---
title: reply — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «reply» in the school dictionary: To reply is to answer, in words, writing or action. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# reply

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** reply, She, you, Friday, I, He · **What happens:** reply, be, invite, knock, write, not reply · **To what, where:** answer, reply, pen pal, strangers, 12 · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«reply» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [reply in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/reply.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To reply is to answer, in words, writing or action.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:m1:1
# text = To reply is to answer, in words, writing or action.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	reply	reply	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	answer	answer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **be** *speech: assert* | present |  |  |  |  |  | answer *property* | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A reply is an answer to a question, letter or message.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:m2:1
# text = A reply is an answer to a question, letter or message.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	message	message	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a reply | a answer |  |  |  | to a question and letter or message | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She replied with a smile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:x1:1
# text = She replied with a smile.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	replied	reply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | past | She |  |  |  |  | with a smile | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.predicate»: agent=Agent with smile=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please reply to the party invitation by Friday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:x2:1
# text = Please reply to the party invitation by Friday.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	_
2	reply	reply	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	invitation	invitation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to the party invitation by Friday | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to invitation=Theme |
| 2 | **invite** |  | Friday |  |  |  |  |  | nom invitation «communication transitive»: by=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I knocked but there was no reply.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:x3:1
# text = I knocked but there was no reply.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	knocked	knock	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
5	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	7	det	_	_
7	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knock** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** | past | no reply |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wrote a reply to his pen pal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:x4:1
# text = He wrote a reply to his pen pal.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	pen	pen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	pal	pal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | He | a reply | his pen pal |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent reply=Topic to pal=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't reply to messages from strangers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:x5:1
# text = Don't reply to messages from strangers.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	reply	reply	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	messages	message	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	strangers	stranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **reply** *speech: assert* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  | strangers |  | to messages | vn respond-113 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent to message=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Yes, please,» she replied.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:x6:1
# text = «Yes, please,» she replied.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	8	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	8	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	replied	reply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reply** *speech: assert* | past | she |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In reply to your question, the answer is 12.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:x7:1
# text = In reply to your question, the answer is 12.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
3	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	12	12	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the answer | 12 |  | reply to your question |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **question** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom question «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wait for a reply before you go in.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:x8:1
# text = Wait for a reply before you go in.
1	Wait	wait	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
2	for	for	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	go	go	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wait** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for a reply | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **go in** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For reply came a low growl.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:reply:x9:1
# text = For reply came a low growl.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	reply	reply	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
3	came	come	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	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	growl	growl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | a low growl |  |  |  |  | for reply | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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