---
title: occasions — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «occasions» in the school dictionary: Times when something happens: «on three occasions» means three times. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# occasions

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, Times, Reasons, occasion, We, She · **What happens:** happen, mean, cause, be, worry, occasion · **To what, where:** three occasions, something, best plates, special occasions, happy occasions, dinner · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«occasions» in the school dictionary: its 4 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: [occasions in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/occasions.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Times when something happens: «on three occasions» means three times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:m1:1
# text = Times when something happens: «on three occasions» means three times.
1	Times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
2	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
4	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	occasions	occasion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **happen** | present | something |  |  | three occasions |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on occasion=Location |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Times |  |  |  | time |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: 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.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Special events or celebrations, like weddings or birthdays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:m2:1
# text = Special events or celebrations, like weddings or birthdays.
1	Special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	celebrations	celebration	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	weddings	wedding	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	birthdays	birthday	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Reasons or causes: «There is no occasion to worry.».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:m3:1
# text = Reasons or causes: «There is no occasion to worry.».
1	Reasons	reason	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	causes	cause	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	3	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	7	expl	_	_
7	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	9	det	_	_
9	occasion	occasion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	worry	worry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | Reasons |  |  |  |  |  | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition |
| 2 | **be** *in a quote* | present | no occasion |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **worry** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | no occasion *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To occasion something is to cause it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:m4:1
# text = To occasion something is to cause it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	occasion	occasion	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cause	cause	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **occasion** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | cause *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We only use the best plates on special occasions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:x1:1
# text = We only use the best plates on special occasions.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	plates	plate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	occasions	occasion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | We | the best plates |  | special occasions |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plate=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She has been late on three occasions this term.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:x2:1
# text = She has been late on three occasions this term.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
3	been	be	AUX	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	7	cop	_	_
4	late	late	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	occasions	occasion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	term	term	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present · perfect | She |  |  | three occasions and this term |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Birthdays and weddings are happy occasions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:x3:1
# text = Birthdays and weddings are happy occasions.
1	Birthdays	birthday	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	weddings	wedding	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	occasions	occasion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | Birthdays and weddings | happy occasions |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On occasion, we eat dinner in front of the TV.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:x4:1
# text = On occasion, we eat dinner in front of the TV.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	occasion	occasion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	eat	eat	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	front	front	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | present | we | dinner |  | occasion |  | in front of the TV | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dinner=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He rose to the occasion and scored the winning goal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:x5:1
# text = He rose to the occasion and scored the winning goal.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	occasion	occasion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	scored	score	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	winning	win	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | past | He |  |  | the occasion |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to occasion=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **score** | past | He *not said here* | the winning goal |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goal=Theme |
| 3 | **win** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On how many occasions did Tom visit the zoo?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:x6:1
# text = On how many occasions did Tom visit the zoo?
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
3	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	occasions	occasion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
5	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	visit	visit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | past · do-support | Tom | the zoo |  | many occasions |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent zoo=Co-Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The youngest was called Dummerly, and was on all occasions scorned and ill-treated by the whole family.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:occasions:x7:1
# text = The youngest was called Dummerly, and was on all occasions scorned and ill-treated by the whole family.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	youngest	young	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	Dummerly	Dummerly	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	occasions	occasion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
12	scorned	scorn	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	acl	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	treated	treat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	conj	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | past · passive |  | the youngest |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | past |  |  |  | all occasions |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **scorn** | participle |  | all occasions *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **treat** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | by the whole family | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: 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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