---
title: pact — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «pact» in the school dictionary: A pact is a serious agreement or promise between people, groups or countries to do something or to help each other. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# pact

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** pact, We, two countries, friends, They, NATO countries · **What happens:** be, do, help, make, not tell, stay · **To what, where:** serious agreement, something, each, secret promise, pact, friends · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«pact» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [pact in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pact.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A pact is a serious agreement or promise between people, groups or countries to do something or to help each other.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pact:m1:1
# text = A pact is a serious agreement or promise between people, groups or countries to do something or to help each other.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	serious	serious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	agreement	agreement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	between	between	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	parataxis	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl	_	_
17	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	16	obj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	to	to	PART	TO	_	20	mark	_	_
20	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	conj	_	_
21	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	20	obj	_	_
22	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a pact | a serious agreement or promise between people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | to-infinitive | a pact *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **help** | to-infinitive | a pact *not said here* | each |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent each=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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 -->
A pact can be a secret promise between friends («We made a pact to never tell»).

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pact:m2:1
# text = A pact can be a secret promise between friends («We made a pact to never tell»).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	secret	secret	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	between	between	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
17	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
18	tell	tell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** *speech: promise* | can | a pact | a secret promise |  |  |  | between friends | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** *in a quote* | past | We | a pact |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pact=Product |
| 3 | **not** **tell** *speech: assert* *in a quote* | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | a pact *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a pact to stay friends forever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pact:x1:1
# text = We made a pact to stay friends forever.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	forever	forever	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | a pact |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pact=Product |
| 2 | **stay** | to-infinitive | We *not said here* | friends |  |  |  | forever *property* | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme friend=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two countries signed a pact of peace.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pact:x2:1
# text = The two countries signed a pact of peace.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	signed	sign	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	peace	peace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sign** | past | the two countries | a pact of peace |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent pact=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The friends made a pact to keep the secret.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pact:x3:1
# text = The friends made a pact to keep the secret.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	friends	friend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	secret	secret	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the friends | a pact |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pact=Product |
| 2 | **keep** | to-infinitive | the friends *not said here* | the secret |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent secret=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They broke their pact and told the teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pact:x4:1
# text = They broke their pact and told the teacher.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	iobj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | They | their pact |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer pact=Patient |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | They *not said here* |  | the teacher |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
NATO countries have a pact to defend each other.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pact:x5:1
# text = NATO countries have a pact to defend each other.
1	NATO	NATO	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	defend	defend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	7	obj	_	_
9	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | NATO countries | a pact |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pact=Patient |
| 2 | **defend** | to-infinitive | NATO countries *not said here* | each |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent each=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the wizard made a pact with a dragon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pact:x6:1
# text = In the story, the wizard made a pact with a dragon.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the wizard | a pact |  | the story |  | with a dragon | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pact=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Let's make a pact: no phones at dinner.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:pact:x7:1
# text = Let's make a pact: no phones at dinner.
1	Let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pact	pact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	appos	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	dinner	dinner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | imperative | you *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | a pact |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset pact=Product |

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**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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