---
title: speculation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «speculation» in the school dictionary: Speculation is guessing about something without knowing all the facts. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/speculation/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/) / speculation

# speculation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Speculation, houses, more money, lot, That, we · **What happens:** guess, know, be, buy, hope, sell · **To what, where:** facts, one such guess, things, speculation, evidence, savings

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Speculation is guessing about something without knowing all the facts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:speculation:m1:1
# text = Speculation is guessing about something without knowing all the facts.
1	Speculation	speculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	guessing	guess	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	_
6	without	without	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	knowing	know	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	10	det:predet	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **guess** | present · progressive | Speculation |  |  |  |  | about something | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **know** | gerund | Speculation *not said here* | all facts |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer fact=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 speculation is one such guess or idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:speculation:m2:1
# text = A speculation is one such guess or idea.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	speculation	speculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
5	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	guess	guess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a speculation | one such guess or idea |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Speculation is buying things such as shares, land or houses hoping to sell them later for more money, which is risky.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:speculation:m3:1
# text = Speculation is buying things such as shares, land or houses hoping to sell them later for more money, which is risky.
1	Speculation	speculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	buying	buy	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	7	case	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	fixed	_	_
7	shares	share	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	land	land	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
12	hoping	hope	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	sell	sell	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	14	advmod	_	_
17	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	19	amod	_	_
19	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	23	nsubj	_	_
22	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	cop	_	_
23	risky	risky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **buy** | present · progressive | Speculation | things |  |  |  | such shares and land or houses | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 2 | **hope** | gerund | houses *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn long-32.2 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 3 | **sell** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | houses *not said here* | things *= thing* |  |  |  | for more money; late *property* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent they=Theme for money=Asset |
| 4 | **is** | present | more money |  |  |  |  | risky *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There is a lot of speculation about who will be the new head teacher.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:speculation:x1:1
# text = There is a lot of speculation about who will be the new head teacher.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	speculation	speculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
9	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
12	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
13	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a lot of speculation |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | future | speculation |  |  |  |  | about the new head teacher | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That is just speculation; we don't know for sure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:speculation:x2:1
# text = That is just speculation; we don't know for sure.
1	That	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	just	just	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	speculation	speculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | That | speculation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **know** | present · do-support | we |  |  |  |  | for sure | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His absence caused speculation that he was ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:speculation:x3:1
# text = His absence caused speculation that he was ill.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	absence	absence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	speculation	speculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | His absence | speculation |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition speculation=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | past | absence |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **absent** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom absence «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists' speculation about life on Mars needs evidence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:speculation:x4:1
# text = Scientists' speculation about life on Mars needs evidence.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	speculation	speculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	Mars	Mars	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	evidence	evidence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | Scientists's speculation about life on Mars | evidence |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot evidence=Theme |
| 2 | **speculate** |  | Scientists |  |  |  |  | about life on Mars | nom speculation «communication intransitive»: poss=agent about=obl |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He lost his savings through speculation on shares.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:speculation:x5:1
# text = He lost his savings through speculation on shares.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	savings	savings	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	2	obj	_	_
5	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	speculation	speculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	shares	share	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lose** | past | He | his savings |  | speculation |  | on shares | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent savings=Eventuality |
| 2 | **save** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom savings «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop the wild speculation and wait for the facts.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:speculation:x6:1
# text = Stop the wild speculation and wait for the facts.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	speculation	speculation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	wait	wait	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* | the wild speculation |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality speculation=Eventuality |
| 2 | **wait** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for the facts | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [speculate](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/speculate/)
- next →: [speech](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/speech/)
- ↑ back to [S in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/)