---
title: offence — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «offence» in the school dictionary: An offence is a crime or an act that breaks a law or rule. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# offence

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** offence, act, someone, players, polite phrase, you · **What happens:** be, break, insult, say, do, attack · **To what, where:** crime, law, feeling, team, polite phrase, someone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An offence is a crime or an act that breaks a law or rule.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:m1:1
# text = An offence is a crime or an act that breaks a law or rule.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	breaks	break	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a offence | a crime or a act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | present | a act | a law or rule |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer law=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Offence is the feeling of being upset or insulted by what someone says or does.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:m2:1
# text = Offence is the feeling of being upset or insulted by what someone says or does.
1	Offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	cop	_	_
7	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	insulted	insult	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
10	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	obl	_	_
12	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nsubj	_	_
13	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Offence | the feeling |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | upset *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **insult** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | someone |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **do** | present | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: US «offense», sport — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The offence is the team or players who are attacking and trying to score.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:m3:1
# text = The offence is the team or players who are attacking and trying to score.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	players	player	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	attacking	attack	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	trying	try	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	conj	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	score	score	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the offence | the team or players |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **attack** | present · progressive | players |  |  |  |  |  | vn attack-60.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **try** | gerund | players *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **score** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | players *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"No offence" is a polite phrase that asks someone not to be upset by what you are about to say.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:m4:1
# text = "No offence" is a polite phrase that asks someone not to be upset by what you are about to say.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	3	det	_	_
3	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obj	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
14	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	cop	_	_
15	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	parataxis	_	_
16	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	15	obl	_	_
18	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	20	nsubj	_	_
19	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
20	about	about	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	acl:relcl	_	_
21	to	to	PART	TO	_	22	mark	_	_
22	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | no offence | a polite phrase |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | a polite phrase |  | someone |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |
| 3 | **not** **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | upset *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | about *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dropping litter is an offence in many towns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:x1:1
# text = Dropping litter is an offence in many towns.
1	Dropping	drop	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	towns	town	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | gerund |  | litter |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litter=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Dropping | a offence |  | many towns |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is an offence to drive without a licence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:x2:1
# text = It is an offence to drive without a licence.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	drive	drive	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	without	without	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	licence	licence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a offence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **drive** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | without a licence | vn nonvehicle-51.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
No offence, but I don't like your hat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:x3:1
# text = No offence, but I don't like your hat.
1	No	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	2	det	_	_
2	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj:outer	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	hat	hat	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 | **not** **like** | present · do-support | no offence | your hat |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot hat=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She took offence at his rude joke.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:x4:1
# text = She took offence at his rude joke.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | She | offence |  | his rude joke |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent offence=Theme at joke=Asset |
| 2 | **joke** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Since it was his first offence, he only got a warning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:x5:1
# text = Since it was his first offence, he only got a warning.
1	Since	since	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	amod	_	_
6	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	warning	warning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | it | his first offence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | past | he | a warning |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer warning=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team's offence scored three touchdowns. (US)

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Our team's offence scored three touchdowns.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:x6:1
# text = Our team's offence scored three touchdowns.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	scored	score	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	touchdowns	touchdown	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **score** | past | Our team's offence | three touchdowns |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent touchdown=Theme |
| 2 | **offend** |  | Our team |  |  |  |  |  | nom offence «act transitive»: poss=agent |

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:x6:2
# text = (US)
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	US	US	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I didn't mean to cause offence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:offence:x7:1
# text = I didn't mean to cause offence.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	offence	offence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mean** | past · do-support | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cause** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | offence |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition offence=Patient |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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