---
title: petition — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «petition» in the school dictionary: A petition is a written request, signed by many people, asking someone in power to do or change something. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# petition

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** petition, someone, prayer, We, hundred people, our · **What happens:** write, be, sign, ask, do, change · **To what, where:** written request, someone, power, something, God, petition

<!-- .vabout -->
«petition» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [petition in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/petition.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A petition is a written request, signed by many people, asking someone in power to do or change something.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:m1:1
# text = A petition is a written request, signed by many people, asking someone in power to do or change something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	petition	petition	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	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	request	request	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	signed	sign	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
9	by	by	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	conj	_	_
14	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	obj	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	18	conj	_	_
21	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a petition | a written request |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **sign** | participle |  | a written request *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund |  | someone |  | power |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 5 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 6 | **change** | infinitive | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «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 -->
To petition someone is to make a formal request to them, often with a petition.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:m2:1
# text = To petition someone is to make a formal request to them, often with a petition.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	petition	petition	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	request	request	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	petition	petition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **petition** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with a petition; make *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A formal written request to a court.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:m3:1
# text = A formal written request to a court.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	request	request	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A prayer that asks God for something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:m4:1
# text = A prayer that asks God for something.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	asks	ask	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | a prayer |  | God |  |  | for something | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent god=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We started a petition for a new zebra crossing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:x1:1
# text = We started a petition for a new zebra crossing.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	started	start	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	petition	petition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	zebra	zebra	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	crossing	crossing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | past | We | a petition |  |  |  | for a new zebra crossing | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent petition=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Over five hundred people signed our petition.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:x2:1
# text = Over five hundred people signed our petition.
1	Over	over	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	compound	_	_
3	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	signed	sign	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	petition	petition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sign** | past | hundred people | our petition |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent petition=Destination |
| 2 | **petition** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom petition «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children petitioned the head teacher for a longer break.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:x3:1
# text = The children petitioned the head teacher for a longer break.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	petitioned	petition	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	longer	long	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	amod	_	_
10	break	break	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **petition** | past | the children | the head teacher |  |  |  | for a longer break | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The petition was handed to the mayor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:x4:1
# text = The petition was handed to the mayor.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	petition	petition	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	handed	hand	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	mayor	mayor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hand** | past · passive |  | the petition |  | the mayor |  |  | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme to mayor=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In church we prayed petitions for the sick.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:x5:1
# text = In church we prayed petitions for the sick.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	prayed	pray	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	petitions	petition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sick	sick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pray** | past | we | petitions |  | church |  | for the sick | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum signed an online petition to save the library.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:x6:1
# text = Mum signed an online petition to save the library.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	signed	sign	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	online	online	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	petition	petition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	save	save	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sign** | past | Mum | a online petition |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent petition=Destination |
| 2 | **save** | to-infinitive | Mum *not said here* | the library |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent library=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The court received a petition from the family.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:x7:1
# text = The court received a petition from the family.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	court	court	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	received	receive	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	petition	petition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **receive** | past | the court | a petition |  | the family |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent petition=Theme from family=Source |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So they sent a petition to Jupiter asking for a king.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petition:x8:1
# text = So they sent a petition to Jupiter asking for a king.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sent	send	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	petition	petition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Jupiter	Jupiter	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | they | a petition | Jupiter |  |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent petition=Theme to jupiter=Destination |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for a king | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- 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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