---
title: sop — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sop» in the school dictionary: A sop is something small given to someone to calm them down or keep them quiet, without really fixing the problem: a sop to the angry fans. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sop

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sop, free badge, He, I, rain, small pay rise · **What happens:** be, give, calm down, keep, fix, soak · **To what, where:** something, someone, them, problem, piece, sop

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sop is something small given to someone to calm them down or keep them quiet, without really fixing the problem: a sop to the angry fans.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sop:m1:1
# text = A sop is something small given to someone to calm them down or keep them quiet, without really fixing the problem: a sop to the angry fans.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sop	sop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
6	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	calm	calm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
11	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	down	down	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
19	really	really	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	fixing	fix	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	14	advcl	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	25	punct	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	sop	sop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
26	to	to	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
28	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	29	amod	_	_
29	fans	fan	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sop | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  |  | someone |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to someone=Recipient |
| 3 | **calm down** | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | vn subjugate-42.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Patient |
| 4 | **keep** | infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | quiet *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |
| 5 | **fix** | gerund |  | the problem |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent problem=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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sop is a piece of bread soaked in milk, soup or gravy.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sop:m2:1
# text = A sop is a piece of bread soaked in milk, soup or gravy.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sop	sop	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	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	soaked	soak	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	acl	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	soup	soup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	gravy	gravy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a sop | a piece |  |  |  | of bread | tree rules |
| 2 | **soak** | participle |  | a piece *not said here* |  |  |  | in milk and soup or gravy | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent in milk=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To sop up is to soak up liquid with bread or a cloth.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sop:m3:1
# text = To sop up is to soak up liquid with bread or a cloth.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	sop	sop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
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	soak	soak	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	case	_	_
8	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	cloth	cloth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sop up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn funnel-9.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | up liquid with bread or a cloth; soak *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The free badge was just a sop to the angry customers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sop:x1:1
# text = The free badge was just a sop to the angry customers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	free	free	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	badge	badge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	just	just	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sop	sop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	customers	customer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the free badge | a sop |  |  |  | to the angry customers | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He sopped up the gravy with his bread.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sop:x2:1
# text = He sopped up the gravy with his bread.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sopped	sop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gravy	gravy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sop up** | past | He | the gravy |  |  |  | with his bread | vn funnel-9.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent gravy=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I came home from the rain sopping wet.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sop:x3:1
# text = I came home from the rain sopping wet.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	home	home	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	sopping	sop	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | I |  |  | the rain |  | home *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from rain=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **sop** | gerund | the rain *not said here* |  |  |  |  | wet *property* | vn funnel-9.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The small pay rise was a sop to the workers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sop:x4:1
# text = The small pay rise was a sop to the workers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	pay	pay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	rise	rise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sop	sop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	workers	worker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the small pay rise | a sop |  |  |  | to the workers | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the old story, the boy fed sops of bread to the dog.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sop:x5:1
# text = In the old story, the boy fed sops of bread to the dog.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	fed	feed	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	sops	sop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feed** | past | the boy | sops of bread | the dog | the old story |  |  | vn feeding-39.7 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent sop=Theme to dog=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The extra playtime was a sop to stop us complaining.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sop:x6:1
# text = The extra playtime was a sop to stop us complaining.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	extra	extra	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	playtime	playtime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sop	sop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	acl	_	_
9	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	complaining	complain	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the extra playtime | a sop |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  | us |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **complain** *speech: other* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn complain-37.8 «NP V»: 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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