---
title: obligatory — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «obligatory» in the school dictionary: Obligatory means something you must do because a rule or law says so; it is not a free choice. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# obligatory

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Obligatory, you, rule, law, Wearing, Swimming lessons · **What happens:** mean, do, say, not be, describe, happen · **To what, where:** something, free choice, seatbelt, car, climbing wall, obligatory photo · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«obligatory» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [obligatory in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/obligatory.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Obligatory means something you must do because a rule or law says so; it is not a free choice.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obligatory:m1:1
# text = Obligatory means something you must do because a rule or law says so; it is not a free choice.
1	Obligatory	Obligatory	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl:relcl	_	_
7	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	20	advmod	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	choice	choice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Obligatory | something |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | must | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a rule or law |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **not** **is a** | present | law | a free choice |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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: humorous — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Obligatory can describe something that always happens and is expected, as in «the obligatory selfie».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obligatory:m2:1
# text = Obligatory can describe something that always happens and is expected, as in «the obligatory selfie».
1	Obligatory	Obligatory	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
6	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	7	advmod	_	_
7	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
10	expected	expect	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	obligatory	obligatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	selfie	selfie	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can | Obligatory | something |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **happen** | present |  |  |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **expect** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: clause=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wearing a seatbelt is obligatory in the car.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obligatory:x1:1
# text = Wearing a seatbelt is obligatory in the car.
1	Wearing	wear	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	seatbelt	seatbelt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	obligatory	obligatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | gerund |  | a seatbelt |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent seatbelt=Source |
| 2 | **is** | present | Wearing |  |  | the car |  | obligatory *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Swimming lessons are obligatory for every pupil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obligatory:x2:1
# text = Swimming lessons are obligatory for every pupil.
1	Swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	lessons	lesson	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	obligatory	obligatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	pupil	pupil	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 | **is** | present | Swimming lessons |  |  |  |  | for every pupil; obligatory *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
School uniform is obligatory, the rules said.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obligatory:x3:1
# text = School uniform is obligatory, the rules said.
1	School	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	uniform	uniform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	obligatory	obligatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | School uniform |  |  |  |  | obligatory *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the rules |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Helmets are obligatory on the climbing wall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obligatory:x4:1
# text = Helmets are obligatory on the climbing wall.
1	Helmets	helmet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	obligatory	obligatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	climbing	climbing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	wall	wall	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 | **is** | present | Helmets |  |  | the climbing wall |  | obligatory *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then came the obligatory photo with Grandma. (humorous)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Then came the obligatory photo with Grandma.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obligatory:x5:1
# text = Then came the obligatory photo with Grandma.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	2	advmod	_	_
2	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	obligatory	obligatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	photo	photo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past |  | the obligatory photo |  |  | then | with Grandma | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location photo=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* (humorous)

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obligatory:x5:2
# text = (humorous)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	humorous	humorous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trip is not obligatory; you can choose.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:obligatory:x6:1
# text = The trip is not obligatory; you can choose.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	obligatory	obligatory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | the trip |  |  |  |  | obligatory *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **choose** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: 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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