |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy became more obedient after training.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:x5:1
# text = The puppy became more obedient after training.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	5	advmod	_	_
5	obedient	obedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	training	training	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | the puppy |  |  |  | after training | obedient *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the obedient servant did everything the king asked.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:x6:1
# text = In the story, the obedient servant did everything the king asked.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	obedient	obedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	servant	servant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	8	obj	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | past | the obedient servant | everything |  | the story |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent everything=Eventuality |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the king |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sheepdogs are clever and obedient.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:x7:1
# text = Sheepdogs are clever and obedient.
1	Sheepdogs	sheepdog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	obedient	obedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Sheepdogs |  |  |  |  | clever *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Sheepdogs *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I am still your obedient child.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obedient:x8:1
# text = I am still your obedient child.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	still	still	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	obedient	obedient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	child	child	NOUN	NN	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 a** | present | I | your obedient child |  |  | still |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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