---
title: sanction — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sanction» in the school dictionary: Sanction is official permission or approval. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sanction

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Sanction, punishment, Sanctions, school, Missing homework, head teacher · **What happens:** be, break, punish, stop, sanction, have · **To what, where:** official permission, punishment, rule, actions, country, trade

<!-- .vabout -->
«sanction» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings 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: [sanction in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sanction.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sanction is official permission or approval.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:m1:1
# text = Sanction is official permission or approval.
1	Sanction	sanction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	official	official	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	permission	permission	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	approval	approval	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sanction | official permission or approval |  |  |  |  | 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 sanction is a punishment for breaking a rule.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:m2:1
# text = A sanction is a punishment for breaking a rule.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sanction	sanction	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	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sanction | a punishment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **break** | gerund | a punishment *not said here* | a rule |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer rule=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sanctions are actions by countries to punish another country, like stopping trade.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:m3:1
# text = Sanctions are actions by countries to punish another country, like stopping trade.
1	Sanctions	sanction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	actions	action	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	punish	punish	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	9	det	_	_
9	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	stopping	stop	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
13	trade	trade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sanctions | actions |  |  |  | by countries | tree rules |
| 2 | **punish** | to-infinitive |  | another country |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent country=Patient |
| 3 | **stop** | gerund |  | trade |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality trade=Eventuality |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sanction something is to allow it officially, or (also) to punish it.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:m4:1
# text = To sanction something is to allow it officially, or (also) to punish it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sanction	sanction	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	allow	allow	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	officially	officially	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	also	also	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	punish	punish	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sanction** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | allow, officially *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **punish** | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn prosecute-33.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school has rewards and sanctions.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:x1:1
# text = The school has rewards and sanctions.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	rewards	reward	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	sanctions	sanction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the school | rewards and sanctions |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reward=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Missing homework three times leads to a sanction.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:x2:1
# text = Missing homework three times leads to a sanction.
1	Missing	missing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl:unmarked	_	_
5	leads	lead	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sanction	sanction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | present | Missing homework |  |  |  |  | to a sanction | vn result-27.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Precondition to sanction=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The trip was sanctioned by the head teacher.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:x3:1
# text = The trip was sanctioned by the head teacher.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	sanctioned	sanction	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sanction** | past · passive | the head teacher | the trip |  |  |  |  | vn allow-64.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Beneficiary |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The country faced sanctions from its neighbours.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:x4:1
# text = The country faced sanctions from its neighbours.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	country	country	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	faced	face	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sanctions	sanction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	neighbours	neighbour	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 | **face** | past | the country | sanctions |  | country's neighbours |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme sanction=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You cannot change the rules without the sanction of the committee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:x5:1
# text = You cannot change the rules without the sanction of the committee.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	without	without	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	sanction	sanction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	committee	committee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **change** | can | You | the rules |  |  |  | without the sanction of the committee | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rule=Patient |
| 2 | **sanction** |  |  | the committee |  |  |  |  | nom sanction «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team was sanctioned for cheating.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sanction:x6:1
# text = The team was sanctioned for cheating.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	sanctioned	sanction	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	cheating	cheating	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sanction** | past · passive |  | the team |  |  |  | for cheating | vn prosecute-33.2 «NP V NP PP.theme»: subject=Patient for cheating=Theme |

<!-- 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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