---
title: punishment — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «punishment» in the school dictionary: A punishment is something unpleasant done to someone because they did something wrong, like losing playtime or paying a fine. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# punishment

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** punishment, they, act, he, Detention, one person · **What happens:** be, do, lose, pay, punish, have · **To what, where:** something, playtime, fine, act, TV, common punishment · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«punishment» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [punishment in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/punishment.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A punishment is something unpleasant done to someone because they did something wrong, like losing playtime or paying a fine.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punishment:m1:1
# text = A punishment is something unpleasant done to someone because they did something wrong, like losing playtime or paying a fine.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	unpleasant	unpleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
6	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
9	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	did	do	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	_
13	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	losing	lose	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
17	playtime	playtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	paying	pay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	conj	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	fine	fine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	obj	_	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 punishment | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **do** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | to someone | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **do** | past | they | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 4 | **lose** | gerund | they *not said here* | playtime |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent playtime=Eventuality |
| 5 | **pay** | gerund | they *not said here* | a fine |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fine=Asset |

<!-- .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 -->
Punishment is the act of punishing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punishment:m2:1
# text = Punishment is the act of punishing.
1	Punishment	punishment	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	punishing	punish	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 | Punishment | the act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **punish** | gerund | the act *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a punishment, he had no TV for a week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punishment:x1:1
# text = As a punishment, he had no TV for a week.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	8	det	_	_
8	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | he | no TV |  |  | week | as a punishment | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tv=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Detention is a common punishment at school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punishment:x2:1
# text = Detention is a common punishment at school.
1	Detention	detention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Detention | a common punishment |  | school |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is it fair to give the whole class a punishment for one person's mistake?

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punishment:x3:1
# text = Is it fair to give the whole class a punishment for one person's mistake?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	expl	_	_
3	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	csubj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
11	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
13	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	's	's	PART	POS	_	13	case	_	_
15	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | fair *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | to-infinitive |  | the whole class |  |  |  | for one person's mistake | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent class=Recipient punishment=Theme for mistake=Asset |
| 3 | **mistake** |  | one person |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The thief got a punishment from the judge.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punishment:x4:1
# text = The thief got a punishment from the judge.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	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	punishment	punishment	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	judge	judge	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 | **get** | past | the thief | a punishment |  | the judge |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent punishment=Theme from judge=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the fairy tale, the wicked queen got her punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punishment:x5:1
# text = In the fairy tale, the wicked queen got her punishment.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	fairy	fairy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wicked	wicked	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	queen	queen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | the wicked queen | queen's punishment |  | the fairy tale |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer punishment=Stimulus |
| 2 | **punish** |  | queen |  |  |  |  |  | nom punishment «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A good punishment should help you learn, not just hurt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punishment:x6:1
# text = A good punishment should help you learn, not just hurt.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	help	help	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
10	just	just	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | should | a good punishment | you |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent you=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **learn** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **hurt** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ingratitude sometimes brings its own punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:punishment:x7:1
# text = Ingratitude sometimes brings its own punishment.
1	Ingratitude	ingratitude	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	sometimes	sometimes	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	3	advmod	_	_
3	brings	bring	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring** | present | Ingratitude | Ingratitude's own punishment |  |  |  | sometimes *property* | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent punishment=Theme |
| 2 | **punish** |  | Ingratitude |  |  |  |  |  | nom punishment «act transitive»: poss=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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