---
title: semicolon — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «semicolon» in the school dictionary: A semicolon is the punctuation mark ; which joins two closely linked full sentences. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# semicolon

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** semicolon, punctuation mark, items, It, we, you · **What happens:** be, join, link, contain, go, look · **To what, where:** punctuation mark, two, full sentences, commas, semicolon, two related sentences

<!-- .vabout -->
«semicolon» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [semicolon in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/semicolon.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A semicolon is the punctuation mark ; which joins two closely linked full sentences.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semicolon:m1:1
# text = A semicolon is the punctuation mark ; which joins two closely linked full sentences.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	semicolon	semicolon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	punctuation	punctuation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	joins	join	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
10	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	obj	_	_
11	closely	closely	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	linked	link	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	advcl	_	_
13	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	sentences	sentence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a semicolon | the punctuation mark |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | present | the punctuation mark | two |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent two=Patient |
| 3 | **link** | participle | the punctuation mark *not said here* | full sentences |  |  |  | closely *property* | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sentence=Patient |

<!-- .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 semicolon can also separate items in a long list when the items already contain commas.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semicolon:m2:1
# text = A semicolon can also separate items in a long list when the items already contain commas.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	semicolon	semicolon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
5	separate	separate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	items	item	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	15	advmod	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	items	item	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
14	already	already	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	contain	contain	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
16	commas	comma	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **contain** | present | the items | commas |  |  |  |  | vn comprise-107.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot comma=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was late; we went home.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semicolon:x1:1
# text = It was late; we went home.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
7	home	home	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | past | we |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A semicolon looks like a dot on top of a comma.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semicolon:x2:1
# text = A semicolon looks like a dot on top of a comma.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	semicolon	semicolon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dot	dot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	comma	comma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | a semicolon |  |  |  |  | like a dot on top of a comma | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a semicolon to join two related sentences.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semicolon:x3:1
# text = Use a semicolon to join two related sentences.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	semicolon	semicolon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	join	join	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	related	related	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	sentences	sentence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | a semicolon |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent semicolon=Patient |
| 2 | **join** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | two related sentences |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sentence=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Dublin, Ireland.

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semicolon:x4:1
# text = We visited Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Dublin, Ireland.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	visited	visit	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Paris	Paris	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	France	France	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
7	Rome	Rome	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	Italy	Italy	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	Dublin	Dublin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	Ireland	Ireland	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **visit** | past | We | Paris and France |  |  |  | Dublin and Ireland *obl* | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent paris=Co-Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In some code you must end each line with a semicolon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semicolon:x5:1
# text = In some code you must end each line with a semicolon.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
3	code	code	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	end	end	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	semicolon	semicolon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | must | you | each line |  | some code |  | with a semicolon | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector line=Eventuality with semicolon=Subeventuality |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I love reading; my brother loves football.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:semicolon:x6:1
# text = I love reading; my brother loves football.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
8	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **read** *not said to happen* | gerund | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **love** | present | my brother | football |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer football=Stimulus |

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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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