---
title: recourse — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «recourse» in the school dictionary: Recourse is a way of getting help or a solution when you are in trouble. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# recourse

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Recourse, way, you, other ways, someone, shop · **What happens:** be, get, have, mean, use, need · **To what, where:** way, help, trouble, recourse, right, someone · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Recourse is a way of getting help or a solution when you are in trouble.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:m1:1
# text = Recourse is a way of getting help or a solution when you are in trouble.
1	Recourse	recourse	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	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	solution	solution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Recourse | a way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** | gerund | a way *not said here* | help or a solution |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer help=Stimulus |
| 3 | **is** | present | you |  |  | trouble |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To have recourse to something means to use it because you need to, often when other ways have failed.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:m2:1
# text = To have recourse to something means to use it because you need to, often when other ways have failed.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
3	recourse	recourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	nmod	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	use	use	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
15	often	often	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
16	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	20	advmod	_	_
17	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	ways	way	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	nsubj	_	_
19	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
20	failed	fail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | recourse |  |  |  | to something | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent recourse=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **use** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | recourse |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **need** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 5 | **fail** | present · perfect | other ways |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Recourse is the right to ask someone to pay you back or put a wrong right.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:m3:1
# text = Recourse is the right to ask someone to pay you back or put a wrong right.
1	Recourse	recourse	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	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl	_	_
7	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	back	back	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	right	right	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Recourse | the right |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **pay back** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* | you |  |  |  |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Asset |
| 4 | **put** | infinitive | someone *not said here* | a wrong right |  |  |  |  | vn invest-13.5.4-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent right=Goal |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Answer the questions without recourse to a calculator.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:x1:1
# text = Answer the questions without recourse to a calculator.
1	Answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	without	without	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	recourse	recourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	calculator	calculator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* | the questions |  |  |  | without recourse; to a calculator | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When the shop would not refund the broken toy, Mum's only recourse was to complain to the manager.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:x2:1
# text = When the shop would not refund the broken toy, Mum's only recourse was to complain to the manager.
1	When	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	6	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	refund	refund	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	only	only	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	recourse	recourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	complain	complain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **refund** | would | the shop | the broken toy |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent toy=Theme |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Mum | recourse |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **complain** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | Mum *not said here* |  | the manager |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to manager=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sailors had no recourse but to swim for the shore.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:x3:1
# text = The sailors had no recourse but to swim for the shore.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sailors	sailor	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	recourse	recourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	shore	shore	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the sailors | no recourse |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent recourse=Patient |
| 2 | **swim** | to-infinitive | the sailors *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the shore | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Teachers should have recourse to punishment only when talking fails.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:x4:1
# text = Teachers should have recourse to punishment only when talking fails.
1	Teachers	teacher	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	recourse	recourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	only	only	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
9	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	nsubj	_	_
10	fails	fail	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | should | Teachers | recourse |  |  |  | to punishment | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent recourse=Patient |
| 2 | **talk** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fail** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If the company cheats you, you have recourse to the law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:x5:1
# text = If the company cheats you, you have recourse to the law.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	company	company	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	cheats	cheat	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
7	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	recourse	recourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cheat** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | the company | you |  |  |  |  | vn cheat-10.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent you=Source |
| 2 | **have** | present | you | recourse |  |  |  | to the law | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent recourse=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Without any recourse to the map, she found the way home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:x6:1
# text = Without any recourse to the map, she found the way home.
1	Without	without	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	recourse	recourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	map	map	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	home	home	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | she | the way |  |  |  | without any recourse to the map | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our last recourse was to ring Grandad for a lift.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:x7:1
# text = Our last recourse was to ring Grandad for a lift.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	recourse	recourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	ring	ring	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lift	lift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | Our last recourse |  |  |  |  | for a lift; ring *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
But Jokwa had recourse to magic.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:recourse:x8:1
# text = But Jokwa had recourse to magic.
1	But	but	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	Jokwa	Jokwa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	recourse	recourse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	magic	magic	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Jokwa | recourse |  |  |  | to magic | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent recourse=Patient |

<!-- 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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