---
title: parable — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «parable» in the school dictionary: A parable is a short story with a lesson about how to live, especially one told by Jesus in the Bible. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# parable

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** parable, Jesus, farmer, shepherd, We, meaning · **What happens:** be, live, tell, use, teach, call · **To what, where:** short story, Bible, simple story, moral, parable, seeds · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A parable is a short story with a lesson about how to live, especially one told by Jesus in the Bible.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parable:m1:1
# text = A parable is a short story with a lesson about how to live, especially one told by Jesus in the Bible.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	parable	parable	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	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lesson	lesson	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	13	advmod	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	conj	_	_
17	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	16	acl	_	_
18	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	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 parable | a short story |  |  |  | with a lesson | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | to-infinitive | a parable *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **tell** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  | the Bible |  | by Jesus | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: 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 -->
Any simple story used to teach a moral or religious truth can be called a parable.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parable:m2:1
# text = Any simple story used to teach a moral or religious truth can be called a parable.
1	Any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
2	simple	simple	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	teach	teach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	moral	moral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	parable	parable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | any simple story *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **teach** *speech: other* | to-infinitive |  | a moral or religious truth |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent moral=Recipient |
| 3 | **call** | can · passive |  | any simple story |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jesus told a parable about a farmer sowing seeds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parable:x1:1
# text = Jesus told a parable about a farmer sowing seeds.
1	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	parable	parable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	iobj	_	_
5	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	sowing	sow	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | Jesus |  | a parable |  |  | about a farmer | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent parable=Recipient about farmer=Topic |
| 2 | **sow** | gerund | a farmer *not said here* | seeds |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent seed=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves ninety-nine to find one.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parable:x2:1
# text = In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves ninety-nine to find one.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	parable	parable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	shepherd	shepherd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	ninety	ninety	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	14	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	nine	nine	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	obl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
17	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **leave** | present | the shepherd | ninety nine |  |  |  | in the parable of the lost sheep *result* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in parable=Result |
| 3 | **find** | to-infinitive | the shepherd *not said here* | one |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We acted out the parable of the Good Samaritan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parable:x3:1
# text = We acted out the parable of the Good Samaritan.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	acted	act	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	out	out	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	parable	parable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	Samaritan	Samaritan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act out** | past | We | the parable of the Good Samaritan |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1-1 «NP V PP.predicate»: agent=Agent parable=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The meaning of the parable is that everyone is our neighbour.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parable:x4:1
# text = The meaning of the parable is that everyone is our neighbour.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	parable	parable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
7	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
8	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	11	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	neighbour	neighbour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the meaning of the parable | our neighbour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** |  |  | the parable |  |  |  |  | nom meaning «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher asked us to write a modern parable.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parable:x5:1
# text = Our teacher asked us to write a modern parable.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	iobj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	parable	parable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Our teacher |  | us |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **write** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Our teacher *not said here* | a modern parable |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent parable=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The parable of the lost son ends with a big party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parable:x6:1
# text = The parable of the lost son ends with a big party.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	parable	parable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	son	son	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **end** | present | the parable of the lost son |  |  |  |  | with a big party | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector with party=Subeventuality |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Read the parable of the intrusted talent!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:parable:x7:1
# text = Read the parable of the intrusted talent!
1	Read	read	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	parable	parable	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	intrusted	intrust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	talent	talent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | imperative | you *not said here* | the parable of the intrusted talent |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent parable=Topic |
| 2 | **intrust** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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