---
title: prayer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prayer» in the school dictionary: A prayer is words that someone says to God or a god, to thank, praise or ask for help. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prayer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** prayer, someone, act, Grandpa, family, Muslims · **What happens:** be, say, thank, praise, ask, pray · **To what, where:** words, act, prayer, chance, all, heads · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A prayer is words that someone says to God or a god, to thank, praise or ask for help.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:m1:1
# text = A prayer is words that someone says to God or a god, to thank, praise or ask for help.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	obj	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
7	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	god	god	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	thank	thank	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	praise	praise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	conj	_	_
20	for	for	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a prayer | words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | someone | words |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **thank** *speech: thank* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **praise** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **ask** *speech: ask* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | for help | vn inquire-37.1.2 «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 -->
Prayer is the act of praying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:m2:1
# text = Prayer is the act of praying.
1	Prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	praying	pray	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Prayer | the act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **pray** | gerund | the act *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Not have a prayer» means to have no chance at all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:m3:1
# text = «Not have a prayer» means to have no chance at all.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	11	det	_	_
11	chance	chance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a prayer |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prayer=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **have** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | no chance |  | all |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chance=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa says a prayer before every meal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:x1:1
# text = Grandpa says a prayer before every meal.
1	Grandpa	grandpa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	meal	meal	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 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Grandpa | a prayer |  |  | before every meal |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent prayer=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The family bowed their heads in prayer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:x2:1
# text = The family bowed their heads in prayer.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	bowed	bow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	heads	head	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bow** | past | the family | their heads |  | prayer |  |  | vn curtsey-40.3.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent head=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Muslims say prayers five times a day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:x3:1
# text = Muslims say prayers five times a day.
1	Muslims	Muslim	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	prayers	prayer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Muslims | prayers |  |  | time |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent prayer=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We sang a prayer at assembly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:x4:1
# text = We sang a prayer at assembly.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sang	sing	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	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | We | a prayer |  | assembly |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location prayer=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The rain was the answer to the farmers' prayers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:x5:1
# text = The rain was the answer to the farmers' prayers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	'	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	prayers	prayer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the rain | the answer |  |  |  | to the farmers's prayers | tree rules |
| 2 | **pray** |  | the farmers |  |  |  |  |  | nom prayer «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
With that old bike, he doesn't have a prayer of winning.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:x6:1
# text = With that old bike, he doesn't have a prayer of winning.
1	With	with	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	winning	win	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **have** | present · do-support | he | a prayer |  |  |  | with that old bike | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prayer=Patient |
| 2 | **win** | gerund | a prayer *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Little Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prayer:x7:1
# text = Little Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer.
1	Little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Gerda	Gerda	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	repeated	repeat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	Lord	Lord	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	Prayer	Prayer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repeat** | past | Little Gerda | the Lord's Prayer |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent prayer=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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