---
title: policy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «policy» in the school dictionary: A plan or set of rules that a school, company or government decides to follow: the school's policy on phones. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# policy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** school, insurance company, something, sensible way, Honesty, new policy · **What happens:** decide, follow, write, pay, happen, act · **To what, where:** written agreement, best policy, phones policy, class, hats, insurance policy · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«policy» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [policy in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/policy.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A plan or set of rules that a school, company or government decides to follow: the school's policy on phones.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:m1:1
# text = A plan or set of rules that a school, company or government decides to follow: the school's policy on phones.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plan	plan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	set	set	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	mark	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
14	decides	decide	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	follow	follow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	's	's	PART	POS	_	19	case	_	_
21	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
22	on	on	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **decide** | present | a school and company or government |  |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **follow** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | a school and company or government *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=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 -->
An insurance policy: a written agreement that an insurance company will pay if something bad happens.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:m2:1
# text = An insurance policy: a written agreement that an insurance company will pay if something bad happens.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	insurance	insurance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	agreement	agreement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	insurance	insurance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
12	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl:relcl	_	_
14	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	17	nsubj	_	_
16	bad	bad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
17	happens	happen	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	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 | **pay** | future | a insurance company | a written agreement *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent agreement=Asset |
| 3 | **happen** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sensible way of acting: «Honesty is the best policy».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:m3:1
# text = A sensible way of acting: «Honesty is the best policy».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sensible	sensible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	acting	act	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Honesty	honesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	12	amod	_	_
12	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **act** | gerund | a sensible way |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Honesty | the best policy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school has a no-phones policy in class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:x1:1
# text = Our school has a no-phones policy in class.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	compound	_	_
8	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Our school | a phones policy |  | class |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent policy=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Honesty is the best policy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:x2:1
# text = Honesty is the best policy.
1	Honesty	honesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	amod	_	_
5	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Honesty | the best policy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new policy says all pupils wear hats outside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:x3:1
# text = The new policy says all pupils wear hats outside.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	wear	wear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
8	hats	hat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the new policy |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **wear** | present | all pupils | hats |  |  |  | outside *property* | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent hat=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum read the insurance policy carefully.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:x4:1
# text = Mum read the insurance policy carefully.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	insurance	insurance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | Mum | the insurance policy |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent policy=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The library's policy is a fine of 10p a day for late books.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:x5:1
# text = The library's policy is a fine of 10p a day for late books.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	library	library	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fine	fine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	10	10	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	p	p	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:unmarked	_	_
13	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the library's policy | a fine |  |  |  | of 10 p  a day for late books | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The government changed its policy on bus fares.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:x6:1
# text = The government changed its policy on bus fares.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	fares	fare	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **change** | past | the government | government's policy |  | bus fares |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent policy=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's against company policy to give refunds without a receipt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:x7:1
# text = It's against company policy to give refunds without a receipt.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	against	against	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	refunds	refund	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
9	without	without	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	receipt	receipt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | against company policy | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | to-infinitive |  | refunds |  |  |  | without a receipt | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent refund=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Being kind is always a good policy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:x8:1
# text = Being kind is always a good policy.
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	cop	_	_
2	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	7	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | kind *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a good policy |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Honesty's the best policy!" quoth Ivan, as he skipped about in his new quarters.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:policy:x9:1
# text = "Honesty's the best policy!" quoth Ivan, as he skipped about in his new quarters.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Honesty	honesty	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	best	good	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	policy	policy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
9	quoth	quoth	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	Ivan	Ivan	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	skipped	skip	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
15	about	about	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
18	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	quarters	quarter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Honesty | the best policy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **quoth** | infinitive | the best policy | Ivan |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **skip** | past | policy |  |  |  |  | about policy's new quarters | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme about quarter=Trajectory |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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