---
title: specialise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «specialise» in the school dictionary: To specialise is to study or work mainly on one subject or skill and become an expert in it: she specialises in heart surgery. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# specialise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** she, shop, aunt, doctor, you, cells · **What happens:** specialise, be, work, become, specialis, sell · **To what, where:** expert, heart surgery, something, doctor, illnesses, Lego

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To specialise is to study or work mainly on one subject or skill and become an expert in it: she specialises in heart surgery.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:specialise:m1:1
# text = To specialise is to study or work mainly on one subject or skill and become an expert in it: she specialises in heart surgery.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	specialise	specialise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	study	study	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	nummod	_	_
11	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	skill	skill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	become	become	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	expert	expert	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	xcomp	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
21	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	specialises	specialis	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	surgery	surgery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **specialise** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | study *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **work** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | on one subject or skill; mainly *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent on subject=Theme |
| 4 | **become** | infinitive |  | a expert in expert |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 5 | **specialis** | present | she |  |  | heart surgery |  |  | 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 -->
A shop or business that specialises in something mainly sells or does that one thing.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:specialise:m2:1
# text = A shop or business that specialises in something mainly sells or does that one thing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	business	business	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	specialises	specialis	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	obl	_	_
9	mainly	mainly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	sells	sell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	conj	_	_
13	that	that	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **specialis** | present | a shop or business |  |  | something |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sell** | present | a shop or business |  |  |  |  | mainly *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **do** | present | a shop or business *not said here* |  |  |  |  | that one thing | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My aunt is a doctor who specialises in children's illnesses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:specialise:x1:1
# text = My aunt is a doctor who specialises in children's illnesses.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	aunt	aunt	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	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	specialises	specialis	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	illnesses	illness	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My aunt | a doctor |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **specialis** | present | a doctor |  |  | children's illnesses |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This shop specialises in Lego.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:specialise:x2:1
# text = This shop specialises in Lego.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	shop	shop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	specialises	specialis	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Lego	Lego	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **specialis** | present | this shop |  |  | Lego |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Later at university you can specialise in maths.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:specialise:x3:1
# text = Later at university you can specialise in maths.
1	Later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	6	advmod	_	_
2	at	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	university	university	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	specialise	specialise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **specialise** | can | you |  |  | university |  | in maths; late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some cells specialise to carry oxygen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:specialise:x4:1
# text = Some cells specialise to carry oxygen.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	specialise	specialise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	oxygen	oxygen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **specialise** | present | some cells |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **carry** | to-infinitive | some cells *not said here* | oxygen |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent oxygen=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The team specialises in rescues on mountains.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:specialise:x5:1
# text = The team specialises in rescues on mountains.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	specialises	specialis	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	rescues	rescue	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	mountains	mountain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **specialis** | present | the team |  |  | rescues on mountains |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He wants to specialise in dinosaur bones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:specialise:x6:1
# text = He wants to specialise in dinosaur bones.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wants	want	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	specialise	specialise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **specialise** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | He *not said here* |  |  | dinosaur bones |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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