---
title: stance — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stance» in the school dictionary: A stance is the way someone stands, especially how they place their feet and body, like a batting stance. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stance

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** stance, someone, they, opinion, you, your · **What happens:** be, stand, place, take, keep, not lose · **To what, where:** way, opinion, side, wide stance, balance, stance · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A stance is the way someone stands, especially how they place their feet and body, like a batting stance.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stance:m1:1
# text = A stance is the way someone stands, especially how they place their feet and body, like a batting stance.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stance	stance	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	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stands	stand	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
10	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	12	advmod	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	_
13	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
14	feet	foot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	batting	batting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	stance	stance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a stance | the way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stand** | present | someone | the way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer way=Stimulus |
| 3 | **place** |  | they |  |  |  |  | especially *property* | 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 stance is someone's opinion or attitude about something, the side they take.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stance:m2:1
# text = A stance is someone's opinion or attitude about something, the side they take.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	stance	stance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	opinion	opinion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	attitude	attitude	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
14	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a stance | someone's opinion or attitude about something and the side |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | present | opinion | the side *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent side=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keep a wide stance so you don't lose your balance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stance:x1:1
# text = Keep a wide stance so you don't lose your balance.
1	Keep	keep	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	stance	stance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	lose	lose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	balance	balance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | imperative | you *not said here* | a wide stance |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stance=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **lose** | present · do-support | you | your balance |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent balance=Eventuality |
| 3 | **balance** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom balance «state intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The batter took her stance at the plate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stance:x2:1
# text = The batter took her stance at the plate.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	batter	batter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	stance	stance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	plate	plate	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 | **take** | past | the batter | her stance |  | the plate |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.source NP.asset»: agent=Agent stance=Theme at plate=Asset |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What is your stance on school uniforms?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stance:x3:1
# text = What is your stance on school uniforms?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	stance	stance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	uniforms	uniform	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | your stance on school uniforms |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goalkeeper got into a ready stance.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stance:x4:1
# text = The goalkeeper got into a ready stance.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goalkeeper	goalkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stance	stance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** | past | the goalkeeper |  |  | a ready stance |  |  | vn escape-51.1 «NP V PP.destination»: agent=Theme into stance=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school takes a firm stance against bullying.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stance:x5:1
# text = The school takes a firm stance against bullying.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	stance	stance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	bullying	bullying	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | the school | a firm stance |  | bullying |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent stance=Theme against bullying=Destination |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In your essay, state your stance in the first paragraph.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stance:x6:1
# text = In your essay, state your stance in the first paragraph.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	state	state	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	stance	stance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	11	amod	_	_
11	paragraph	paragraph	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **state** *speech: other* | imperative | you *not said here* | your stance |  | your essay |  | in the first paragraph | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent stance=Topic |
| 2 | **essay** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cat's stance showed it was ready to pounce.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stance:x7:1
# text = The cat's stance showed it was ready to pounce.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	stance	stance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	showed	show	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|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	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	ccomp	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	pounce	pounce	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the cat's stance |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | it |  |  |  |  | ready *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **pounce** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «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 -->

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