---
title: preach — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «preach» in the school dictionary: To give a religious talk, called a sermon, to people, usually in a church. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preach/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / preach

# preach

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** religious talk, something, others, vicar, Jesus, Mum · **What happens:** give, call, tell, be, do, preach · **To what, where:** religious talk, people, church, sermon, others, it · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«preach» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [preach in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/preach.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To give a religious talk, called a sermon, to people, usually in a church.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:m1:1
# text = To give a religious talk, called a sermon, to people, usually in a church.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sermon	sermon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | to-infinitive |  | a religious talk | people | a church |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent talk=Theme to people=Recipient |
| 2 | **call** | participle | a religious talk *not said here* | a sermon |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «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 tell others strongly that something is right and that they should do it: «preach kindness».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:m2:1
# text = To tell others strongly that something is right and that they should do it: «preach kindness».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	strongly	strongly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	preach	preach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
18	kindness	kindness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | others |  |  |  | strongly *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Agent other=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | should | others *= other* | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 4 | **preach** *speech: other* *in a quote* | infinitive |  | kindness |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kindness=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To give advice or tell people what is right in an annoying, bossy way: «Stop preaching at me!».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:m3:1
# text = To give advice or tell people what is right in an annoying, bossy way: «Stop preaching at me!».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	iobj	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
12	annoying	annoying	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
14	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
19	preaching	preach	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	18	xcomp	_	_
20	at	at	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | to-infinitive |  | advice |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent advice=Theme |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  | people |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent people=Recipient |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  | a annoying bossy way |  | right *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **stop** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 5 | **preach** *speech: other* *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | at me | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vicar preached about forgiveness on Sunday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:x1:1
# text = The vicar preached about forgiveness on Sunday.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vicar	vicar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	preached	preach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	forgiveness	forgiveness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	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 | **preach** *speech: other* | past | the vicar |  |  |  | sunday | about forgiveness | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about forgiveness=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jesus preached to crowds by the lake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:x2:1
# text = Jesus preached to crowds by the lake.
1	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	preached	preach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	crowds	crowd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lake	lake	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 | **preach** *speech: other* | past | Jesus |  | crowds |  |  | by the lake | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V PP.recipient PP.topic»: agent=Agent to crowd=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum always says we should practise what we preach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:x3:1
# text = Mum always says we should practise what we preach.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	3	advmod	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	practise	practise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	ccomp	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	9	obj	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	preach	preach	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Mum |  |  |  |  | always *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **practise** | should | we |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **preach** *speech: other* | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent what=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't preach at me, I know I made a mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:x4:1
# text = Don't preach at me, I know I made a mistake.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	preach	preach	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	know	know	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **preach** *speech: other* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at me | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **know** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **make** | past | I | a mistake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The coach preaches teamwork every training session.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:x5:1
# text = The coach preaches teamwork every training session.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	coach	coach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	preaches	preach	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	teamwork	teamwork	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
6	training	training	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	session	session	NOUN	NN	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 | **preach** *speech: other* | present | the coach | teamwork |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
John the Baptist preached in the desert.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:x6:1
# text = John the Baptist preached in the desert.
1	John	John	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Baptist	Baptist	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
4	preached	preach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	desert	desert	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 | **preach** *speech: other* | past | John |  |  | the desert |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Telling our class to recycle was preaching to the converted.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:x7:1
# text = Telling our class to recycle was preaching to the converted.
1	Telling	tell	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	recycle	recycle	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	preaching	preach	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	converted	converted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | our class |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent class=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **recycle** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | our class *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **preach** *speech: other* | past · progressive | Telling |  | the converted |  |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V PP.recipient PP.topic»: agent=Agent to converted=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were going to hear the clergyman preach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:preach:x8:1
# text = They were going to hear the clergyman preach.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	going	go	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	clergyman	clergyman	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	preach	preach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past · progressive | They |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **hear** | to-infinitive | They *not said here* | the clergyman |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **preach** *speech: other* | infinitive | the clergyman *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «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 -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [prayer](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/)
- next →: [preacher](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preacher/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)