---
title: precondition — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «precondition» in the school dictionary: Something that must be true or must happen before something else can happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# precondition

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, Finishing, precondition, Oxygen, talks, Trust · **What happens:** be, happen, finish, go out, play, begin · **To what, where:** homework, precondition, team, training

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«precondition» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 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: [precondition in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/precondition.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something that must be true or must happen before something else can happen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precondition:m1:1
# text = Something that must be true or must happen before something else can happen.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
3	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	acl:relcl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
9	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	13	nsubj	_	_
11	else	else	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
12	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | must |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | must |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **happen** | can | something |  |  |  |  |  | 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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Finishing your homework is a precondition for going out to play.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precondition:x1:1
# text = Finishing your homework is a precondition for going out to play.
1	Finishing	finish	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	precondition	precondition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	out	out	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **finish** | gerund |  | your homework |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality homework=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Finishing | a precondition |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **go out** | gerund | a precondition *not said here* |  |  |  |  | out *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **play** | to-infinitive | a precondition *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn performance-26.7-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oxygen is a precondition for fire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precondition:x2:1
# text = Oxygen is a precondition for fire.
1	Oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	precondition	precondition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Oxygen | a precondition |  |  |  | for fire | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The talks began without any preconditions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precondition:x3:1
# text = The talks began without any preconditions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	talks	talk	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	preconditions	precondition	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | the talks |  |  |  |  | without any preconditions | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A precondition for joining the team is coming to training.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precondition:x4:1
# text = A precondition for joining the team is coming to training.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	precondition	precondition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
4	joining	join	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
8	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	training	training	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | gerund | a precondition *not said here* | the team |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent team=Patient |
| 2 | **come** | present · progressive | a precondition |  |  | training |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to training=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Trust is a precondition for friendship.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precondition:x5:1
# text = Trust is a precondition for friendship.
1	Trust	trust	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	precondition	precondition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	friendship	friendship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Trust | a precondition |  |  |  | for friendship | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Light is a precondition for photosynthesis.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:precondition:x6:1
# text = Light is a precondition for photosynthesis.
1	Light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	precondition	precondition	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	photosynthesis	photosynthesis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Light | a precondition |  |  |  | for photosynthesis | tree rules |

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**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.

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