---
title: optional — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «optional» in the school dictionary: Something you can choose to do or have, but you do not have to. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# optional

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Something, you, extra worksheet, Uniform, hat, Tipping · **What happens:** choose, do, have, not have, be, want · **To what, where:** countries, optional —, Sprinkles

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something you can choose to do or have, but you do not have to.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:optional:m1:1
# text = Something you can choose to do or have, but you do not have to.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
14	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **choose** | can | Something |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | Something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **have** | infinitive | Something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **not** **have** | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: 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 -->
The extra worksheet is optional.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:optional:x1:1
# text = The extra worksheet is optional.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	worksheet	worksheet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	optional	optional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the extra worksheet |  |  |  |  | optional *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Uniform is compulsory, but the hat is optional.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:optional:x2:1
# text = Uniform is compulsory, but the hat is optional.
1	Uniform	uniform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	compulsory	compulsory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	hat	hat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	optional	optional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Uniform |  |  |  |  | compulsory *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | the hat |  |  |  |  | optional *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tipping is optional in some countries.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:optional:x3:1
# text = Tipping is optional in some countries.
1	Tipping	tipping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	optional	optional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Tipping |  |  | some countries |  | optional *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sprinkles are optional — do you want them?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:optional:x4:1
# text = Sprinkles are optional — do you want them?
1	Sprinkles	sprinkle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	optional	optional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	—	—	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sprinkles | optional — |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **want** | present · do-support | you | Sprinkles *= sprinkle* |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot they=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trip is optional, but most children are going.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:optional:x5:1
# text = The trip is optional, but most children are going.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	optional	optional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	8	amod	_	_
8	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the trip |  |  |  |  | optional *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present · progressive | most children |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Question 5 is optional for those who finish early.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:optional:x6:1
# text = Question 5 is optional for those who finish early.
1	Question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	flat	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	optional	optional	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	those	that	PRON	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	4	obl	_	_
7	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	finish	finish	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	early	early	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Question |  |  |  |  | for those; optional *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **finish** | present |  |  |  |  |  | early *property* | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

<!-- 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.

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