---
title: sentence — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sentence» in the school dictionary: A sentence is a group of words that makes a complete statement, question or command; in writing it starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sentence

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sentence, words, judge, someone, you, I · **What happens:** be, make, start, end, give, find · **To what, where:** group, complete statement, writing, punishment, them, sentence · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«sentence» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [sentence in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sentence.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sentence is a group of words that makes a complete statement, question or command; in writing it starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark.

<!-- fold The tree, 34 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:m1:1
# text = A sentence is a group of words that makes a complete statement, question or command; in writing it starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sentence	sentence	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	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	complete	complete	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	statement	statement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	command	command	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
20	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	21	nsubj	_	_
21	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
22	with	with	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	27	cc	_	_
27	ends	end	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	21	conj	_	_
28	with	with	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
30	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	31	amod	_	_
31	stop	stop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	27	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	34	punct	_	_
33	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	compound	_	_
34	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	conj	_	_
35	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	37	cc	_	_
36	exclamation	exclamation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	37	compound	_	_
37	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sentence | a group |  |  |  | of words | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | words | a complete statement and question or command |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset statement=Product |
| 3 | **start** | present | sentence |  |  | writing |  | with a capital letter | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with letter=Subeventuality |
| 4 | **end** | present | sentence *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with a full stop and question mark or exclamation mark | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector with stop=Subeventuality |

<!-- .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 sentence is the punishment a judge gives to someone found guilty of a crime.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:m2:1
# text = A sentence is the punishment a judge gives to someone found guilty of a crime.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nsubj	_	_
11	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
12	guilty	guilty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	crime	crime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sentence | the punishment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | present | a judge | the punishment *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **find** | past | someone |  |  |  |  | guilty *property* | vn declare-29.4-1-1 «NP V what S\_INF»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sentence someone is to give them that punishment.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:m3:1
# text = To sentence someone is to give them that punishment.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nsubj	_	_
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	give	give	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	_
8	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	9	det	_	_
9	punishment	punishment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | someone |  | them *= they* |  |  | give *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Start every sentence with a capital letter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:x1:1
# text = Start every sentence with a capital letter.
1	Start	start	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	det	_	_
3	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	capital	capital	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	letter	letter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | imperative | you *not said here* | every sentence |  |  |  | with a capital letter | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.subeventuality»: agent=Agent sentence=Eventuality with letter=Subeventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I like cake.» is a short sentence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:x2:1
# text = «I like cake.» is a short sentence.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	like	like	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	parataxis	_	_
4	cake	cake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **like** *in a quote* | present | I | cake |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot cake=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a short sentence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write three sentences about your weekend.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:x3:1
# text = Write three sentences about your weekend.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	sentences	sentence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	weekend	weekend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | three sentences |  |  |  | about your weekend | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sentence=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use a question mark at the end of a question sentence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:x4:1
# text = Use a question mark at the end of a question sentence.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
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	1	obl	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	question	question	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	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 question mark |  |  | at the end of a question sentence |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mark=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
5 + 3 = 8 is a number sentence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:x5:1
# text = 5 + 3 = 8 is a number sentence.
1	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nsubj	_	_
2	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	3	cc	_	_
3	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	conj	_	_
4	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	5	case	_	_
5	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | 5 = 8 | a number sentence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The judge gave the thief a sentence of two years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:x6:1
# text = The judge gave the thief a sentence of two years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	judge	judge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
10	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the judge | the thief |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent thief=Recipient sentence=Theme |
| 2 | **sentence** |  |  | two years |  |  |  |  | nom sentence «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you put this word in a sentence?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:x7:1
# text = Can you put this word in a sentence?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	put	put	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | can | you | this word |  | a sentence |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent word=Theme in sentence=Destination |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Answer in full sentences.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:x8:1
# text = Answer in full sentences.
1	Answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sentences	sentence	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The servant was led out and his sentence read to him.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sentence:x9:1
# text = The servant was led out and his sentence read to him.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	servant	servant	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	led	lead	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead out** | past · passive |  | the servant |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **read** | past | his sentence |  | him *= he* |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient how S»: agent=Agent to he=Recipient |
| 3 | **sentence** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom sentence «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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