---
title: sermon — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sermon» in the school dictionary: A sermon is a talk given by a priest, minister or preacher during a religious service, explaining the Bible or teaching how to live. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sermon

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sermon, talk, Jesus, Grandpa, I, Dad · **What happens:** be, give, explain, teach, live, behave · **To what, where:** talk, Bible, long boring telling off, Sermon, Mount, bike · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sermon is a talk given by a priest, minister or preacher during a religious service, explaining the Bible or teaching how to live.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sermon:m1:1
# text = A sermon is a talk given by a priest, minister or preacher during a religious service, explaining the Bible or teaching how to live.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sermon	sermon	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	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	preacher	preacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
14	during	during	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	religious	religious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	explaining	explain	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	teaching	teach	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	19	conj	_	_
24	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	26	advmod	_	_
25	to	to	PART	TO	_	26	mark	_	_
26	live	live	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	23	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sermon | a talk |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | a talk *not said here* |  |  | during a religious service | by a priest or preacher | vn break\_down-45.8 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **explain** *speech: assert* | gerund | a talk *not said here* | the Bible |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bible=Topic |
| 4 | **teach** *speech: other* | gerund | a talk *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **live** | to-infinitive | a talk *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sermon is a long, boring telling-off or lecture about how to behave.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sermon:m2:1
# text = A sermon is a long, boring telling-off or lecture about how to behave.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sermon	sermon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	boring	boring	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
8	telling	telling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	off	off	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	lecture	lecture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
14	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	16	advmod	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	behave	behave	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sermon | a long boring telling off or lecture |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **behave** | to-infinitive | a sermon *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The vicar's sermon was about being kind to strangers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sermon:x1:1
# text = The vicar's sermon was about being kind to strangers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	vicar	vicar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	sermon	sermon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	8	cop	_	_
8	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	strangers	stranger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the vicar's sermon |  |  |  |  | to strangers; kind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount on a hillside.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sermon:x2:1
# text = Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount on a hillside.
1	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Sermon	Sermon	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	Mount	mount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	hillside	hillside	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | Jesus | the Sermon |  | the Mount |  | on a hillside | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient PP.asset»: agent=Agent sermon=Theme on mount=Asset |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa fell asleep during the sermon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sermon:x3:1
# text = Grandpa fell asleep during the sermon.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	asleep	asleep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	during	during	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sermon	sermon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | Grandpa |  |  |  | during the sermon | asleep *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The minister's sermon was only five minutes long today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sermon:x4:1
# text = The minister's sermon was only five minutes long today.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	sermon	sermon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
6	only	only	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	five	five	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl:unmarked	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the minister's sermon |  |  |  | minute; today | long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I got a sermon from Dad about leaving my bike in the rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sermon:x5:1
# text = I got a sermon from Dad about leaving my bike in the rain.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sermon	sermon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	leaving	leave	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | I | a sermon |  |  |  | from Dad | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent sermon=Theme from dad=Source |
| 2 | **leave** | gerund | Dad *not said here* | my bike |  | the rain |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent bike=Theme in rain=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In his sermon, the priest talked about forgiveness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sermon:x6:1
# text = In his sermon, the priest talked about forgiveness.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	sermon	sermon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	forgiveness	forgiveness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **talk** | past | the priest |  |  | his sermon |  | about forgiveness | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about forgiveness=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"It was a good sermon to-day," the man said at last.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sermon:x7:1
# text = "It was a good sermon to-day," the man said at last.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sermon	sermon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	ccomp	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	last	last	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | past | It | a good sermon |  |  | day |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the man |  |  | last |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=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 -->

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