---
title: owe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «owe» in the school dictionary: To have to pay back money that someone lent you. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# owe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, they, I, You, Thanks, He · **What happens:** have, pay back, lend, give, do, owe · **To what, where:** money, something, favour, you, success, coach

<!-- .vabout -->
«owe» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [owe in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/owe.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To have to pay back money that someone lent you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:m1:1
# text = To have to pay back money that someone lent you.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	back	back	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
9	lent	lend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pay back** | to-infinitive |  | money |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Asset |
| 3 | **lend** | past | someone | money |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent that=Recipient you=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
To have to give or do something for someone because of what they did: «I owe you a favour».

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:m2:1
# text = To have to give or do something for someone because of what they did: «I owe you a favour».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
10	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	12	case	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nmod	_	_
13	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
19	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	favour	favour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **do** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | for someone | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **do** | past | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **owe** *in a quote* | present | I | a favour | you |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.goal NP»: agent=Agent you=Goal favour=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To have something because of someone: «I owe my success to my coach».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:m3:1
# text = To have something because of someone: «I owe my success to my coach».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	6	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	success	success	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | because someone | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **owe** *in a quote* | present | I | my success |  |  |  | to my coach *goal* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent success=Theme to coach=Goal |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I owe my brother two dollars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:x1:1
# text = I owe my brother two dollars.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	iobj	_	_
5	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	dollars	dollar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **owe** | present | I | two dollars | my brother |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.goal NP»: agent=Agent brother=Goal dollar=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You owe me an apology.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:x2:1
# text = You owe me an apology.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	iobj	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	apology	apology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **owe** | present | You | a apology | me |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.goal NP»: agent=Agent i=Goal apology=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thanks for helping — I owe you one!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:x3:1
# text = Thanks for helping — I owe you one!
1	Thanks	thanks	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
3	helping	help	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	parataxis	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | gerund | Thanks *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **owe** | present | I | you |  |  |  | one *obl* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent you=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He borrowed $10 and paid back $6, so he owes $4.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:x4:1
# text = He borrowed $10 and paid back $6, so he owes $4.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	borrowed	borrow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	$	$	SYM	$	_	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	paid	pay	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	back	back	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	$	$	SYM	$	_	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	owes	owe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
14	$	$	SYM	$	_	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	4	4	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **borrow** | past | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent $=Theme |
| 2 | **pay back** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent $=Asset |
| 3 | **owe** | present | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent $=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We owe our safety to the lifeguard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:x5:1
# text = We owe our safety to the lifeguard.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	safety	safety	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lifeguard	lifeguard	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 | **owe** | present | We | our safety |  |  |  | to the lifeguard *goal* | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent safety=Theme to lifeguard=Goal |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The match was cancelled owing to rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:x6:1
# text = The match was cancelled owing to rain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	cancelled	cancel	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	owing	owe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cancel** | past · passive |  | the match |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **owe** | gerund |  | rain |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent rain=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“But I owe money to several people.”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:owe:x7:1
# text = “But I owe money to several people.”
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
3	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	owe	owe	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	several	several	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **owe** *in a quote* | present | I | money | several people |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent money=Theme to people=Goal |

<!-- 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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