---
title: obey — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «obey» in the school dictionary: To do what a person, rule or law tells you to do. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# obey

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** person, Dogs, We, you, lifeguard, Drivers · **What happens:** do, tell, learn, obey, sit, whistle · **To what, where:** you, commands, school rules, whistle, speed limit, orders · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To do what a person, rule or law tells you to do.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obey:m1:1
# text = To do what a person, rule or law tells you to do.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	do	do	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
10	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	iobj	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | present | a person and rule or law |  | you |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a person and rule or law *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
Dogs can learn to obey commands like «sit».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obey:x1:1
# text = Dogs can learn to obey commands like «sit».
1	Dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	obey	obey	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	commands	command	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	sit	sit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | can | Dogs |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **obey** | to-infinitive | Dogs *not said here* | commands |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent command=Theme |
| 3 | **sit** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We must obey the school rules.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obey:x2:1
# text = We must obey the school rules.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	obey	obey	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obey** | must | We | the school rules |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Always obey the lifeguard's whistle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obey:x3:1
# text = Always obey the lifeguard's whistle.
1	Always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	2	advmod	_	_
2	obey	obey	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lifeguard	lifeguard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	whistle	whistle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obey** | imperative | you *not said here* | the lifeguard's whistle |  |  |  | always *property* | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent whistle=Theme |
| 2 | **whistle** |  | the lifeguard |  |  |  |  |  | nom whistle «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Drivers must obey the speed limit.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obey:x4:1
# text = Drivers must obey the speed limit.
1	Drivers	driver	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	obey	obey	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	speed	speed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	limit	limit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obey** | must | Drivers | the speed limit |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent limit=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldiers obeyed the general's orders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obey:x5:1
# text = The soldiers obeyed the general's orders.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	obeyed	obey	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	general	general	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	orders	order	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **obey** | past | the soldiers | the general's orders |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent order=Theme |
| 2 | **order** |  | the general |  |  |  |  |  | nom order «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If a stranger tells you to keep a secret, do not obey — tell an adult.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obey:x6:1
# text = If a stranger tells you to keep a secret, do not obey — tell an adult.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	stranger	stranger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tells	tell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	iobj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
11	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	obey	obey	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
15	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* *a condition, not said to happen* | present | a stranger |  | you |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **keep** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a stranger *not said here* | a secret |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **obey** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | a adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Everything on Earth obeys the law of gravity.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obey:x7:1
# text = Everything on Earth obeys the law of gravity.
1	Everything	everything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	4	nsubj	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	obeys	obey	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	gravity	gravity	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 | **obey** | present | Everything | the law of gravity |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent law=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Master, I obey," said the genie.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obey:x8:1
# text = "Master, I obey," said the genie.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Master	master	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	obey	obey	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	genie	genie	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 | **obey** *in a quote* | present | the genie *= genie* |  |  |  |  |  | vn abide\_by-93.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the genie |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=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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