---
title: referendum — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «referendum» in the school dictionary: A referendum is a vote in which all the voters of a country or area decide one important question directly, usually by answering yes or no. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# referendum

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** referendum, voters, country, voter, Brexit referendum, UK · **What happens:** be, decide, answer, hold, change, ask · **To what, where:** vote, one important question, referendum, voting system, same question, European Union

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A referendum is a vote in which all the voters of a country or area decide one important question directly, usually by answering yes or no.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:referendum:m1:1
# text = A referendum is a vote in which all the voters of a country or area decide one important question directly, usually by answering yes or no.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	referendum	referendum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	vote	vote	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	obl	_	_
8	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	10	det:predet	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	voters	voter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nsubj	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	decide	decide	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
17	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	19	nummod	_	_
18	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
20	directly	directly	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
23	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	24	mark	_	_
24	answering	answer	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	advcl	_	_
25	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	24	obj	_	_
26	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	no.	no.	NOUN	NN	Abbr=Yes|Number=Sing	24	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a referendum | a vote |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **decide** | present | all voters of a country or area | one important question |  | a vote |  | directly *property* | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent question=Topic |
| 3 | **answer** *speech: assert* | gerund | all voters of a country or area *not said here* |  |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent yes=Eventuality |

<!-- .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 -->
The country held a referendum on whether to change the voting system.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:referendum:x1:1
# text = The country held a referendum on whether to change the voting system.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	held	hold	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	referendum	referendum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
7	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	voting	voting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the country | a referendum |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent referendum=Theme |
| 2 | **change** | to-infinitive | the country *not said here* | the voting system |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent system=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a referendum, every voter answers the same question.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:referendum:x2:1
# text = In a referendum, every voter answers the same question.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	referendum	referendum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	voter	voter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	answers	answer	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **answer** *speech: assert* | present | every voter | the same question |  | a referendum |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent question=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Brexit referendum asked if the UK should leave the European Union.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:referendum:x3:1
# text = The Brexit referendum asked if the UK should leave the European Union.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Brexit	Brexit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	referendum	referendum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	leave	leave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	ccomp	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	European	European	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	Union	Union	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the Brexit referendum |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **leave** *a condition, not said to happen* | should | the UK | the European Union |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent union=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ireland must hold a referendum to change its constitution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:referendum:x4:1
# text = Ireland must hold a referendum to change its constitution.
1	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	hold	hold	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	referendum	referendum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	constitution	constitution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | must | Ireland | a referendum |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent referendum=Theme |
| 2 | **change** | to-infinitive | Ireland *not said here* | referendum's constitution |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent constitution=Patient |
| 3 | **constitute** |  | referendum |  |  |  |  |  | nom constitution «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The result of the referendum was very close.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:referendum:x5:1
# text = The result of the referendum was very close.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	referendum	referendum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the result of the referendum |  |  |  |  | close *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **result** |  |  | the referendum |  |  |  |  | nom result «phenomenon transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our school had a mini referendum on whether to have a uniform-free day.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:referendum:x6:1
# text = Our school had a mini referendum on whether to have a uniform-free day.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	mini	mini	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	referendum	referendum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	on	on	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
12	uniform	uniform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Our school | a mini referendum |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent referendum=Patient |
| 2 | **have** | to-infinitive | Our school *not said here* | a mini referendum *not said here* |  |  | day |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

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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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