---
title: semester — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «semester» in the school dictionary: A semester is one of the two halves of a school or college year. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# semester

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** semester, It, new semester, We, sister, grades · **What happens:** be, start, study, spend, come, take · **To what, where:** one, period, solar system, first semester, semester, college · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A semester is one of the two halves of a school or college year.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semester:m1:1
# text = A semester is one of the two halves of a school or college year.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	semester	semester	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	halves	half	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	college	college	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	year	year	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a semester | one |  |  |  | of the two halves of a school or college year | 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 -->
It is a period of learning, usually about four or five months long, with its own classes and tests.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semester:m2:1
# text = It is a period of learning, usually about four or five months long, with its own classes and tests.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	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	period	period	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	learning	learning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
8	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
9	about	about	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	four	four	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	13	nummod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	conj	_	_
13	months	month	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl:unmarked	_	_
14	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	19	nmod:poss	_	_
18	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	classes	class	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	tests	test	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a period |  |  |  | of learning | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new semester starts next week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semester:x1:1
# text = The new semester starts next week.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	semester	semester	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	next	next	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | the new semester |  |  |  | week |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We study the solar system in the first semester.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semester:x2:1
# text = We study the solar system in the first semester.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	solar	solar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	9	amod	_	_
9	semester	semester	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | We | the solar system |  | the first semester |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent system=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My sister is spending a semester at a college far away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semester:x3:1
# text = My sister is spending a semester at a college far away.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	spending	spend	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	semester	semester	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	college	college	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	_
11	away	away	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spend** | present · progressive | My sister | a semester |  | a college |  | away *property* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent semester=Asset |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our grades come home at the end of the semester.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semester:x4:1
# text = Our grades come home at the end of the semester.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grades	grade	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	home	home	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	semester	semester	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | Our grades |  |  |  | at the end of the semester | home *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme at end=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
How many classes are you taking this semester?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semester:x5:1
# text = How many classes are you taking this semester?
1	How	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	classes	class	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	semester	semester	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present · progressive | many classes | this semester |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent semester=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Australia my cousin says «term» instead of «semester».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semester:x6:1
# text = In Australia my cousin says «term» instead of «semester».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
3	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	cousin	cousin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	term	term	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	12	case	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	semester	semester	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | my cousin | term |  | Australia |  | instead semester | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent term=Theme in australia=Manner |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spring semester ends with a big science fair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semester:x7:1
# text = The spring semester ends with a big science fair.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	semester	semester	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	fair	fair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | present | the spring semester |  |  |  |  | with a big science fair | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector with fair=Subeventuality |

<!-- 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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